Malika Ayane

Malika Ayane (Italian pronunciation: [maˈliːka aˈjan]; born 31 January 1984) is an Italian pop singer.

Malika Ayane
Malika Ayane in 2024
Background information
Born	(1984-01-31) 31 January 1984 (age 40) Milan, Italy
Origin	Milan, Italy
Genres	Pop R&B jazz
Occupation	Singer
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Sugar Music Warner Music
Website	www.malikaayane.com

Early life

Malika Ayane was born in Milan, Italy, on 31 January 1984, to a Moroccan father, Ahmed, and an Italian mother.^[1][2] She grew up in the Zone 2 of Milan, the most multi-ethnic area of the city.^[3] In 1995, she entered the White Voices Choir at the Teatro alla Scala in her hometown, where she sang for seven years.^[4] In the meanwhile, she started studying cello at the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory in Milan, where she graduated in 2001.^[5][6]

Career

Malika Ayane performing in Villa Solaria at Sesto Fiorentino, Italy in 2009

During the mid 2000s, Ayane recorded songs for some TV spots, including a cover of "Over the Rainbow" for the campaign of Italian food company Yomo in 2005, and the original track "Soul Waver", performed in 2007 for Swedish car manufacturer Saab.^[7]

In 2007, Ayane met Italian record producer and former singer Caterina Caselli, which granted her a deal with independent label Sugar Music. As a result, "Soul Waver" was released as her debut single. The song was also re-released in an Italian-language version, "Sospesa", with singer-songwriter Pacifico.^[8] "Sospesa" will also feature in the movie Letters to Juliet, released in 2010. Malika Ayane's self-titled first studio album was released on 26 September 2008.^[9] The album also spawned the single "Feeling Better", which became a radio hit in 2008,^[10] while the track "Il giardino dei salici" was chosen by Barilla for a TV commercial.^[7]

In December 2008, Ayane was chosen as one of the contestants of the Newcomers' section of the 59th Sanremo Music Festival.^[11] During the show, held in February 2009, she performed her entry "Come foglie", written by Negramaro's frontman Giuliano Sangiorgi. During the third night of the show, the song was also performed as a duet with singer-songwriter Gino Paoli.^[12]

For Valerio Scanu, contestant of the eighth season of the talent show "Amici di Maria De Filippi", she wrote the song "Dopo Di Me" that reached the ninth position in the Italian charts.

Malika, in April 2009, took part in the song "Domani 21-04-09" with other Italian singers to obtain money to rebuild schools in Abruzzo, the region where the disastrous earthquake centred in L'Aquila and surrounding villages struck on 6 April. In 2010, she was a contestant in the 60th edition of the prestigious Italian song contest Sanremo Music Festival where she won the "Mia Martini" critics award for her song "Ricomincio da qui". In 2010 she collaborated with her fiance Cesare Cremonini on "Hello!".

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Chart positions	Certifications
		ITA [13]
Malika Ayane	Released: 26 September 2008 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	9	FIMI: Platinum[14]
Grovigli	Released: 19 February 2010 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	2	FIMI: 2× Platinum[14]
Ricreazione	Released: 18 September 2012 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	2	FIMI: Platinum[14]
Naïf[15]	Released: 12 February 2015 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	9	FIMI: Platinum[14]
Domino	Released: 21 September 2018 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	10
Malifesto	Released: 26 March 2021 Label: Sugar Formats: CD, download	9

Singles

Title	Year	Chart positions	Certifications	Album
		ITA [16]
"Soul Waver" / "Sospesa" (feat. Pacifico)	2008	—		Malika Ayane
"Feeling Better"		6
"Come foglie"	2009	2	FIMI: Platinum[17]
"Contro vento"		—
"La prima cosa bella"	2010	5	FIMI: Platinum[17]	Grovigli
"Ricomincio da qui"		2	FIMI: Platinum[17]
"Satisfy My Soul"		—
"Thoughts and Clouds"		—
"Il giorno in più"	2011	—
"Tre cose"	2012	13	FIMI: Platinum[18]	Ricreazione
"Il tempo non inganna"		—
"E se poi"	2013	8	FIMI: Platinum[17]
"Niente"		39
"Cosa hai messo nel caffè?"		—
"Neve casomai (Un amore straordinario)"[19]		—
"Adesso e qui (nostalgico presente)"	2015	9	FIMI: Gold[17]	Naïf
"Senza fare sul serio"		10	FIMI: 3× Platinum[17]
"Tempesta"[20]		74	FIMI: Gold[17]
"—" denotes singles that did not chart

Featured singles

Title	Year	Chart positions	Certifications	Album
		ITA [21]
"Domani 21/04.09"[22] (Artisti Uniti per l'Abruzzo)	2009	1	FIMI: 2× Platinum[23]	Charity single
"Verrà l'estate"[24] (Pacifico feat. Malika Ayane)		—		Dentro ogni casa
"Hello!"[25] (Cesare Cremonini feat. Malika Ayane)	2010	7	FIMI: Gold[17]	1999-2010 The Greatest Hits
"L'unica cosa che resta"[26] (Pacifico feat. Malika Ayane)	2012	—		Una voce non basta
"—" denotes singles that did not chart

Other appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and album name

Song	Year	Album
"Blue Christmas"[27] (Andrea Bocelli feat. Malika Ayane)	2009	My Christmas
"Ragazza del '95"[28] (Francesco De Gregori feat. Malika Ayane)	2012	Sulla strada
"Omero al Cantagiro"[28] (Francesco De Gregori feat. Malika Ayane)
"Quella giusta per te"[29] (Stylophonic feat. Malika Ayane & Dargen D'Amico)	2013	Boom!
"La ladra"[30] (Marta sui Tubi feat. Malik Ayane)	2014	Salva gente
"Sirene"[31] (Fedez feat. Malika Ayane)		Pop-Hoolista
"La prima cosa bella"[32] (Luca Barbarossa feat. Malika Ayane)	2015	Radio DUEts – Musica libera
"Anima"[33] (Ron feat. Malika Ayane)	2016	La forza di dire sì
"Buena fortuna"[34] (Raphael Gualazzi feat. Malika Ayane)		Love Life Peace
"Noi"[35] (Boosta feat. Malika Ayane)		La stanza intelligente
"Pollyanna"[36] (Cristina D'Avena featuring Malika Ayane)	2018	Duets Forever

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director

Title	Year	Director(s)
"Sospesa" (with Pacifico)[37]	2008	Paolo Rambaldi, Roberto Battaglia
"Feeling Better"[38]		Marco Gentile
"Come foglie"[39]	2009	Federico Brugia
"Contro vento"[40]
"Domani 21/04.09" (Artisti Uniti per l'Abruzzo)[41]		Ambrogio Lo Giudice
"Verrà l'estate" (with Pacifico)		—
"La prima cosa bella"[42]	2010	Simone Manetti
"Ricomincio da qui"[43]		Federico Brugia
"Satisfy My Soul"		—
"Thoughts and Clouds"[44]		Federico Brugia
"Il giorno in più"[45]	2011
"Tre cose"[46]	2012
"Il tempo non inganna"[47]
"E se poi"[48]	2013
"Niente"[49]
"Cosa hai messo nel caffè?"[50]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Nomination	Work	Result
2010	TRL Awards	First Lady[51]	Herself	Won
2010	Premio Videoclip Italiano	Best Video by a Female Artist[52]	"Ricomincio da qui"	Nominated
2010	Premio Tenco	Best Interpreter[53]	Grovigli	Nominated
2010	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Italian Act[54]	Herself	Nominated
2010	Premio Videoclip Roma	Special Award "Cinema Meets Music"[55]	"La prima cosa bella"	Won
2011	TRL Awards	Best Look[56]	Herself	Nominated
		Italians Do It Better[56]	Herself	Nominated
2012	Nastro d'Argento	Best Original Song	"Something Is Changing"[57]	Nominated
2013			"Grovigli"[58]	Nominated
	Lunezia Award	Lunezia for Sanremo Award[59]	"E se poi"	Won

References

1. Sandra Cesarale (8 January 2009). "Doppia Malika". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
2. Maurizio Amore (15 January 2013). "Sanremo 2013 – Artisti in gara big – Malika Ayane". La Stampa (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
3. Andrea Laffranchi (19 February 2010). "L'italo-marocchina di via Padova: Orgogliosa di essere meticcia". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
4. Carlo Moretti (4 July 2010). "Malika Ayane" (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
5. "Ayane, Malika". Enciclopedia Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
6. Marco Mangiarotti (2 December 2012). "Festa per Malika Ayane agli Arcimboldi e al Blue Note". Il Giorno. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
7. Alessandro Alicandri. "Malika Ayane canta per i surgelati. E piace a chi fa gli spot..." Panorama. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
8. "Malika Ayane – Biografia" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015.
9. "Villa Badoer di Fratta Polesine (Ro): la voce speziata di Malika Ayane in concerto" (in Italian). RovigoOggi.it. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
10. "Malika Ayane all'Abbazia di San Galgano". La Nazione (in Italian). 13 July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
11. Rita Celi (22 December 2008). "Sanremo, da Albano a Zanicchi, ecco il cast del festival di Bonolis". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 9 May 2015.
12. Valentina Greggio (20 February 2009). "Sanremo 2009 – Terza serata" (in Italian). Nonsolocinema.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
13. "Italian Charts – Malika Ayane – Albums". Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
14. "Italian album certifications – Malika Ayane" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 October 2021. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Malika Ayane" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
15. "Malika Ayane: il nuovo album "Naif" esce il 12 febbraio!" (in Italian). MTV News. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
16. Peak positions on the Italian FIMI Top Digital Download:

    • For "Tre cose": "Archivio – Top Digital Download – Classifica settimanale WK 38 (dal 17-09-2012 al 23-09-2012)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
    • For "Niente": FIMI – Classifiche". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved 19 April 2015. Enter the section Archivio, then choose Top Digital in the field Sezione and 2013 in the field Anno. Finally, click on the chart for week 7.
    • For all the other songs: "Italian Charts – Malika Ayane – Singles". Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
17. "Italian single certifications – Malika Ayane" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 November 2014. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Malika Ayane" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
18. "Certificazioni – Archivio" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2013. Select Online, Week 26, Year 2013, then press Avvia la ricerca.
19. Simona Lombardi (15 October 2013). "Malika Ayane – Neve Casomai (Un amore straordinario) (Radio Date: 18-10-2013)" (in Italian). Earone.it. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
20. Oriana Meo (9 September 2015). "Malika Ayane: Il nuovo singolo è Tempesta, poi il tour" (in Italian). AllMusicItalia.it. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
21. Featured singles on the Italian Singles Charts:

    • "Domani 21/04.09": "Italian Charts – Domani 21 aprile 2009 – Artisti uniti per l'Abruzzo (single)". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
    • "Hello!": "Italian Charts – Cesare Cremonini – Hello! (song)". Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
22. "Jovanotti &Friends, uniti per l'Aquila. Puntiamo a vendere 1 milione di cd". La Stampa. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
23. "Awards 2010" (PDF) (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
24. "Pacifico in tour al Paolo Pini". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 25 June 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
25. Alessandro Alicandri (1 October 2010). "Hello Cesare Cremonini (con Malika)! Il difficile confronto con Mondo". Panorama (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
26. "Pacifico, nell'album Bersani, Bianconi e altri: Francesco è stata la scintilla". Rockol.it. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
27. "My Christmas di Andrea Bocelli" (in Italian). RAI. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
28. Gabriele Ferraris (15 November 2012). "De Gregori: Sulla strada mi sento musicista". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 19 November 2012.
29. "Anche Ra, Malika e Pau dei Negrita in Boom! di Stylophonic" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
30. Mattia Marzi (9 June 2014). "Visto su Facebook... Fedez, Emma Marrone, Marta Sui Tubi, Dear Jack" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
31. Alessandro Alicandri. "Fedez è Pop-Hoolista: tutto sul nuovo album". Panorama (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
32. Oriana Meo (9 November 2015). "Luca Barbarossa pubblica Radio DUEts musica libera con 15 straordinari duetti (tracklist e instore)" (in Italian). All Music Italia. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
33. "Jovanotti, Antonacci, Mengoni e tanti altri nell'album di Ron" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
34. "Raphael Gualazzi: un duetto con Malika Ayane in Love Life Peace" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
35. "Boosta, collaborazioni eccellenti nel nuovo album La stanza intelligente: lo anticipa il singolo 1993" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
36. "Recensioni – Cristina D'Avena – Duets Forever" (in Italian). Rockol.it. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
37. "Malika Ayane + Pacifico – Sospesa" (in Italian). Sugar Music. Archived from the original on 7 July 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
38. "9-Agency – Mario Chiarello Ciardo & Luca Esposito" (PDF). 9-Agency.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
39. Andrea Conti (27 February 2009). "Malika un video tutto di corsa". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
40. "Malika Ayane diventa attrice per il cortometraggio Perfetta" (in Italian). Sonorika.com. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
41. Rita Celi (5 May 2009). "La musica italiana per l'Abruzzo 56 artisti cantano per ricostruire". la Repubblica. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
42. "Malika Ayane, La prima cosa bella" (in Italian). Sugar Music. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
43. "Malika Ayane fra Thoughts and Clouds" (in Italian). Excite.it. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
44. "Thoughts And Clouds" (in Italian). MTV Italy. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
45. "Malika Ayane – Il giorno in più" (in Italian). Excite.it. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
46. "Malika Ayane: Casalinga disperata nel video di tre cose". Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
47. Roberta Balzotti. "Malika, undici mesi di cambiamenti" (in Italian). Televideo. RAI. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
48. Alessio Pompanin (7 March 2013). "L'Alta Badia fa da sfondo al video di Malika Ayane" (in Italian). Gelocali.it. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
49. Andrea Conti (8 February 2013). "Malika: Vado a Sanremo e faccio gli scongiuri". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
50. "Anteprima: Malika Ayane. Cosa hai messo nel caffè". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
51. "Malika Ayane e Mengoni vincono i Trl Awards 2010". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 9 May 2010. p. 45. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
52. "Premio Videoclip Italiano 2010: continuano le votazioni" (in Italian). Rockol.it. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
53. "Premio Tenco 2010: vincono la Consoli, Avion Travel, Voltarelli e Sidoti". Rockol.it. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
54. "A Mengoni il Best Italian Act". La Stampa. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
55. Alessia Grasso (8 December 2010). "Roma Videoclip 2010". Marte Magazine (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
56. "Ecco tutte le nomination dei TRL Awards 2011" (in Italian). Melodicamente.it. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
57. "Testa a testa fra Giordana e Ozpetek ai Nastri d'Argento 2012" (in Italian). Il Velino. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
58. "Cinema: Nastri d'Argento, tutte le candidature" (in Italian). ASCA. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
59. "E se poi: Malika vince il Lunezia con il brano di Sangiorgi" (in Italian). Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana. Archived from "e_se_poi":_malika_vince_il_lunezia_con_il_brano_di_sangiorgi.php the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Malika Ayane at AllMusic