Carmen Consoli (Catania, 1974) was nine years old when she began playing music with her father, who was a passionate follower of American soul and blues music. She made her musical debut in her first clubs in Catania when she was only fourteen years old with the group Moon Dog’s Party, playing Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding and Janis Joplin covers. Her talent was immediately noted by producer and owner of Cyclope Records Francesco Virlinzi, who took her to Rome where she worked at her craft for two years, returning to Catania in 1994 with material for her first album “Due parole.” She participated in her first Sanremo musical contest in 1996 with the song “Amore di plastica,” and then went on her first tour. Since then Carmen Consoli has never stopped writing, producing albums, and performing. She’s been awarded a long list of musical prizes and her concerts draw crowds that fill the Europe’s largest stadiums. Don’t miss this truly unprecedented chance to see a major Italian music star in the intimate club setting of Martyrs! June 15 at 8 PM
Last year she took part in a benefit concert “Friends of Abruzzo” to raise funds for the earthquake that devastated the city of Aquila. On October 9 her single, "Non molto lontano da qui," was introduced and given extensive radio play; shortly afterwards the album Elettra was released. Extremely well received by critics, it made many of the year’s most watched top ten lists, and became Italy’s second best-selling record. Carmen Consoli’s music remains true to its ethnic and Italian roots in Elletra, while assimilating northern European influences. Currently on tour, Consoli's complex, versatile personality has been given outlets in two different musical genres: Ventunodieciduemilatrenta, is the title of her electronic and rock show, while she also performs an acoustic show in theatres that is titled after her album Elettra. Carmen Consoli’s recent song “Mio zio” has already won two awards: the Amnesty Italia Prize, which recognizes songs that treat human rights themes, and also the “Italian Music Festival” web contest for best song.
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(Carmen Consoli, Mandaci una cartolina)