Veronica Ballestrini

Veronica Ballestrini
Background information
Birth name Veronica Jean Ballestrini
Born (1991-10-29) October 29, 1991
Waterford, CT, USA
Genres Country/Pop
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter
Instruments guitar, keyboard, vocals
Years active 2008–present
Labels Timbob Records
Associated acts
Website veronicaballestrini.net

Veronica Jean Ballestrini (born October 29, 1991) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Veronica has released two studio albums. Her self-made success story has caught national attention as Jon Caramanica wrote in the New York Times, "... When someone like Ms. Ballestrini arrives essentially unannounced and begins to attract attention, it’s significant.”[1]

Biography

Ballestrini was born in New London, CT and raised in Waterford, CT. She comes from a large family of four brothers and one sister. Her father Rosario Ballestrini and mother Carol Marandino Ballestrini are both Italian-American.[2] They took her to a Dolly Parton concert when she was eleven which sparked her interest in country music.

Veronica signing at CMA Festival.
Veronica signing at CMA Festival.

Ballestrini began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of thirteen, the same year she started her MySpace music page. With only cover songs up at the time, she still managed to attract many fans.[3] Veronica's popularity increased after writing and composing her song "Daddy" and posting it to her MySpace playlist. At age fourteen Veronica began performing around her homestate of Connecticut at local talent contests and fairs. In November 2006 Veronica won 1st place at the USA World Showcase in Las Vegas, performing her song "Daddy". Her internet status caught the attention of many Nashville record producers, who then contacted her about recording in Music City.[4] On her fifteenth birthday, her parents surprised her with a trip to Nashville to pursue her dream.

While still in high school, Ballestrini made her professional singing debut. Ballestrini created an independent label in 2009 and worked with producer Cliff Downs, with whom she has written many songs. Downs produced her debut album "What I'm All About".[5]

Music career

2009-2010: What I'm All About

Ballestrini went on to record her debut album What I'm All About which was released on August 21, 2009 on her own independent label. Her first single "Amazing" charted at #24 on the Music Row chart.[6] and the music video debuted at No. 3 on CMT Pure.[7] "Don't Say" and "Out There Somewhere" were two other singles released off this album.[8] Veronica was named one of six "Artists to Watch For" by Marie Claire Magazine.[9]

Veronica's song "Destiny" is featured in the Diary of an Ex-Child Star (formerly Leaving Hollywood) movie and on the soundtrack. "Destiny" is also on her "What I'm All About" CD.

2010: If I Can Dream

In April 2010, Veronica was chosen as the "Editors Pick" in the If I Can Dream MySpace contest, created by Simon Fuller. She visited the Dream House in Beverly Hills from June 4–7, 2010. Veronica returned to the Dream House on June 23, 2010. During her stay she recorded her song "Fascinated" and worked with top writers, vocal coaches and had a romantic link to Alex Lambert.[10] For her audition video, Ballestrini sang "Blessed The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts.

2010-2012: Gotta Make A Change

In the Summer of 2010 Veronica was part of the "Mead Five Star" Music Insider nationwide sweepstake along with 9 other bands. In October 2010 it was announced Veronica was the winner of the fan voted contest, scoring $25,000.[11] Ballestrini used that money to work on new music.

In 2011, Veronica began working on a project titled Gotta Make A Change, a process that set in motion her inspirational "Gotta Make A Change" tour. Throughout the summer 2011, Veronica performed shows at various camps, festivals, Girl Scout events and women’s correctional facilities across the U.S. to help spread the project’s motivational message. "Life is full of struggles. We stumble, we fall down, and in those moments we feel we will never get up again," Veronica says on the project’s website. "Sometimes all it takes is one person to say or do something to help you to see life in a new perspective and inspire you to get up and make a change. Life will never be pain free, we just have to learn to embrace the pain and find strength.[12]

Veronica performing 2012.
Veronica performing 2012.

In July 2011, Veronica announced to her fans her new single would be "Temporary Fix". The music video for this single was shot in Malibu, California.[13] "Temporary Fix" was released on iTunes on August 11, 2011 and the music video, released on September 24, 2011, accumulated over 150,000 views within the first month of being online. In November 2011 Veronica charted on the Billboard Social 50 chart and #2 for Country artists.[14]

In 2012 Veronica released another single "Don't Give Up On Me", along with a music video and receive 100,000 views in its first week.[15]

2013-present: Flip Side

In 2013, Ballestrini changed her album title name from "Gotta Make A Change" to "Flip Side". Ballestrini still continued working on her second album with producer/engineer Brandon Metcalf. On January 23, 2013, Ballestrini performed a live show on stageit, and sang new songs off the album, and announced the album title. While working on her album, Ballestrini went on a U.S. tour with Secondhand Serenade and Juliet Simms. The kick off show was in Lexington, KY on March 8 and ended in Hollywood, CA on April 9.

Ballestrini had three duets with Secondhand Serenade on their album titled Undefeated, which was released in October 2014. Ballestrini also sings on the Secondhand Serenade cover of "Say Something".

In April 2013, Ballestrini was chosen by Ford to be an agent for the Ford Fiesta Movement as part of a promotion with Ford and YouTube. She received a 2014 Ford Fiesta for a year, along with free gas, insurance, and all expenses paid.[16]

In April 2015 Ballestrini became engaged to John Vesely (Secondhand Serenade).[17] In November 2015 it was announced the couple had formed the country duo The Rebel Roads.

Discography

Albums

Title Details
What I'm All About
  • Release date: August 21, 2009
  • Label: Timbob Records
Flip Side
  • Release date: June 17, 2014
  • Label: Timbob Records

Singles

Year Single Album
2009 "Amazing" What I'm All About
"Out There Somewhere"
2010 "Don't Say"
2011 "Storm Inside of You" N/A
"Temporary Fix"
2012 "Don't Give Up on Me"
2014 "Cookies and Cream"[18] Flip Side

Music videos

Year Video Director
2007 "What's Up with That" Glenn Sweitzer
2009 "Amazing"
2009 "Out There Somewhere"
2010 "Don't Say"
2011 "Temporary Fix" DJ Cosgrove
2012 "Don't Give Up on Me"
2014 "Guys Like You"
"Cookies and Cream"[19] Carl Diebold

Filmography

Shows
Year Title Role Notes
2010 If I Can Dream Herself 5 episodes
2010-2011 I'm Still Dreaming Herself 7 episodes
2013 Fiesta Movement Herself 3 episodes
Music Video Appearances
Year Title Artist Director
2009 Days That We Live For Matt Gary Glenn Sweitzer
2009 Trail of Lies Katie Armiger Glenn Sweitzer
2011 Start Again Sam Tsui Kurt Hugo Schneider
2012 Perfectly Shay Mooney Harcourt Media
2013 Heart Stops (By the Way) Secondhand Serenade Dylan White
La La Love Glenn Sweitzer
2014 Say Something John Vesely
2014 Nothing Left to Say

References

  1. ↑ Caramanica, Jon. (2009-07-31) Following in Taylor Swift’s Footsteps, Young Women Change the Face of Country. NYTimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  2. ↑ Veronica's family. Veronicaballestrini.net. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  3. ↑ Veronica growing up. CMT. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  4. ↑ Veronica gaining popularity through MySpace. Cmt.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  5. ↑ .Veronica growing up biography
  6. ↑ Music row Veronica. Musicrow.com (2010-06-20). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  7. ↑ CMT music video. Cmt.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  8. ↑ . MusicRow.com Retrieved on 2011-11-01.
  9. ↑ Annie Reuter CMA 2009: Six Artists To Watch. July 10, 2009
  10. ↑ Veronica on "If I Can Dream". Hulu.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  11. ↑ . Veronica wins MEAD Five Star Contest
  12. ↑ "Gotta Make A Change". "Gotta Make A Change". Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  13. ↑ "Temporary Fix Video Shoot". Youtube.com (2011-06-25). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Social 50". "Social 50 Billboard Chart". Retrieved on 2011-11-18.
  15. ↑ "Don't Give Up On Me". Youtube.com (2013-05-13). Retrieved on 2011-09-18.
  16. ↑ "Ford Fiesta Veronica. Fiestamovement.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-13
  17. ↑ https://facebook.com/secondhandserenade/photos/a.10151873758508770.1073741826.5681198769/10153234333288770/
  18. ↑ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records. Retrieved June 4, 2014.

External links

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