- Diamá
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Diamá 
Background information Birth name Claudia D'Addio Born April 8, 1980
Schlieren, Zurich, CHOrigin Caserta, Naples, IT Genres R&B, Urban, Pop, House Occupations Singer Years active 2004–present Labels Magnifique Music & Entertainment GmbH Diamá (aka Claudia D'Addio) (born April 8, 1980) is a Swiss singer. She was born in Schlieren, a suburb of Zurich. Both parents are Italian immigrants. She grew up in Dietikon,[1] which is close to her place of birth. At the age of seven she began singing in her hometown church choir"[2] Voci Bianche" (White Voices), which she was part of until her teenage days. At home she would listen to soul and R&B tunes, and while singing along she discovered the strength of her own voice. She found inspiration in soul legends such as Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Brandy Norwood, and her greatest idol, Italian R&B diva Giorgia.[2] Later, she started to attend karaoke competitions, most of which she was able to win effortlessly.
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Music Star
In 2004 her best friend filled out an application form for her, to audition for the second season of Music Star, the Swiss version of American Idol. Claudia attended the first auditions and impressed the jury and got accepted as a contestant. While taking part in the show Claudia deservedly received the nickname "The Voice", an indication as to why she ended up among the[3] top three. After the show she went on tour with her fellow contestants. Three singles were produced, all of them featured Claudia among the Music Star contestants and all became number 1 records.[4][5]
When to tour was over, she performed at open-air festivals such as the "Fashion Club Tour 2005".[6] For the[7] Subex gala in Egypt, Claudia was invited to El Quseir and only a few weeks later she was the main act for the Swiss stage at the[8]Olympic Winter Games 2006 in Torino (Italy).
Eurovision Song Contest 2006
In 2006, renowned German songwriter and composer Ralph Siegel asked her to be part of his[9]2006 Eurovision Song Contest project.[10] She represented Switzerland together with 5 other international artists: Andreas Lundstedt from the Swedish dance formation Alcazar; Marco Matias, an up and coming German artist; Tinka Milinović, a Bosnian superstar; Keith Camilleri from Malta; and Liel from Israel. The group was called Six4One, as in six singers for one country. The contest took place in Athens, Greece.[11]
Meanwhile, she recorded two songs for the Six4One Album"[12] Six4One – The Album". Both songs "U can't stop me" & "Identità" were released as unofficial single.
In late November 2006 Claudia was a special guest at the Pirelli Calendar & Film Release Gala in Zurich.
Activist for the LGBT Community
Diamá has always supported the LGBT community and has participated on many important events to support their rights.
Christopher Street Day Zurich 2006 & 2008
Right after her Eurovision experience she performed at the 2006 Christopher Street Day Zurich Festival.[13] She performed her two unofficial songs "U can't stop me" & "Identitá".
In 2008, Zurich's Christopher Street Day Committee asked Claudia's songwriter Jiameé if he was interested in writing something for the event. He started a project and included Claudia, Tanja La Croix and Donna Tella (a well-known Swiss Drag Queen) The project obtained the title "Pink Riot" and became the official Christopher Street Day Zurich Hymn 2008.[14] The Song was performed by all tree artist on the 2008 Christopher Street Day Zurich concert stage as opening act for Ultra Naté, Colton Ford and Ari Gold feat. Kelly King.
Mr. Gay Switzerland 2008/2009
November 2008 she was main act at the 2008/2009 Mr. Gay Switzerland Finale. The event had not been held for four years. Ricco Rimus Müller won the title. He is also the first hearing impaired Mr. Gay Switzerland.[15]
Europride 2009
June 2009, Claudia performed at the Europride 2009[16] Main-Stage and is therefore one of the only Swiss singers to ever perform at a Europride Event. She performed on both nights and announced her new artist name “Diamá”; Friday June 5, 2009 she performed as part of the Glitzerhaus DJ-set, since she is lead singer of their new single "8 PM" (8 Pick-up Moves) together with Swiss DragQueen-Star Stella Divine and Lady Mata Hari (1/3 of the DJ-Combo Glitzerhaus). On Saturday, June 6, 2009 she performed as Main act followed by artists such as LA Superstar "Guy B.", David Guetta’s main voice Chris Willis, singer & DJ-ane Billie Ray Martin and Italian Superstar Tommy Vee. In her set she performed two songs ("La Mossa" & "Mare") off her yet untitled debut-album. As a surprise during her set, New York power-voice-diva "Kelly King" entered the stage singing the first notes of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive" turning into a duet of "Pink Riot!", that was Tanja La Croix’s, Claudia D’Addio’s and Donna Tella’s, official Christopher Street Day Hymn 2008. Other artists who performed at Europride 2009 Mainstage were; Swiss DJ-ane/model Tanja La Croix feat. MC Wreckid, Swiss-ex-porn-star Paula Styles & K-Skill, New York’s 7 octaves wonder "Kelly King", “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” 2004 winner “Elli”, electro-pop pioneers "I like it Electric" & “Swiss DJ-legend “Leon Klein”.
Zurich Pride Festival 2010 & 2011
2010 she again performs for the community at the first Zurich Pride Festival.[17] Two performances set her unique note; one with shooting star Adam Joseph, who recently worked with Bob Sinclar. Adam and Diamá duet the one song that defined House-Music forever; "Robin S. - Show me luv". At the big finale she performed her collaboration track "Glitzerhaus feat. Diamá & Stella Divine - 8 PM (8 Pick-up moves) during the Glitzerhaus grand finale.
Only one year later she presents her first official single "Drivin' Tru" at the 2011 Zurich Pride Festival. In addition she makes a surprise appearance during the performance of house legend Robin S.[18] Together they sang "You know how to love me".
Artist Charity Night 2011
June 2011 she performed at the third Artist Charity Night[19] to raise awareness on how careless AIDS is handled today.
Collaborations
Claudia then decided to take a brake to regenerate, to improve her vocal range and to work on different projects. She recorded "Girls gone wild" for DJ Scaloni. The track was then signed by Universal Switzerland. Then worked with Tatana for her tribute album "A Tribute to Trance",[20] where she recorded the Tribute to Chicane's "Saltwater", originally sung by Máire Brennan. Claudia also lend her vocals for a wellness product. Later on the tune was remixed by Tatana herself and became hymn of a whole club tour.
Tanja La Croix, also known as Tanja Wettach, is a famous Swiss Model/DJ-ane. Together with her songwriter, Claudia co-wrote four songs for Tanja's first artist album, A trip to Bikini Island: Catwalk, Save me (Radio Edit), Wet & DNA (Don't need anything). She is also featuring artist on "Wet" and "DNA".
Claudia D'Addio becomes Diamá
Since, more than once, presenters introduced her as Claudio D'Addio, which is the male form of Claudia and since many others mispronounced her name, she and her management decided to use an artist name for her debut album. Diamá was chosen because it contains the last three letters of her own name Clau(dia) and the first two letter of (Ma)urizio, an omage to her best friend, who died in a tragic accident in September 2009.[21]
Future
Diamá is currently working on a few other projects, but is focusing on her debut album, which is scheduled for a 2011 release.
Discography
Main article: Diamá (aka Claudia D’Addio) Discography- Studio albums
- We're not done (2011)
References
- ^ Matthieu, Simone (February 20, 2008). "Eurosong im Duett: Claudia sucht Mann". Blick. http://www.blick.ch/sport/euro08/steigendes-fussballfieber-83871. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Jupiter Records Biography http://www.jupiter-records.de/kuenstler/chips/cdaddio/frame.html
- ^ Bick Article: http://www.blick.ch/people/artikel15537
- ^ Official Swiss Hitparade: http://www.hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=MusicStars&titel=Friends+Forever&cat=s
- ^ Official Swiss Hitparade http://www.hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=MusicStars&titel=Here+I+Am&cat=s
- ^ Event Recap http://zuerich.usgang.ch/eventdetail.php?eventid=60608
- ^ Official Subex Page http://www.subex.org/FeInfo3.aspx?Nav=Feedback
- ^ Video Extracts of the Olympic Games Performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Oe4WyS7b8
- ^ Official Eurovision Song Contest Page 2006 http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=334
- ^ "Eine Multi-Kulti Combo solls richten". Blick. December 2, 2005. http://www.blick.ch/people/artikel28691. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ Raykoff, Ivan & Tobin, Robert Deam (2007). A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7546-5878-8.
- ^ Official Swiss Hitparade: http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Six4One&titel=If+We+All+Give+A+Little&cat=s
- ^ Article http://www.werbung.ch/Friedlich+ausgelassener+Christopher+Street+Day/243984/detail.htm
- ^ Article http://www.gaylife24.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=151&Itemid=1
- ^ Article Display Magazine http://www.display-magazin.ch/index.php?page=unterhaltung&article_id=191
- ^ Official Europride 2009 Magazine http://issuu.com/europride_09/docs/europride09_magazine
- ^ Zurich Pride Festival Homepage http://www.zurichpridefestival.ch/programm/historie/artists/showacts/
- ^ Zurich Pride Festival Homepage http://www.zurichpridefestival.ch/programm/artists/artists/
- ^ Official Artist Charity Night http://www.artistcharitynight.ch/program_music.htm
- ^ Press Release official Swiss Hitparade: http://www.hitparade.ch/music_news.asp?todo=view&id=60
- ^ Article http://www.gay.ch/blog/detail/1385/maurizio_bitonti_stiller_abschied
External links
Persondata Name Daddio, Claudia Alternative names Short description Date of birth April 8, 1980 Place of birth Date of death Place of death Categories:- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from the canton of Zurich
- Swiss Eurovision Song Contest entrants
- Swiss female singers
- Swiss musicians
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