Music has always been my passion, since I could remember.
My family immigrated from the island Lipari, it is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northern coast of Sicily.
As a young child I recall my family always happily singing and rehearsing in the lounge room, and through this experience, it has given me the encouragement to be in the music scene just like my father (John Mandarano), a guitarist and a singer who had his very own band.
I remember every Saturday night helping my father carry his instruments, and he would always allow me to get up and sing ocassionally at the musical functions.
This was an amazing experience. I also would listen and observe my two Nonno’s (grandfathers) playing the accordion in their own kitchens.
This was also a wonderful memory, just simply serenading every Christmas, and the neighbours hearing us sing all of the Christmas carols that we would love to sing.
My Father liked jazz, and rock. My Mother liked the 70s and 80s love songs and dedications. This was something both parents introduced me to, and I loved it.
My brother older heavy metal fan, bands such as Kiss/Guns n Roses, and my sister nearly eight years younger and she absolutely loved her Spice Girls/Mariah Carey and RnB classics.
Then there was me, I loved “Queen of Pop” yes.. Madonna was my Idol, and I think perhaps most people’s idol.
She is a pioneer in the music industry but also creative and always different, never boring and that’s what I love about her. Madonna was and still is my idol. I also like others, such as Janet Jackson, Cindy lauper, Ricky Martin, and George Michael. Oh and definitely the 80’ and 90’s Pop commercial dance, electro house Music.
I believe that singing has always been in my heart, and I have decided to pursue my singing, as i have studied theatre technology.
I enrolled at David Jannz school of singing and finally I decided to write my own song, which was “smile Betty” and I had asked my father to sing this for me, which was dedicated to my Mother Betty as well as all who have suffered with COVID-19, July 2020 from the St.Vincent Hospital in Melbourne.
“Just Remember to Smile” was my slogan you will get through this.
It wasn’t easy for my Mother, she showed us her strength and to all of us here in Melbourne.
Most of all, she showed me not to give up on my dream, and this experience has allowed me to realise, your never too young or old, I am going to write and sing my own song.

Where are you based?
Australia, Melbourne

How long have you been making music?
since 2020, but I have always sung in my fathers band as a child growing up and I did singing sessions at schools.

What genre would you consider your music to be?
pop, dance, electronic, house

What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
my father was in a band and my family always sung and played instruments, also growing up in the 80s and 90s was very inspirational growing up these years, music was amazing and people were very creative.

What are your biggest musical influences?
Madonna, George Michael, Prince, Cindy Lauper, Janet, Whitney, 80s, growing up in the 90s as a teenager and going out in the 00’s listening to dance music was insparrational

Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Independent artist

What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Recording, songwriting, I have been fortunate to have my father lead me down the right way to be able to write and start recording, but I do believe something in your life happens and needs to be the write time to write what you feel at that moment and to record.

How many songs or albums have you released to date?
15 songs, 9 Original and self written myself.

Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
Ballad “Lifting Our Hearts” This Song is about lifting our hearts and being nice, kind to each other and to move on and be happy in relationships and appreciate our friendships. “Lifting Our hearts”.

Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Yes, I am remixing my new single “Lifting Our hearts” in a dance version, and I am writing more dance singles this year, Also planning to create my album choosing my best written singles and writing new material for the Album, can’t wait to get back to the studio and dance it up!

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