“These melodies are pieces of my journey – turned into songs to light the path.”

Discography

A woman with long brown hair wearing a yellow floral dress outdoors against a mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky.
A person dressed as Marie Antoniette, wearing a white dress and black boots, lying on the ground next to a white planter with flowers. The scene is outdoors with greenery in the background, and the person is holding sunglasses.
A woman in a blue dress walking on a sidewalk holding two vintage suitcases, with greenery on the side and buildings in the background, overlaid with the text 'élena question marks'.
Text reading 'LISTEN ON Spotify' with the Spotify logo
Amazon Music logo with black text on a light blue background

Albums Only Available on this Website

A smiling woman with brown hair and bangs, looking down, in an outdoor setting. Text overlaid on the image reads "a modo mio elena dell’Innocenti."
A woman singing into a microphone and a man playing a keyboard on stage during a live performance, with text above advertising 'Elena Degl’Innocenti & Francesco Saglietti Live At Curve Line Space'.

My story

Elena Degl’Innocenti (pronounced De-li-no-chen-tee) first discovered her voice as a child — a shy but exciting playtime that grew into a lifelong calling. Born and raised in Florence, Italy, she began teaching herself guitar on her father’s old instrument before pursuing formal vocal training. What started as quiet imitation soon expanded into a journey that has carried her across continents, stages, and musical genres.

In 2003, Elena moved to Los Angeles to follow her musical dream. She studied at Musicians Institute and later graduated from UCLA with dual degrees in Composition and Music Business. Blessed with a three-octave soprano range, she sings in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French, weaving her Italian roots with jazz, Latin, and pop influences.

Elena is an award-winning songwriter, recognized by international competitions such as the Great American Song Contest and the UK Songwriting Contest. Her song “Waiting For” was featured on CBS prime-time drama All Rise, and her album Question Marks earned a nomination for Record of the Year at the LA Music Awards. To date, she has released four full-length albums, three of them produced by multi-instrumentalist Giulio Carmassi (formerly of the Pat Metheny Group).

Her performances have spanned the U.S. and Italy, from intimate venues to tours with acclaimed artists. Highlights include sharing the stage with Petra Haden (Foo Fighters, Beck, Green Day), touring with reggae and soul-dub outfit The Divine Crime (who opened for legends such as Yellowman, Bushman, and Pato Banton), and co-creating the duo Peach & Knife with songwriter Molly White.

She has also sung with the Williamson County Chorale in Tennessee, appeared in a televised Christmas Special alongside gospel legend Bill Gaither, and performed Strauss’s Die Fledermaus with the Franklin Light Opera Company — a testament to her versatility across popular, choral, and classical traditions.

Elena’s artistry extends beyond the stage. Known for her humor and creativity, she once sat in a bathtub full of pasta during a crowdfunding campaign — a stunt that not only showcased her playful spirit but also helped her meet her goal. She has produced a series of music videos that pair her heartfelt lyrics with striking visuals, and even explored her passion for food by creating cooking videos for her YouTube channel.

While music is at the core of her identity, Elena is also a dedicated educator with over 15 years of experience teaching voice and guitar. She has taught at UCLA’s music programs for children, released a bilingual children’s music course featuring original songs and games, and continues to lead lessons and workshops for students worldwide. Her current Master’s research in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Wales unites her two lifelong passions — music and psychology — as she explores mindfulness techniques applied to the voice.

After nearly two decades in the U.S., Elena has returned to Italy, where she continues to create, perform, and teach internationally, bringing together her Italian heritage and American experiences in a truly global artistic voice.

Videos

  • Live musical performance at a bar or club with a singer playing guitar, band members playing keyboard and upright bass, and an audience watching, some dancing on the floor and others seated.

    Concert at Witzend Club Los Angeles

  • Woman dressed in vintage blue attire holding a champagne flute and a small parasol, standing against a black background.

    Singing in Strauss' Opera 'Die Fledermaus'

  • A woman crouching in a grassy field next to a green upholstered chair and a large musical instrument, with a distant landscape and cloudy sky in the background.

    Photoshoot for album 'Precious Time'

  • A group of four musicians performing on stage with a red backdrop. They include a woman singer at the center, a guitarist on either side, and a drummer in the background.

    Concert for Jimmy Kimmel Live Stage, LA.

  • A band performs on stage, including a female singer with long hair singing into a microphone, a keyboard player dressed in white, a guitarist, and a drum set with the Pearl logo, under purple stage lighting.

    Los Angeles Music Awards

  • First Album 'Question Marks' Promotional Photoshoot

  • A woman sitting on the grass in an open field with wildflowers, next to an empty chair and a large orange ball. She is smiling and dressed casually.

    Articolo su La Nazione.

  • Concert with Tennessee Williamson County Chorale

  • A young woman with brown hair smiling outdoors, standing in front of green foliage.

    Interview for LA Voyage

  • A woman with long brown hair wearing a striped dress is performing with an acoustic guitar on an outdoor stage, singing into a microphone. An audience of people, some wearing sunglasses and hats, listens attentively. There is lush greenery and a fountain in the background.

    Concert for Palos Verdes Music Summer Series

  • Screenshot of the Los Angeles Music Awards website featuring Elena and a video of her performing with a band outdoors.

    Los Angeles Music Awards Nomination Article

  • Female musician playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with an orange curtain and microphone, at a venue called The Spot.

    Concert at Vitello Jazz Club, Los Angeles

Follow me

A woman with long blonde hair sitting outdoors surrounded by green trees, playing an acoustic guitar and looking content.
A teacher and young children engaged in a group hug inside a classroom, surrounded by books and colorful decorations.

Elena in music education

Follow her journey and learn more about her workshops and courses.