Gabriella Lucia Cilmi (/ˈtʃɪlmi/ CHIL-mee;[3] Italian: [ˈtʃilmi]; born 10 October 1991) is an Australian pop singer and songwriter.

[10][11] She moved to London with her family when she was fifteen, where she currently lives with her parents Paula and Joe (whose origins are in Calabria and Sicily, Italy) and her brother Joseph.

At an early age, Cilmi developed an interest in a wide range of blues and rock music acts, including Nina Simone, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Sweet, T. Rex and Cat Stevens.

[13] Despite her natural aptitude and vocal talent, Cilmi was told that she lacked the discipline necessary to pursue a singing career.

Idolising Janis Joplin, during this time she sang with a band (Foucault) covering songs by Led Zeppelin, Jet, Silverchair and others.

[15] In 2004, Cilmi captured the attention of Warner Music executive Michael Parisi while giving an impromptu rendition of the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at the Lygon Street Festa, a community festival in Melbourne.

The tracks "Don't Tell Me" and "Sorry", co-written with Barbara and Adrian Hannan, appeared on the soundtrack of 2005 Australian film Hating Alison Ashley.

Cilmi's first album, Lessons to Be Learned, was written and recorded with hit production team Xenomania and was released in March 2008 in the UK.

She opened for James Blunt on his June 2008 Australian tour, and participated in the October 2008 MTV Greece concert alongside R.E.M.

Cilmi covered the Connie Francis song "Warm This Winter", originally a minor hit for Francis in 1962 as "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter", for Co-operative's Christmas 2008 advertising campaign;[18] released as a single, it reached number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart.

In January 2009, Cilmi was nominated in the International Female category at the BRIT Awards[19][20] and sang in the Rod Laver Arena before the 2009 Australian Open men's final.

[21][22] Cilmi made her US television debut in March 2009 and performed on the Pyramid (main) stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2009.

The new album Ten was planned for 22 March 2010 and Cilmi said it would feature "lots of uptempo funk and disco-inspired numbers designed to make people groove", referring to "On a Mission", "Hearts Don't Lie" and "Love Me Coz", as well as "some more sexy tracks" probably referring to "Superhot" and "Invisible Girl".

In an interview, Cilmi explained that the sales were not her first concern; however, she expressed regret about posing topless for FHM magazine during the publicity for the album.

Cilmi claims she felt pressured into adopting a more sexual image, which prompted her to part ways with Island Records and her management team.

Guess we should just enjoy the ride..."[30][non-primary source needed] In March 2013, Cilmi first performed "Sweet About Me", as well as two new songs "Come Wander With Me" and "Sweeter in History", at the Moxafrica Festival.

Cilmi's third studio album, The Sting, was released on 4 November 2013 on her own UK-based imprint Sweetness Tunes, in association with Absolute Marketing & Distribution.

[32] In April 2015, Cilmi announced that she would be performing with her brother Joseph under the name All Kings and Queens, and released the single "Voodoo" in September 2015.

"[40] In 2020 she started Chillin' With Cilmi during the pandemic[41][42] and she has plans to tour again and celebrated her streaming numbers at the end of 2022, in Europe, UK and Australia.

[47] Take 40 commented further 'a voice that sounds like it fell from the heavens' further noting her abilities as a 'vocal powerhouse' and being a 'brilliant and unique vocal talent'.

[51] Ten, her second album is her tribute to disco and EDM pop, highlighted by Invisible Girl discussing being someones "dirty little secret".

[53] During her early twenties, she began to record her third album The Sting as her voice became raspier and developed a lower range, which allowed her to display her own signature sound.