Opera TO Pop

The 21-year-old does not resemble an average Bollywood aspirant,but something about her made music producers take notice. She recently accompanied Grammy-winning musician AR Rahman on his two-city India tour and performed before a packed audience at Palace Grounds,Bangalore,over the weekend. “It is an honour to perform alongside him on stage,” enthuses Di Luccio,who trained with New York based vocal trainer William Riley (who has trained singers Celine Dion,Whitney Houston and Liza Minelli) briefly.

Di Luccio’s love for Bollywood dates back to 2009,when she was invited to Mumbai to record a hymn for Maha Ganesha,a devotional album. Ever since,she has seen Jodhaa Akbar,Sarkar and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. Two months back,she shot a video of herself,singing and dancing to Kahin Toh from Ajab Prem… and Pehla Nasha from Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikander and posted them on YouTube. “The latter is a special track since it captured my personal journey in life and expressed my love for people across the world. It is also my tribute to Bollywood music,” says Di Luccio,who now takes Hindi speaking tuitions.

To stay loyal to her love for Bollywood music,she refused a music contract from Universal Records for an Italian album last year. “I just could not get my mind off the lilting tunes of Bollywood films,so I packed my bags and headed for India,” she adds,describing her music as a “classical crossover” that retains “the feel of Western classical music”.

Her background helps. A native of Woodbridge,a small suburb in Toronto,she attended opera school at McGill University,Montreal. “I never wanted to be an opera singer,but since everyone was getting a music degree,I just followed the herd. Once the opportunity for Bollywood came along,I dropped out of college,” she says.

Her Indian resume,since December 2010,could make any aspiring singer envious. She has sung an English track,Moments in Life,for the film Chalo Dilli,which released on April 5. Last year,she also sung part of the track Aadha Ishq for the movie Band Baaja Baraat,and recently she recorded a number with Mohit Chauhan,for Rockstar. She is also currently working with Sonu Nigaam for the movie Jal.

Next month,she will begin to learn writing Hindi and has already set her sights on acting. “I have been approached with movie projects but I want to get my Hindi diction in order. Music and films will always be my main interests,” says Di Luccio,who leaves for a series of shows in Turkey,in July.