• July 11, 1996
• She was born Alessia Caracciolo in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Italian parents. Her mom is a hairdresser from Italy who at first spoke little English when she immigrated to Canada and her father is a first-generation welder.
• When she first thought about what she wanted to do with her life, Alessia thought her interests in painting, drawing and crafting would lead her to becoming a visual artist. It was only later she decided that singing was what she wanted.
• Alessia Cara got her start in the music world by posting acoustic cover songs to YouTube, starting when she was just 13 years old. She recorded them in her closet so she wouldn't disturb her little brother.
• She kept quiet about her music endeavors in high school. "I wanted to get through high school anonymously," Alessia told Billboard. "I didn't want to be that girl in the hallways."
• Her acoustic selection of covers grabbed the attention of Def Jam, and she signed with EP Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings in 2015. Her debut single, "Here," was based on a true story of a party that Alessia hated so much, she called her mom to pick her up and take her home.
• Alessia Cara won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in 2018. She described how the award helped her battle with insecurities.
  
  "I've been shown that what I've created is worth something and that people actually give a s--t," she said. "All of the years feeling like I wasn't good at anything or that I was naive for dreaming about something improbable have paid off in a way that I have yet to process."
• She is a talented mimic and can impersonate accurately such celebrities as Adele and Ariana Grande. When Alessia played Wheel of Musical Impressions on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she nailed each one.
• She has a tattoo of a sailboat on her wrist. "It's a reminder that even though I'm small and seem weak, I'm not," Alessia explained.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Coming HomeDiddy - Dirty Money

"Coming Home" by Diddy - Dirty Money was originally iwritten for for T.I., who was getting out of prison at the time.

Summer BreezeSeals & Crofts

On the surface, "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts is just a song about a guy coming home from work, but the duo claimed it had a deeper meaning about finding direction in one's personal life.

ChandelierSia

Sia planned to quit her solo career after her 2014 album 1000 Forms of Fear, but the "Chandelier" video proved so popular it drew her back in.

Hit Me With Your Best ShotPat Benatar

Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was written by a guy named Eddie after going through a weird therapy session where he punched pillows to get out his aggressions.

Do You Realize??The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" was named in March 2009 the official Rock Song of Oklahoma. Four years later, Oklahoma's governor Mary Fallin pulled the tune as the state's official rock song in a move her office said had more to do with priorities than musical taste.

Follow Your ArrowKacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves offered "Follow Your Arrow" to her friend Katy Perry, but Perry thought Musgraves should record the song herself, telling Kacey it seemed "like something that you would totally say."

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.