Emiliana Torrini

The daughter of an Italian father and an Icelandic mother, Emilíana Torrini is a highly regarded songwriter and a distinctive singer, with an unusual style drawing on many influences, from opera to hard rock. She grew up in Iceland and worked as a waitress in her father's restaurant, before gaining early musical experience performing with the eclectic Reykjavic electronic band and acting collective GusGus in 1997. Torrini subsequently launched her solo career, releasing several records in Iceland before moving to London, where her striking songs were soon noticed. She co-wrote Slow and Someday for Kylie Minogue and toured intensively with Dido, Sting, Moby, Travis, Tricky and Adem. She also sang on Paul Oakenfold's Hold Your Hand and had minor hits in her own right with White Rabbit, Stephanie Says, Someone Knows and Crazy Love, but eclipsed them all with Jungle Drum in 2009; a Number 1 in several European countries. Torrini also depped (stood in) for a pregnant Björk, singing Gollum's Song over the closing credits of the Peter Jackson movie Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.