Emiliana Torrini Biography

Torrini grew up in Kópavogur, where, at the age of 7, she joined a choir as a soprano, until she went to opera school at the age of 15. In 1994, she became well-known in Iceland after winning the song competition of junior colleges in Iceland (Icelandic: Söngkeppni framhaldsskólanna), at the age of 17, singing "I Will Survive". Her father is Italian and her mother Icelandic. Because of name regulations in Iceland, her father Salvatore Torrini was forced by the Icelandic Name Committee to change his name to "Davíð Eiríksson", which also implied that Emilíana Torrini had to use the surname after her father in the traditional way; "Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir". A few years later, the name regulations were changed, and she was again allowed to use her original surname. She grew up with her parents in Iceland. Her father owns and operates a well-known Italian restaurant in Iceland, where she once worked as a waitress. After playing a session of gigs in London, Torrini decided to stay and live there. She is heard in many songs referencing places around in London on the album Love In The Time of Science, including the song Unemployed In Summertime with the lyric 'Let's get drunk on Saturday, Walk on Primrose Hill until we lose our way'.

From 1994 to 1996, Torrini released three albums in Iceland, Spoon (with a band of the same name), Crouçie d'Où La, and Merman. She gained international recognition in 1999 with her album Love in the Time of Science, produced by Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. Her single "To Be Free" from this album also appeared in the movie Crazy/Beautiful and was featured in the soundtrack. The song 'Summerbreeze', written by Mark Abis, was featured on the cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Orzabal also wrote two songs for the album. Torrini was chosen to sing "Gollum's Song", the end theme of Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when fellow Icelander Björk backed out due to pregnancy. Her 2005 album, Fisherman's Woman, was woven through with the memory of her boyfriend, who was killed in a car accident in the early 2000s. It features the singles "Sunny Road" and "Heartstopper." In 2006, Torrini was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards held in Reykjavík in four categories: Pop Album of the Year, Song of the Year (Sunny Road), Singer of the Year and Video of the Year for Sunny Road, directed by Ali Taylor at Sherbet. She won all except Song of the Year. Her new album, Me and Armini, was released worldwide on 8 September 2008, and the US on 9 September. In 2008, Emilíana performed in Dingle, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland for Other Voices the critically acclaimed live music TV series which airs each year on RTÉ Two.

Her music has appeared in several TV shows. Several of her songs have appeared in Grey's Anatomy, including a in January 2007 a demo version of "Beggar's Prayer". "Sunny Road" appeared in both One Tree Hill episode 2.21, and in 90210.