Dolcenera

Biography

Emanuela Trane (born 16 May 1977), known by her stage name Dolcenera (Italian pronunciation: [ˌdoltʃeˈneːra], lit. 'Sweet [and] Black'), is an Italian singer, songwriter and actress.
She rose to fame in 2003, after winning the newcomers' section of the Sanremo Music Festival, but she achieved commercial success in Italy only in 2005, when she won the music-based reality show Music Farm and she released her second album, Un mondo perfetto×Un mondo perfetto20 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Mai più noi due3:352Qualche volta4:023Sei bellissima3:284Tutto è niente3:485Un mondo perfetto3:436Lulù & Marlene3:097Passo dopo passo4:338Com'eri tu3:569Pensiero stupendo2:2310Continua4:2711Portami via4:3212Mai più noi due (pianovocecolori)3:05. In 2005 she was also awarded Best New Artist of the Year at the Italian Meeting of Independent Record Labels and she received the De André Award for Best Emerging Artist.
Dolcenera participated again in the Sanremo Music Festival in 2006—when she sang the hit single "Com'è straordinaria la vita×Com'è straordinaria la vita14 March 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Com'è straordinaria la vita3:532Portami via4:323Com'è straordinaria la vita (pianovocecolori)4:074Com'è straordinaria la vita (radio edit)3:41", included in the album Il popolo dei sogni×Il popolo dei sogni2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Com'è straordinaria la vita3:542Giusta o sbagliata3:343Piove (Condizione dell'anima)4:044Il luminal d'immenso (L'ombra di lui)3:205L'amore (Il mostro)4:406Resta come sei4:257Il popolo dei sogni4:288E la luna sale su3:449America3:5110Emozioni (dal vivo)5:06—and in 2009, singing "Il mio amore unico×Il mio amore unico18 February 2009 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Il mio amore unico3:46", from her fourth studio set Dolcenera nel paese delle meraviglie, the first one released by a major label, Sony Music.
After signing with EMI, she released her fifth studio album in 2011, titled Evoluzione della specie×Evoluzione della specie17 May 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Il sole di domenica3:432Evoluzione della specie "uomo"2:523Viva3:384L'amore è un gioco4:075Nel regime delle belle apparenze3:346A un passo dalla felicità3:347Nel cuore e nella mente4:058Il tempo di pretendere5:319La preghiera di Virginia3:4910I colori dell'arcobaleno3:2811Dagli occhi di una donna3:19. During the same year, she appeared on the Italian version of Professor Green's single "Read All About It (Tutto quello che devi sapere)", which was also included in the 2012 edition of Evoluzione della specie, released after Dolcenera's participation in the Sanremo Music Festival 2012 with "Ci vediamo a casa".

Early life

Emanuela Trane was born in Galatina, province of Lecce, Italy, to Mimma and Gino Trane.
She lived in Scorrano until the age of 18, when she moved to Tuscany, to study mechanical engineering at the University of Florence.
She started writing songs at the age of 14, and she later studied singing, clarinet and piano. In 1993, she founded the band I Codici Zero, together with Michele Vitulli, Francesco Cherubini, Emanuele Fontana and Francesco Sighieri.
In the early 2000s she met through a web chat the Italian musician and record producer Lucio Fabbri, former member of the progressive rock band Premiata Forneria Marconi. Thanks to Fabbri, who later became her first producer, she obtained a recording contract with the independent record label Amarena Music.

Sorriso Nucleare, the first album

Dolcenera's debut single, "Solo tu×Solo tu2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Solo tu3:272Solo tu (instrumental)3:27", was released in September 2002. The song allowed her to participate in the singing contest Destinazione Sanremo, broadcast on Rai 2 from 27 September 2002, with the purpose to choose 12 of the 16 newcomers participating to the 53rd Sanremo Music Festival. On 20 December 2002, during the final of the show, Dolcenera was announced one of the winners.
During the festival, held in May 2003, Dolcenera performed the song "Siamo tutti là fuori×Siamo tutti là fuori2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Siamo tutti là fuori4:112Solo tu3:273Piccola stella senza cielo3:48", later released as her second single. On 7 March 2003, Dolcenera won first place in the newcomers' section of the competition and she received the "Press, TV and Radio Award". The single, which peaked at number 10 on the Italian Singles Chart, was included in Dolcenera's debut album, Sorriso nucleare×Sorriso nucleare2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Devo andare al mare3:292Dolcissimo4:193Vivo tutta la notte3:354Siamo tutti là fuori4:115Ansia metafisica3:146Sorriso nucleare4:347Solo tu3:278Nuda e cruda3:599Io mi piaccio3:3610Vorrei tu fossi qui3:3711Piccola stella senza cielo3:48, released in March 2003.
The album also spawned the singles "Devo andare al mare" and "Vivo tutta la notte".
In summer 2003, Dolcenera embarked on a concert tour throughout Italy, promoting her debut album.

Music Farm and the second studio album

In 2005, Dolcenera won the second edition of Music Farm, an Italian reality show, whose contestants were well-known or promising singers. During the live shows, she performed Italian and international songs, such as Loredana Bertè's "Sei bellissima" and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". She also sang for the first time "Mai più noi due", the first single from her second studio album titled Un mondo perfetto×Un mondo perfetto20 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Mai più noi due3:352Qualche volta4:023Sei bellissima3:284Tutto è niente3:485Un mondo perfetto3:436Lulù & Marlene3:097Passo dopo passo4:338Com'eri tu3:569Pensiero stupendo2:2310Continua4:2711Portami via4:3212Mai più noi due (pianovocecolori)3:05.
The album, released on 20 May 2005, peaked at number 4 on the Italian Albums Chart and was certified Platinum, selling more than 90,000 copies. In 2005 she also received the De André Award, the Leone d'Argento as "Musical Revelation of the Year" and she scooped "Best New Artist of the Year" at the MEI ("Meeting of Independent Record Labels").

Il popolo dei sogni and the tour in Germany

In 2006 Dolcenera participated in the 56th Sanremo Music Festival singing "Com'è straordinaria la vita×Com'è straordinaria la vita14 March 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Com'è straordinaria la vita3:532Portami via4:323Com'è straordinaria la vita (pianovocecolori)4:074Com'è straordinaria la vita (radio edit)3:41", the lead single from her second album, titled Il popolo dei sogni×Il popolo dei sogni2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Com'è straordinaria la vita3:542Giusta o sbagliata3:343Piove (Condizione dell'anima)4:044Il luminal d'immenso (L'ombra di lui)3:205L'amore (Il mostro)4:406Resta come sei4:257Il popolo dei sogni4:288E la luna sale su3:449America3:5110Emozioni (dal vivo)5:06. The album was certified Gold in the first week and it later received the Platinum certification in Italy.
In August 2006 she released Un mondo perfetto, a compilation album published in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. The album includes songs from her previous Italian studio albums. On 30 March 2007 the album was re-released with additional bonus tracks, and it was supported by a tour in Germany.

Dolcenera nel paese delle meraviglie

In 2009 she signed a recording contract with Sony Music and she published her fourth studio album, titled Dolcenera nel paese delle meraviglie×Dolcenera nel paese delle meraviglie18 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1La più bella canzone d'amore che c'è4:222Il mio amore unico3:463Un dolce incantesimo4:194Dolcemente come niente3:285Chi decide...3:476Date a Cesare3:467Un'emozione al giorno3:098Come un sole splendido4:359Oltre le stelle4:2610...sei soltanto tu3:2611Giorni d'estate3:4712Fino a domani2:5913Un giorno strano3:22. The first single from the album, "Il mio amore unico×Il mio amore unico18 February 2009 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Il mio amore unico3:46", was performed during the 59th Sanremo Music Festival, competing in the "Artists" section, but it failed to reach the final. Despite the competition's outcome, the single was strongly aired by Italian radios, reaching the first position in the airplay chart and peaked at number 5 on the Italian Albums Chart. The other singles from the album are "La più bella canzone d'amore che c'è" and "Un dolce incantesimo".
In April 2009, she recorded the song "Domani 21/04.09" with the charity supergroup Artisti Uniti per l'Abruzzo, formed to raise money for the population struck by the earthquake in L'Aquila. To support the same population, in June 2009 she sang together with more than 40 Italian female singers at the San Siro Stadium. The event, organized by Laura Pausini, was titled Amiche per l'Abruzzo.
On 18 June 2009, she was the support act for Depeche Mode's concert in Milan, during their Tour of the Universe.

Evoluzione della specie

On 8 April 2011, Dolcenera released the single "Il sole di domenica×Il sole di domenica8 April 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Il sole di domenica3:40", which was later included in her fifth studio album, Evoluzione della specie×Evoluzione della specie17 May 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Il sole di domenica3:432Evoluzione della specie "uomo"2:523Viva3:384L'amore è un gioco4:075Nel regime delle belle apparenze3:346A un passo dalla felicità3:347Nel cuore e nella mente4:058Il tempo di pretendere5:319La preghiera di Virginia3:4910I colori dell'arcobaleno3:2811Dagli occhi di una donna3:19, recorded from June to November 2010 and released on 17 May 2011 by EMI Music Italy.
The Evoluzione della specie tour started on 9 June 2011 in Falcade, province of Belluno (Veneto).
The second single from the album, "L'amore è un gioco", was released on 26 August 2011. To promote the music video for the song, starring four Playboy Playmates, Dolcenera appeared on the cover of the Italian version of the men's magazine Playboy.
On 12 November 2011, Dolcenera embarked on a new leg of her tour, performing in theaters throughout Italy.
She also featured on the Italian version of Professor Green's song "Read All About It (Tutto quello che devi sapere)", included in British rapper's second studio album, At Your Inconvenience, and released as a digital single on 9 December 2011.
In February 2012, Dolcenera participated in the 62nd Sanremo Music Festival, placing sixth with the song "Ci vediamo a casa", written for the soundtrack of Maurizio Ponzi's film with the same title. The song was included on the 2012 version of her fifth album, Evoluzione della specie², released on 15 February 2012. On 16 February 2012, during the third night of the Festival, she dueted with Professor Green in "My Life Is Mine", a cover version of "Vita spericolata" by Vasco Rossi.
In March 2012, Dolcenera received a TRL Awards nomination in the category Italians Do It Better. In April 2012, she will embark on the Ci vediamo in tour, promoting her fifth studio album throughout Italy.

Le stelle non tremano and The Voice of Italy

Dolcenera's sixth studio album, Le stelle non tremano×Le stelle non tremano11 September 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Niente al mondo3:38A2Immenso4:04A3Un peccato3:10A4Figli del caos3:33A5Accendi lo spirito4:04A6Credo3:46B1Il viaggio3:34B22vite3:16B3Fantastica3:59B4L'anima in una lacrima3:55B5Universale3:48, was released in 2015, preceded by the singles "Niente al mondo×Niente al mondo23 May 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Niente al mondo3:36", "Accendi lo spirito×Accendi lo spirito26 September 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Accendi lo spirito4:02", "Fantastica×Fantastica5 June 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Fantastica4:072Fantastica (acoustic version)3:543Fantastica (remix)4:18", and "Un peccato". In 2016, she competed in the 66th Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Ora o mai più (Le cose cambiano)×Ora o mai più (Le cose cambiano)2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ora o mai più (Le cose cambiano)3:58". Her entry placed 15th in the final.
Shortly after, Dolcenera was a coach on the fourth season of The Voice of Italy. Alice Paba, a member of Dolcenera's team, ultimately won the competition.

Regina Elisabibbi and Anima Mundi

In 2018, Dolcenera released the extended play Regina Elisabibbi, featuring covers of Italian trap songs, re-arranged as piano and voice ballads.
The following year, she endorsed a Greenpeace campaign against marine plastic pollution, recording the song "Amaremare". The song was released as a single and its music video received the Roma Videoclip award.
In 2022 Dolcenera was a coach on Italian talent show The Band, broadcast by Rai 1 and hosted by Carlo Conti. In December of the same year, she released the album Anima Mundi×Anima Mundi9 December 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Un altro giorno sulla terra3:552Più forte3:353Amaremare3:334Wannabe4:005Mondo take-away3:526Mediterraneo3:487Spacecraft3:358Nuovo giorno nuova luce (Feeling good)3:279Meglio l'inferno3:4410Piena di vita3:0011L'oceano e la stella4:0112Calliope (Pace alla luce del sole)3:5913Lo-fi3:37.

Pechino Express and San Marino Song Contest

In 2025 Dolcenera was a contestant of Italian reality show Pechino Express, competing as part of runner-up couple I complici, together with her partner Gigi Campanile. In 2026 she competed in the San Marino Song Contest with the song "My Love", receiving the Jury Award and the SIAE award. The song was released as a single on 10 April 2026, and its music video received a special award at the Rome Videoclip Awards.

Actress career

Dolcenera's first acting role was a cameo appearance in Il nostro messia, a 2008 comedy directed by Claudio Serughetti. In 2008 she starred alongside Cristiana Capotondi, Primo Reggiani and Ludovico Fremont in the movie Scrivilo sui muri, directed by Giancarlo Scarchilli.