Comprehensive Artistic Biography – Sara Cicognani (Mystic Aura) Stage name: Mystic Aura Full name: Sara Cicognani Date of birth: December 21, 1977 Place of birth: Lugo (RA), Italy Current residence: Paris, France Profession: Singer-songwriter, composer, performer, radio host Languages: Italian (native), French, English Artistic Vision and Journey Sara Cicognani, known by her stage name Mystic Aura, is an Italian-born singer-songwriter whose artistic path is shaped by an ongoing pursuit of poetic depth, sound experimentation, and cultural fusion. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as a distinctive voice in the Italian and French music scenes, blending personal storytelling with eclectic musical textures. Born in Lugo, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Sara’s relationship with music began at a very young age. Her early influences range from the lyrical Italian songwriting tradition to experimental jazz, world music, and avant-garde sound research. From the outset, she has conceived music as a narrative, theatrical, and transformative space—where sound, word, and identity continuously interact. Early Projects and Neaskenè (1998–2008) Sara’s first major recognition came in 1998, when she won the Faenza Rock Festival with the band Nocturlab. In the early 2000s, she founded the band Neaskenè, serving as lead vocalist and principal songwriter. The project became the crucible of her poetic and Mediterranean-inspired style. In 2006, Neaskenè released the album Apologie d’un canovaccio through CNI Music (Compagnia Nuove Indye), the Roman label founded by Paolo Dossena and renowned for producing artists such as Almamegretta, Agricantus, Teresa De Sio, and Ennio Morricone. The album marked a turning point in Sara’s career, combining narrative songwriting, theatrical structures, and world music influences. During this period, she also composed music for theatre, notably for Edipo Re (2005), directed by Domenico Ciolfi. Her live performances—intense, intimate, and expressive—earned critical acclaim and led to awards such as the Critics’ Prize at Kosarock Festival (2004) and a third-place finish at Imola Rock Festival. Recognition, Songwriting, and Festivals (2008–2013) In 2008, Sara was featured at the Ravenna Festival, receiving strong public and critical response. In 2009, she signed as a songwriter with Linea Due Edizioni, under the direction of Francesco Gazzè, further consolidating her professional standing as an author and composer. In 2010, she won third place at the Premio Leo Chiosso, a prestigious Italian songwriting award. Parallel to her artistic output, she continued refining her vocal and compositional approach through advanced training in jazz, experimental music, and voice work. Paris, Radio, and La Confrérie de Vic (2013–2023) In 2013, Sara met Paris-based producer Angelo Di Napoli, marking the beginning of a new artistic chapter. In 2014, she relocated to Paris, a city that profoundly resonated with her aesthetic and personal sensibilities. That same year, she released her first French-language single, La vie est belle, followed by La poète de la rose (2015), both bilingual works blending French and Italian. These releases formed the foundation of the multicultural project La Confrérie de Vic, developed with the support of Frimousse Prod. In October 2016, Sara created and hosted the radio program “Transmission au féminin” for the Parisian station Aligre FM, a show dedicated to female creativity, artistic voices, and cultural dialogue. Her second full-length album, Une Italienne à Paris, was released in 2018 by Alka Records. Composed of 12 tracks in Italian, French, and English, the album explores themes of identity, exile, memory, and transformation. The single Tout est partout pareil (2017) was accompanied by a music video that visually reinforced the album’s poetic universality. In 2016, her song Lentamente muore was selected by Eric Bastien for Le Top France Bleu, receiving national radio airplay across France. In 2018, she also began collaborating with Éditions Montparnasse on the documentary project Woman’s Land, further expanding her artistic scope into audiovisual storytelling. Between 2019 and 2023, Sara released numerous singles and collaborations with international labels in France, Germany, and Brazil, including releases with Thunder Label Germany, Alpha Music Records, and Fabrica do Show. Mystic Aura: A Transformative Solo Project (2024–Present) In 2024, Sara launched her most personal and visionary project to date: Mystic Aura. Written primarily in English, this solo venture explores synth-pop, electronic music, hip-hop, world music, and new age influences. Mystic Aura represents a spiritual and sonic evolution in which music becomes ritual, meditation, and inner exploration. Her lyrics address transformation, cosmic rhythm, emotional healing, and expanded consciousness. Sound is conceived as a sacred language—capable of bridging the visible and invisible, the personal and the universal. The project has already generated significant international collaborations, most notably with Fauzi Beydoun, iconic Brazilian reggae singer of Tribo de Jah. Her debut Mystic Aura album is currently in production and is envisioned as a tapestry of cultural hybridity and spiritual depth. Education and Training 2004 – Degree in Cultural Heritage Conservation (music specialization) 2006–2008 – Experimental Jazz courses, Conservatoire “Buzzola”, Adria 2009–2010 – Vocal studies with Luisa Cottifogli 2013–2014 – Diction and phonetics course with Prof. Michel Garçon (Paris) 2016 – Voice placement and diction course with Josephine Lazzarino 2003–2007 – Jazz guitar studies with Franco Ranieri (Mama’s Club, Ravenna) 2000–2003 – Classical guitar studies with Giovanni Di Martino 1997–1999 – Songwriting and composition with Guido Facchini 1994–2008 – Vocal training with Fabrizio Facchini Selected Career Highlights 1998 – Winner, Faenza Rock Festival (Nocturlab) 2004 – Critics’ Award, Kosarock Festival; 3rd place, Imola Rock Festival 2006 – Release of Apologie d’un canovaccio (CNI Music) 2007 – 3rd place, Video Freccia (MEI Faenza) for Amore Sia 2008 – Featured artist, Ravenna Festival 2009 – Songwriter contract with Linea Due Edizioni 2010 – 3rd place, Premio Leo Chiosso 2016 – Lentamente muore selected for Top France Bleu (Radio France) 2018 – Release of Une Italienne à Paris (Alka Records) 2024 – Launch of Mystic Aura project Discography Albums Une Italienne à Paris – 2018 – Alka Records Apologie d’un canovaccio – 2006 – CNI Music Selected Singles Planet Xeon – 2025 – Eclectica Management In Such Extreme Time (feat. Fauzi Beydoun) – 2025 – Eclectica Management Follow the Flow (feat. Fauzi Beydoun) – 2025 – Eclectica Management Love to the World Peace to the People (feat. Fauzi Beydoun) – 2023 Chocolate Girl – 2022 – Alpha Music Records Origen – 2022 – Alpha Music Records / Wolfrage Recordings Anita – 2021 – Alpha Music Records / Warner Germany / Thunder Label Germany La leggenda del Santo Bevitore – 2020 – Alpha Music Records Lentamente muore – 2019 – Thunder Label Germany Tout est partout pareil – 2017 – Frimousse Prod La poète de la rose – 2015 – Frimousse Prod La vie est belle – 2014 – Frimousse Prod Official Platforms TikTok: @mysticaura29 YouTube: Mystic Aura Instagram: @mysticaura29 SoundCloud: Mystic Aura Facebook: Sara Cicognani / Mystic Aura Spotify: Mystic Aura