From Italy With Love

Carlotta Centanni is a successful singer songwriter born and raised in Rome, Italy and now living and working in Sydney, Australia.

It was perhaps inevitable that Carlotta would pursue a career in music given her family. She is the daughter of two artists - her father was a well known make-up artist for movies and icons of Italian music (including Mina and Ornella Vanoni). And her mother was a talented actress and painter. Additionally, Carlotta’s grandfather was Armandino Zingone, who was a famous Neapolitan singer and musician during ‘La Dolce Vita’. 

From a young age Carlotta wrote songs and performed at renowned venues across Italy; including La Palma Jazz, La Casa Del Cinema, Il Classico, Caffé Latino, Villa Miani, Villa Celimontana, Forte Village in Sardinia, Sofitel Tim e Ama at Villa Simius, Hilton Hotel, and the Sheraton in Rome. 

She has also performed on Italian television on Rai 1; first accompanied by actor Massimo Ghini on a program hosted by Carlo Conti; and then on another called ‘Mattiné’ hosted by Ingrassia and Rossella Brescia to promote “Tu Non Sei Solo” - one of her first original songs recorded in Rome and arranged by Stefano Senesi. 

From Rome to Australia

In 2008 Carlotta migrated to Australia, carrying only a small back-pack and 10 copies of her first album “Respiro” (an amazing collaboration with the super-talented Stefano Malatesta). 

Carlotta introduced her elegant Italian musical style to many of Sydney’s finest music venues; with sold-out shows at The Sticky Bar, Sydney Opera House, The Passenger Room at Circular Quay, The Basement, Camelot Lounge, The Vanguard, Venue 505, and Foundry616. More recently, between 2023 and 2025 Carlotta has been a regular performer at the popular Sydney venue “Cardea” in Barangaroo. 

She has conducted many corporate events, and performed long-running musical residencies at The Intercontinental Double Bay, and Sheraton on the Park. She was also a presenter and judge for the international Music Show “Emergenza Festival” in Sydney at the Metro Theatre. Also, Carlotta is no stranger to radio, having appeared as a regular guest on SBS Radio and East Side Radio amongst other stations. 

But whilst Carlotta loved Australia and had much success there, she experienced many challenges, particularly with her Australian visa. She returned to Italy many times, and given the difficulties would have moved back permanently, had it not been for an interview with her spiritual guide Sri Sathya Sai Baba in India in 2016 who told her to return to Sydney… “sing and serve - this is your final destination”. Finally in 2021 she became an Australian Citizen. 

Of course Carlotta would often fly back to Rome to record her music, including three albums in addition to “Respiro”; her second “Rome to the land of Australia” is a compilation of original songs written between Sydney and Rome; “Speak Love” is an ensemble of jazz standards and bossanova; and “Napoli, Resta Cu’mme” a celebration of Neapolitan music dedicated to her mum Giovanna and grandfather Armandino. Whilst in Italy she even sang the role of ‘Bridget’ in the Italian dubbed movie blockbuster ‘Trolls’. 

Musical Collaborations

Throughout her career Carlotta has had the privilege of collaborating with many first-class musicians around the world, including; Stefano Senesi, Andrea Pagani, Eddy Palermo, Eric Daniel, Bob Masala, Piero Pierantozzi, Roberto Rocchetti, Brendon St Ledger, Marcello Maio, Guy Strazzullo, Nick Southcott, Peter Locke, Greg Royal, Nic Cecire, Michael Bartolomei, Daniele Basirico, to name just a few.

Carlotta also had the pleasure of working with Australian music icon Don Spencer at The Chophouse in Sydney, and for the ACMF Australian Children’s Music Foundation. 

Music and Children

This experience led to Carlotta’s other great passion of working with children, and inspiring them with music and art. This took shape 2010, when she joined St Vincent de Paul and Amnesty International as a volunteer helping refugee children learn English through song. After this she studied for two years to became an early childhood educator, winning the Best International Student of NSW Award for her volunteer work, which also included helping young Australians find their voice, with Green Light Fusion Australia. 

Carlotta has worked with children all over Sydney and is currently lending her musical and artistic talents to a community-based non-profit centre near her home in Woollahra, where she organises activities for the children and families to enjoy, and where she does group singing sessions for everyone to participate.

What’s in store for 2026

Alongside her work with children, she is continuing her studies and passion for the guitar, whilst writing original material for album number five, which she plans to record and release later this year. 

Additionally she will be continuing her popular and not-to-be-missed “From Italy With Love” project which she began in 2017 and is Carlotta’s love letter to her native Italy and a reminder of her heritage. Singing songs of love and romance, Carlotta transports her audience through La Dolce Vita and the golden age of Italian music, including the poetic beauty of Canzoni D’Autore, and the soul-stirring melodies of her beloved Napoli. Every note reveals her heritage, every phrase tells a story, and every performance is a celebration of the music that flows through her veins.

Carlotta’s Style

Carlotta’s voice has been described as “sophisticated, powerful and smoother than silk”. She is known for the deep colour of her voice and for her heartfelt and soulful performances. Her style has even been compared to the iconic Italian Superstar, Mina Mazzini.