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francesca R. Fabris

About

I am a songwriter living and playing between Italy and UK (mainly London)

I am actually working on my third album of my original songs and promoting a new track just recorded and with a music video shot between England and Scotland in May 2016 by a scottish movies’ director. The video is a surreal interpretation of my new song ” perfect time” , and it gained a nice “commended entry” at the last UK songwriting competition (2016)

Mostly involved in folk music, Irish, Balkan and other traditions, I have been perfoming for years with different bands troughout Italy, France, Portugal and Ireland, when I decided to go back to my original compositions-songs and in 2009 I moved to London, to continue with jazz studies and promoting my original repertoire.

My songs are folk-pop, influenced by latin rhythms, large use of impro and some jazz arrangements.

I recorded 5 albums, two of traditional music (irish and balkan) and three of originals songs ” Frammenti (2010), “travelling” (London 2012), “So Close to You” (2014) and I am going to have a new album asap.

my third album has had very good critical response and Songs from this new album have been also included in these UK and US compilations: “You Won’t Put Me Down” , “Rainy DAy” and “Falling Down” in 2015 Factory Fast Record productions (New York); “Fly again” in “the best of Acoustic Cafè Show” 2014 (UK); “Everlasting Dream” in “Irish & Celtic Music” Alabhama 2014 (US)

PRESS-TESTIMONIALS:

“A guitarist-songwriter-singer.She writes songs in a folk-bossa style with large use of improvisation. Her sound is romantic and Italian with her smooth, sultry voice and guitar playing makes it whole a great experience. .”

Troubadour Club, London October 2010

SO CLOSE TO YOU 2014-2015 album’s reviews:

‘So Close To You’ the 3rd album by Francesca Romana,is one that must be listened to carefully over and over to fully absorb all the emotions and meanings being put forth.

Here we have one of Francesca’s most deeply autobiographical albums to date telling of raw emotions involved in relationships. Though songwriting comes easily to Francesca, I get the feeling that at times some of the songs would have been quite difficult to write for this album, as she delves into feelings of a torrid love affair – one you know isn’t quite right but where strong animal magnetism keeps you returning like a yo-yo.

The album opens with title song ‘So Close To You’ – there’s something in the steamy, seductive soprano sax accompanied by the heart-beat of the electric bass that immediately lets the senses know just where Francesca is going with this, “When you are so close to me, I just need to feel your skin…kiss me deeply…I will be your amazing queen.” she sings.

A dark mood arrives in ‘Falling Down’ which deals with losing love, when so much effort had been put in “…took a flight and came to you, just because you said you loved me…I was there for you to help, but you looked for something better…” This theme re-occurring on the album and in particular in the song ‘Rainy Day’ – with its pathetic fallacy in reflection.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, No, for Francesca shows her strong and independent woman side with funky number, ‘You Won’t Put Me Down’ and my personal favorite ‘The Only One For Me (Not)’. I just love this song, not only for the sarcasm of the title but the bolshie lyrics and music. There’s a sexual charge, a burning of desires as you imagine releasing the inner dominatrix and feeling carefree. Yet this attitude doesn’t appear to stay as you listen to ‘My Trouble With You’ where we hear the tangoing lovers ultimately find that an ‘open relationship’ won’t work, as love comes and jealousy sets in.

The craft involved in making this album seem so personal and close to the feelings of millions, is a great talent of Francesca Romana’s – one that she’s been honing for a number of years.

‘So Close To You’ will be a brilliant addition to any Blues, Funk, Folk and Indie music collection

Jess Bigs for “Musicvein” UK, january 2015

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“Francesca is a multi-talented Italian singer and author. (…) She is surrounded by some wonderful musicians on this album and the jazz sections are outstanding.

(…) Vocally I can detect snippets of both Astrud Gilberto and Tanita Tikaram in some of her songs. This is especially apparent in the Bossa Nova influenced tracks.

(…) Overall this is a very pleasant and listenable album and will please most listeners and fans of jazz in particulary”

Fatea magazine Uk, march 2015

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“Impassioned, sultry voiced Italian singer-guitarist-songwriter-composer, Francesca Romana ” (…) “She recently recorded her second EP in London ‘TRAVELLING’, all original songs in English and Italian, with her trusted quintet of musicians.Amongst other standout cuts, check out the sepia, smoky, silky, sensuousness of ‘LeSoletudini’ (‘Loneliness’)

Street Life Radio, London live on 23rd march 2012

“Influenced by Bossa Nova rhythms, Swing and Folk-pop, Francesca’s fabulous and independently produced EP – which was written and arranged by herself ..”.

music_vein.wordpress.com march 2013

“Romana has a sultry, seductive voice that is ideally suited to her material, a delightful blend of bossa, folk and jazz with Italianate inflections, with the trumpet occasionally lending a pleasant kind of Tijuana flavour. The music is at once impassioned and cool, just the thing to chill out with.It’s hard to get enough of Travelling ”

The songs on Travelling, all originals, have Italian as well as English lyrics. . The arrangements are generally jazzy, with good use of improvisation for good measure.

Totally consistent throughout, Travelling will seduce you and keep you completely spellbound. Once you play it, you may find, like me, that you cannot stop. A beautiful album that is just perfect for chilling with and as irresistible as it is impossible to tire of.

Francesca Romana’s Travelling has very wide appeal, from the singer-songwriter to the bossa connoisseur, and the contemporary folk and even general ‘world music’ aficionado. A must hear, must have. ”

Rich Rainlore world press-september 2013
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RADIO Live music shows and Broadcasting:

since January 2012 I took part in shows on radios in Italy and UK, with live performances and interviews. also my new songs have been broadcast on:

RTS RADIO (FM Rome-IT); STREET LIFE RADIO FM LONDON; RADIO ACTION (Palermo-IT); JAZZ AND BOSSA RADIO (Puerto Rico and streaming ww); CORAL RADIO (UK) ; XRP radio (UK); 40foothole studio ( New Jersey ); Radio1 (UK); radio Riviera ligure (IT); radio Sanremo (IT); Radio Veneto (IT); Acoustic Spectrum, UK Radio, 1 Radio, UK Health Radio and Radio Bicester (through Acoustic Cafè Show by Brian Player); WRFL.FM radio free Lexington Kentucky; East London Radio (UK); brooklandsradio (UK); Etnica Radio “sotto Le stelle del Jazz” (Lucca-IT) ;RKC (Ermont-France); Radio Sardinia (IT); Radio Stereo Cuneo (IT); Radiophonica (IT); Cremonia radio (IT); Radiokemonia (IT); Radio Fujiko (IT), Radio Fly Web (IT); Radio Kaos Caribù (France); bhiveradio (London UK); kbydradio (CA-USA); Jazzysoulradio (Melbourne- Australia and Botswana-Africa); Croydon Radio (london UK); black cat radio Uk; Radio In Palermo (IT); Kiss Radio Palermo (Madrid); Radio Italia anni 60 (Messina-IT); Radio Abracadabra (Roma-IT); radio canale100 (Bari fm and streaming); Moviradio (Lazio and streaming); Radiodemos (Buenos Aires); RGL Radio Français (Luxembourg); radio Kaos Italy (Rome and you tube str); Radio Wigwam (Liverpool); moviradio (italy); radiotalent UK; switch dunmov radio (Essex); EGH radio (UK); etc.