Fantine (musician)

Fantine (born Fantine Maria Pritoula; 6 February 1984) is a Russian-born Australian multilingual singer/songwriter of Russian and Dominican descent. Fantine is currently residing in Miami, Florida. She made her musical debut on the Australian indie music scene in 2010 as a featured artist in a collaboration with Space Invadas ( Katalyst and Steve Spacek) resulting in the soulful, jazz-inspired single, ''Super Sweet.''

In 2011, Fantine announced ''Rubberoom (2011)'' as her first solo release. The song was also aired on Australian national television programs including Rage and Video Hits, and was awarded "Indie Video Clip of The Week." Since then, Fantine has gone on to release singles ''Eleven (2011)'' and ''Perfect Strangers (2011)'', produced in the UK by Gorillaz producer, Jason Cox, and ''Don't Come Around (2012)'', recorded in Australia and produced by UK producer, Lee Groves.

In 2013, Fantine began working on her debut album, ''I Am Fantine (2015),'' with 19-time Grammy Award-winning producer, Emilio Estefan, and seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan, who also co-wrote two of her songs. The Estefans curated and helped develop Fantine's ''Bachata de Rosa (2014)'' and ''Reservation for Two (2014),'' which landed the No. 5 spot on Billboard's Dance Song Chart''.''

In March 2015, Fantine joined three-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and producer, Wyclef Jean, at the Miami Beach Centennial Celebration Concert to perform a rendition of ''Killing Me Softly''. She is currently working on her latest single ''What A Day (2015)'' co-produced by Emilio Estefan and Wyclef Jean, featuring Wyclef Jean and reggaeton singer, El Cata.

Early life and family

Born to Russian father (Anatoli Pritoula) and Dominican mother (Rita Pritoula), Fantine and sister Alexandra, were raised in a tri-lingual household (Russian, Spanish, English). The family immigrated to Australia in 1992.Chris Urankar, "She's The One – Fantine", Instyle Magazine, June 2011, page 117.

Fantine returned to Australia in 2001 to study at the Notre Dame University, Western Australia in Perth, Western Australia. She was enrolled in a Bachelor of Law and Accounting. While studying, Fantine performed live with a local band Soul Corporation. During this period, music was largely a hobby.Ren Kirk
"Fantine Pritoula Interview"
, 3 News, Retrieved 14 June 2011.

Music career

Collaborative work

Fantine's music career began in 2009 when she signed a management deal with The Coady Group"Artist Management – Signings"
The Coady Group, Retrieved 14 June 2011. and relocated to Sydney. In her first year in Sydney Fantine was introduced to Sydney-based band Space Invadas, the new project between Australian indie hip-hop producer Katalyst (musician) and Steve Spacek.Clarence Knigh
"Space Invadas: Soul:Fi"
Music Feeds, Retrieved 14 June 2011. Together they recorded a collaboration track titled Super Sweet. It featured Fantine on vocals and was lifted off Space Invada's album Soul:Fi (2010)."Space Invadas – Soul:Fi – out on BBE"
Paris DJs, Retrieved 14 June 2011. Super Sweet aired was first aired on Triple J in March 2010."Super Sweet – Space Invadas"
, JPlay, Retrieved 14 June 2011. In support of the release of Soul:Fi, the band toured Australia performing at festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Future Music Festival (Future Entertainment) and the rural Groovin' the Moo Festival."Undercover News – Introducing Fantine"
, Undercover, Retrieved 14 June 2011.

In 2014, Fantine embarked on two Russian Jazz tours throughout the U.S. with the acclaimed Russian jazz saxophonist Igor Butman and his Moscow Jazz Orchestra. Some of their noted performances include the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest.

Solo work

From June through August 2010, Fantine spent time in the US and UK co-writing music for her forthcoming EP and Album with a series of writers including Australian ARIA Award winning writer Ben Lee, songwriter and producer Sacha Skarbek, and Leeds based writers/producers John Beck and Steve Chrisanthou.Chris Honnery, "He Said She Said with Fantine", The Brag Magazine, 4 April 2011.

Fantine's first solo release was a single titled Rubberoom (Rubberoom) (February 2011), a song about "the place where lost ideas go"."Introducing Fantine"
The Outside Organisation, Retrieved 14 June 2011. It was co-written with UK writer/producer Alex Gray
, Sydney Unleashed, Retrieved 14 June 2011. and was first aired on Triple J in February 2011."Fantine Biography"
Ish Media, Retrieved 14 June 2011. The release of the song was followed by the airing of the music video on Australian national television programs including Rage, where the music video was awarded the status of "Indie Video Clip of The Week""Rage Playlist – Saturday, 5 February 2011"
Rage, Retrieved 14 June 2011. and Video Hits (Australian TV series) as part of the 2011 Predictions Segment."Playlist"
Video Hits, Retrieved 14 June 2011. Rubberoom was followed by Fantine's second release, titled Eleven ( Eleven) (May 2011). This song delves into the "superstition and mysticism of the number Eleven"."Niche Productions Welcomes Fantine To Its Artist Agency Roster"
, Niche Productions, Retrieved 14 June 2011.

In 2013, Fantine relocated to Miami to bring her music to the states and work with Emilio and Gloria Estefan, who helped Fantine produce singles ''Bachata de Rosa (2014)'', a song about "love and longing" that lends tribute to her Latin roots, and ''Reservation for Two (2014).'' The music video to ''Reservation for Two'', which is co-produced and directed by Emilio Estefan, shows the complexities and hardships of a relationship. Fantine went on to work with DJs like Ted Smooth to develop remixes of ''Reservation for Two'' and reach a new audience. ''Reservation for Two'' went on to land the No. 5 spot on Billboard's Dance Song Chart in 2014''.'' Fantine hit the U.S. market making several guest appearances throughout the country. In March 2014, she was a featured artist performer at Perez Hilton's 36th Birthday 'Madonnathon' in New York City. Other performers included JoJo and Kat Graham. In April 2014, Fantine made a guest appearance at the Power of Love Gala.

In June 2014, Fantine began her promo tour for her two new singles ''Reservation for Two'' and ''Bachata de Rosa.'' Her single ''Reservation for Two'' officially debuted in July 2014 on PerezHilton.com. Several popular DJ's including Ted Smooth, began remixing the song and it became a hit club single and played throughout various U.S. dance clubs. Fantine kicked off her Spanish tour for her second single, ''Bachata de Rosa,'' in August 2014. In September 2014, she made a guest appearance and publicly debuted the song on Univision's hit show, ''El Gordo y la Flaca'', and it simultaneously launched online on PeopleEspanol.com.

In October 2014, Fantine performed her new single ''Reservation for Two'' at the People en Español's "Las 25 Mujeres Mas Poderosas" luncheon in Coral Gables, Florida. She was also seen in Miami later that month where she sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers football game. After her NFL performance, Fantine was asked to perform at a campaigns rally for former Florida Governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist on 17 October 2014 in Miami, Florida.

In November 2014, Fantine performed at the 24-Hour Cotton Inc. Live Fashion Show. She sang her two singles ''Bachata de Rosa'' and ''Reservation for Two'' and was accompanied by other featured performances and appearances by Jason Derulo, Trey Smith, Fantine, D.J. Irie and fashion icon, Olivia Palermo. She also performed at the University of Miami's, Festival Miami.

Shortly after, in March 2015, Fantine announced she was working on a new project with singer/songwriter/producer Wyclef Jean, showing the two in Wyclef's recording studio in his New Jersey home. In March, Fantine appeared on NBC's ''6 in the Mix'' alongside Wyclef Jean, Emilio Estefan, Rudy Perez, and Miami Mayor Carlos Jimenez to promote her upcoming performance at the Miami Beach Centennial Concert on 25 March 2015. At the concert, and before being joined on stage by Wyclef Jean, Fantine performed a cover of Compay Segundo's ''Chan Chan,'' paying tribute to Miami Beach's Cuban community, as well as her hit single, ''Reservation for Two.'' She then performed a rendition of The Fugees’ ''Killing Me Softly'' alongside Wyclef Jean.

Soon after her performance, Fantine announced on her social media pages that her new song, ''What A Day,'' included co-production by Emilio Estefan and also featured Dominican reggaeton singer El Cata. In June 2015, Fantine released her new single ''What A Day,'' featuring Wyclef Jean and El Cata, on AllMusic.com. The song focused on the trials faced by exotic dancers in everyday life. The official ''What A Day'' music video premiered on Vevo.com in July 2015 and a remix of the song is currently peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Dance Club Charts.

Performances and appearances

Guest appearances

Fantine was also featured as a guest vocalist with Space Invadas during the launch of their album Soul:Fi at the Oxford Art Factory (Sydney).Johnno Siedler, "Space Invadas, Fantine", Brag Magazine, 17 January 2011.

Support slots

In March 2011, Fantine performed a support slot for Melbourne-based soul band Electric Empire.Chris Familton, "Electric Empire, Fantine", Drum Media, 22 March 2011. The performance received positive reviews.

Fantine also performed backing vocals for Eurythmics David A. Stewart, who accompanied Stevie Nicks as a special guest during her November/December (2011) tour of Australia.Sakib Hami
"Fantine to tour with Stevie Nicks and play Upstairs Beresford"
The AU Review, 27 October 2011.

In February 2012 Fantine performed support slots for Erykah Badu, US based soul man, Mayer Hawthorne. This was followed by a support slot with Daniel Merriweather in April 2012.Lil
"Fantine – Don’t Come Around"
The Orange Press, Retrieved 15 August 2012.

Discography

Singles

Music Videos

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fantine Pritoula
1984 births
Singers from Moscow
Singers from Sydney
Australian indie pop musicians
Living people
Australian dance musicians
Australian people of Dominican Republic descent
Australian people of Russian descent
Russian dance musicians
Russian women singers
Russian emigrants to Australia
Russian people of Dominican Republic descent
Australian multi-instrumentalists
21st-century Australian singers
21st-century Russian singers
21st-century Australian women singers