Born September 4, 1979, in Catania, Italy, Carmen Consoli started playing the electric guitar at age nine, and by 14 she had formed her own group, Moon Dog's Party, a cover band that played songs by Otis Redding, Tina Turner, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin, all of which emphasized and highlighted Consoli's strong and particular voice. Francesco Virlinzi, owner and producer of Cyclope Studios, saw the young singer performing and was immediately struck by her talent, and encouraged her to develop her own material. In 1994, Consoli came to Virlinzi with songs in tow for her debut album, Due Parole, which was released in 1996. Its first single, "Amore di Plastica," co-written by compatriot Mario Venuti, placed eighth at that year's Sanremo festival, but it was her next release, Confusa e Felice (1997), that secured her place as one of Italy's most talented upcoming artists.