GIANLUCA ZANNA AND CLAUDETTE LYONS FEATURED ON PIX11 NEWS NEW YORK
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Italian-American Music Producer Shares Remarkable Journey From Roman Boarding School to Founding Zanna Records and Meeting Life and Creative Partner Claudette Lyons
NEW YORK, NY — February 5, 2026 — On February 5, 2026, international EDM duo Luca and Claudette — Italian-American music producer and songwriter Gianluca Zanna and singer Claudette Lyons — were featured in a compelling television segment on PIX11 News New York, one of New York City's most-watched local news stations. The segment brought Gianluca's extraordinary life story to a major metropolitan television audience, tracing his path from the boarding schools of Rome to building an independent music empire in the American desert — and the fateful meeting with Claudette Lyons that changed everything.
FROM ROME TO THE AMERICAN DREAM
Growing up in the boarding schools of Rome, a young Gianluca Zanna dreamed of one thing: coming to America to become a songwriter. That dream fueled an unlikely but unstoppable journey. Before leaving Italy in 1998, Zanna had already made his mark as the youngest music publisher of Italy's music industry magazine, Contatto Discografico, and spent his final months in Rome working as a gladiator on the ancient cobblestone streets — a symbol both of his roots and his resolve to forge a new path. Upon arriving in America, Zanna built everything from scratch — no industry connections, no major label backing, no corporate funding. From a home studio in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, he founded Zanna Records and has since released over 150 original singles spanning dance, rock, EDM, pop, and classical styles — achieving what the major labels said was impossible for an independent artist.
A MEETING WRITTEN IN MUSIC
On January 28, 2023, Gianluca Zanna met singer Claudette Lyons in Sedona, Arizona — a moment that would become the foundation of both a creative and life partnership. Together, they perform as the EDM duo Luca and Claudette, incorporating their shared backgrounds in hypnotherapy into a music philosophy centered on healing, empowerment, and authentic storytelling. Their first co-written song, "Love in Sedona," commemorates the day their paths crossed.
INDEPENDENT SUCCESS ON A GLOBAL SCALE
The PIX11 feature arrives at a milestone moment for Zanna Records. The label has surpassed 16 million YouTube views and achieved radio airplay across over 1,000 stations in 39+ countries.
The duo's signature track, "You Are My Destiny," reached #1 on the North American College and Community Radio Chart in September 2025, climbed to #3 on Amazon's Best Sellers Dance & Electronic Charts in October 2025 — surpassing Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, David Guetta, and Pitbull — and broke into Billboard's official Spotify playlist "Top 100: Every #1 Hit Since 1958" at position #168, making Gianluca Zanna the only artist on the entire playlist without major label backing.
Media coverage has reflected this momentum. Recent features include Rolling Stone UK ("From Italian Boarding School Dreamer to International Music Producer"), Rolling Stone US, Forbes Magazine Scotland, Billboard Italia, Music Connection Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. In December 2025, the duo signed with Hollywood entertainment agency JJ Entertainment, whose roster has included the Eagles, Madonna, and the Beach Boys.
"This is the story I have been living every day for 28 years — the dream I carried from a boarding school in Rome all the way to the stages and airwaves of the world. Having the chance to share it on PIX11 News with Claudette by my side makes it even more meaningful. She is not just my partner in music — she is proof that the greatest songs are the ones life writes for you."
— Gianluca Zanna, CEO & Founder, Zanna Records
WHAT'S NEXT FOR ZANNA RECORDS
Looking ahead, Gianluca Zanna is set to expand into the hard rock world with "Live with No Regrets," a Gianluca Zanna / Zanna Records original rock anthem scheduled for analog recording in Los Angeles in March 2026. The project features legendary musicians including Kevin Martin (Candlebox) on vocals, Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake) on bass, Robert Sarzo (Hurricane) on guitar, Robin Diaz (Courtney Love/Hole, Live, The Band) on drums, and Executive Producer Danny Saber (The Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Marilyn Manson).
ABOUT GIANLUCA ZANNA
Gianluca Zanna is an Italian-American international songwriter, music producer, and CEO and Founder of Zanna Records, an independent label based in Sedona, Arizona. He immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1998 after working as the youngest music publisher of Italian music industry magazine Contatto Discografico. A Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Krav Maga Black Belt Military Instructor, Zanna brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to his artistry and business. His catalog of 150+ original singles spans dance, rock, EDM, pop, and classical styles, with international radio play across 1,000+ stations in 39+ countries and over 16 million YouTube views.
ABOUT CLAUDETTE LYONS
Claudette Lyons is a singer and the creative and life partner of Gianluca Zanna. Together they perform as the EDM duo Luca and Claudette, represented by JJ Entertainment in Hollywood. Since meeting in Sedona, Arizona on January 28, 2023, Lyons and Zanna have fused their backgrounds in music and hypnotherapy to create a catalog that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide. Their music has reached chart-topping positions in North America and beyond.
MEDIA CONTACT
Zanna Records
Website: www.GianlucaZanna.com
Label: www.ZannaRecords.com
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