Nicole Thalìa, born Nicole Di Gioacchino in Rome, Italy, is an accomplished R&B singer-songwriter and vocalist currently residing in London. Her journey in music began at the tender age of 4, and by 12, she was performing professionally. In 2012, she made the pivotal decision to relocate to London to further her music career. Nicole serves as the lead vocalist for Grammy-nominated drum and bass DJ High Contrast and is also a member of The Kingdom Choir. Notably, in 2018, she performed with TKC for an audience of 2 billion during the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In 2019, she toured the UK and the US, with a highlight being her performance at the Hollywood Bowl alongside the legendary Gladys Knight. Additionally, she sang a lullaby to baby Archie Mountbatten-Windsor live on BBC and participated in a live session at The Sun.
Nicole's career has seen her grace stages and appear on television in the UK, Italy, and the US, including X Factor Italy, the Steve Harvey Show, and Access Hollywood in Los Angeles with Mario Lopez. As a highly skilled coloratura soprano, she boasts a vocal range of nearly four octaves and showcases her talents across various genres with a distinctive, soulful tone and impressive vibrato. Her contributions to music include her appearance on the soundtrack of the film "Rocketman," which chronicles Elton John's life. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with numerous artists, such as Paloma Faith, Diversity, Demi Lovato, The Who, Tom Jones, Take That, and Geri Halliwell, among others.
As a singer-songwriter, Nicole has released several singles over the past two years, including "Take Me Away," featuring producers ELVNS. In December 2019, she united 13 artists to record her single "Give Thanks," with all proceeds directed to charity in support of the Amazon Rainforest, its biodiversity, and the indigenous communities affected by ongoing fires. Her upcoming single, "IF ONLY," is set for release on April 17, 2020, followed by an EP later that year.
Born in 1992 in Rome, Italy, Nicole's passion for music was nurtured by her parents. While her peers tuned into mainstream radio, she immersed herself in the sounds of Led Zeppelin and Frank Sinatra. At 6, she began her first opera singing lessons and was chosen to duet with the Italian band Pooh. Her family's frequent travels exposed her to diverse cultural and musical influences. This rich background led her to receive a scholarship at the renowned Teatro Alla Scala in Milan, which she declined in favor of a different musical path. At 12, she attended Cinecittà Campus, where she was mentored by notable figures in the Italian entertainment industry, including Maria Grazia Fontana, who guided her for eight years.
By 14, Nicole was collaborating with legendary Italian singer and producer Teddy Reno on her first original single and joined the gospel choir SAT&B. Her exceptional talent quickly gained attention; she attended Saint Louis College of Music in Rome and landed the lead female role in the musical “’68 Italian Rock,” performing in prominent theaters in Rome for nearly two years while balancing high school and various band performances across Italy. National newspapers such as “Il Messaggero” and “Il Corriere della Sera” lauded her as “a young, eclectic talent.” Between 2006 and 2011, Nicole became a well-known name in the Italian music scene, serving as a backing vocalist for Italian singer Giorgia and American rapper Coolio, and performing on major Italian television shows like Domenica In and Big Brother Italian Edition. She also earned recognition as the youngest soprano in the Promessi Sposi Production by Michele Guardì, with a preview held in Milan’s Dome and broadcasted nationally on TG3.
In 2010, Nicole reached the finals of the Judges Houses section of the popular TV show X-Factor Italy. The following year, she participated in Rock City, receiving valuable praise and insights from Leon Hendrix, the brother of Jimi Hendrix. Between 2010 and 2012, she collaborated with M° Luca Ruggero Jacovella and renowned trumpeter and film score composer Cicci Santucci (known for his work with Ennio Morricone), performing at some of the finest jazz venues in Rome.
In late 2012, Nicole moved to London to chase her dreams and joined the Urban Voices Collective, known for their participation in the 2012 Olympic Games Choir. Her impressive list of collaborations includes performances with Paloma Faith (BBC Proms 2014, BBC Awards), Sigma, Labrinth (TV BAFTAS 2015), Lionel Richie, Gary Barlow (Royal Variety Performance 2013), The Who (US Broadcast), Rita Ora, Sir Tim Rice, producer and composer David Arnold, Coldplay, Diversity (Got To Dance, Invictus Games, Up Close And Personal Tour 2015), Tom Jones, Alfie Boe (VE Day 70), Geri Halliwell, and many more.