fabiana palladino

Biography

Fabiana Elizabeth Palladino, born in 1987 in central London, England, grew up in a richly musical household as the daughter of renowned Welsh bassist Pino Palladino and former backing singer Marilyn Roberts. Exposed to soul and Motown from artists like Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway through her parents, she also drew from mainstream pop such as Spice Girls and Craig David, later discovering R&B via cousins and finding deep inspiration in Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, David Bowie, and Peter Gabriel. Playing piano and drums from a young age, she joined Groove Academy in her teens and studied English at Goldsmiths, University of London before switching to Music Theory, though she initially had no professional music ambitions.[1][4]

Palladino began her career in 2007 by uploading demos to Myspace, including an untitled song about anxiety, and self-released the EP Long Nights of War in 2011. She connected with Ghostpoet for his single 'Survive It' and worked as a session and touring musician for artists like SBTRKT and Jessie Ware, while in the band Nautic with Laura Groves. Discovered by Jai Paul on SoundCloud in 2014 while working at the Old Vic box office, she signed to his Paul Institute label, releasing inaugural singles 'Mystery' (2017) and 'Shimmer' (2018). Her self-titled debut album arrived in 2024 via Paul Institute and XL Recordings, self-produced with tracks reflecting COVID-19 lockdown isolation after a breakup, earning critical acclaim for its silky pop blending 80s/90s R&B, soul, pop, and disco.[1][2][4][5]

Palladino's artistry emphasizes self-empowerment and timeless pop, often drawing from personal experiences of gender bias in the industry. Her 2024 album, accompanied by singles like 'Stay With Me Through the Night' and 'Drunk', marked her first headline shows, including Great Escape Festival and BST Hyde Park. As a multi-instrumentalist and producer, she continues to evolve, having collaborated with family like her father Pino and drummer Steve Ferrone on key tracks.[1][4][5]

Fun Facts

• Discovered by Jai Paul while working a day job at the Old Vic theatre box office, leading directly to her signing with the Paul Institute.[1]
• Played in Jai Paul’s band for his first-ever live show at Coachella, a major milestone she lists among her top career moments.[5]
• Originally planned an EP but expanded it into a full self-titled album after signing with XL Recordings, with many tracks written during COVID-19 lockdown at her parents' home post-breakup.[1]
• Her mother Marilyn (Maz) performed in an outrageous cabaret duo called The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts and persuaded young Fabiana to take up drums over violin for more fun.[4]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jai Paul - Discovered her on SoundCloud and signed her as a founding artist to Paul Institute label ('Mystery' (2017), 'Shimmer' (2018), album deal leading to self-titled debut (2024)) [2014-2024]
• Kate Bush - Major stylistic inspiration discovered via university friend (Hounds of Love (1985) album) [University years (ca. 2007)]
• Pino Palladino (father) - Familial musical influence and session collaboration ('Stay With Me Through the Night' (2024)) [Childhood-2024]

Key Collaborators

• Ghostpoet - Early collaboration via Myspace connection ('Survive It' single (2011)) [2011]
• Sampha - Co-producer and friend who encouraged songwriting ('For You' single (2014)) [2014]
• Laura Groves - Bandmate in Nautic live band and worked on solo projects as drummer/singer (Nautic live shows including Boiler Room, Groves' solo work) [Early 2010s]
• SBTRKT - Session and touring musician (Unspecified tours/sessions) [Pre-2017]
• Jessie Ware - Session and touring musician (Unspecified tours/sessions) [Pre-2017]
• Steve Ferrone - Drummer on key track ('Stay With Me Through the Night' (2024)) [2024]
• Shawn Everett - Producer on key track ('Stay With Me Through the Night' (2024)) [2024]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz