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Biography
Laura de Carvalho Rizzotto (Latvian: Laura di Karvaļu Rizoto; born 18 July 1994) is a Latvian-Brazilian singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. She released her debut studio album Made in Rio in 2011 through Universal Music Brazil, which included the single "Friend in Me".
In 2014, she independently released her second studio album Reason to Stay, and independently released the extended play RUBY in 2017.
Rizzotto represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, with the song "Funny Girl", but achieved the 12th place during the 2nd semifinal and didn't qualify to the final.
Early life and education
Rizzotto was born on 18 July 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has a brother named Lucas. Her father is a Brazilian of Latvian descent, with his mother being born in Liepāja and raised in Riga, and his father Domenico Rizzotto was a Belluno-born teacher who emigrated to Brazil in the early 19th century. Her mother is of Portuguese descent.
Rizzotto and her family moved to the United States in 2005, and settled in Edina, Minnesota. She spent her childhood between Rio de Janeiro and the United States. After high school, she began attending Berklee College of Music in Boston.
In 2013, Rizzotto moved to Los Angeles to attend the California Institute of the Arts, graduating with a degree in musical arts. Afterwards, she moved to New York City and received a master's degree in music from Columbia University in 2017.
Career
Rizzotto began her professional music career in 2009 and signed with Universal Music Brazil the following year. She went on to release her debut studio album Made in Rio in 2011, which featured production by Eumir Deodato.
In 2012, Rizzotto performed as the opening act for Demi Lovato during her A Special Night with Demi Lovato performances in Brazil. In 2014, she self-released her second studio album Reason to Stay.
From 2016 to 2017, she worked as the Portuguese language coach for Jennifer Lopez after being hired by Sony Music.In 2017, Rizzotto self-released RUBY, the first EP of an intended series titled Precious Stones. The second installment AMBER will be released in 2018 as a tribute to her Latvian roots.
In December 2017, Rizzotto was announced as one of the competitors in Supernova 2018, the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, in Lisbon, Portugal, with the song "Funny Girl". She advanced to the televised rounds after being selected from both an online vote and live audition. Rizzotto competed in the third semi-final on 17 February 2018, and became one of the two qualifiers to advance to the final on 24 February. On 24 February, she was chosen as the winner of the competition.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| BRA | ||
| Made in Rio |
| — |
| Reason to Stay |
| — |
Extended plays
| Title | Extended play details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| BRA | ||
| RUBY |
| — |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVA | BRA | |||
| "Friend in Me" | 2011 | — | — | Made in Rio |
| "When I Look In Your Eyes" | 30 | — | ||
| "Reason to Stay" | 2014 | — | — | Reason to Stay |
| "Teardrops" | — | — | ||
| "Love It (The World Cup Song)" | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "The High" | 2017 | — | — | RUBY |
| "Cherry on Top" | — | — | ||
| "Red Flags" | — | — | ||
| "Funny Girl" | 10 | — | AMBER | |
| "Bonjour" | 2018 | 3 | — | RUBY |
| "Tightrope" | 2019 | 1 | — | Non-album single |