Texas
Distance, belonging and transformation.
03 — Story
About
Elena Ruscitto, known as Lene, is an Italian singer-songwriter, jazz-trained pianist and vocal coach born and raised in Milan and currently based in Austin, Texas.
Her career began in Milan’s jazz, soul and R&B clubs, including Blue Note Milano. Since appearing on X Factor Italia in 2009, she has performed on television and at theatres and festivals across Italy and Europe, while developing an original songwriting voice rooted in soul and contemporary pop.
Her discography includes Ring, Texas and Like a Stranger. Along the way, she has received recognition from Musicultura, Area Sanremo and Note d’Autore, national radio airplay in Italy and airplay on KUTX in Texas.
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Training
Lene earned her degree in Jazz Piano from the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan in 2011. She later received a distinction in the Trinity College London Grade 8 Rock & Pop Singing examination and earned her Estill Figure Proficiency certification in 2022.
Performance and songwriting
After appearing on the second season of X Factor Italia with the vocal trio Sisters of Soul, Lene toured throughout Italy and continued performing on national television. She subsequently collaborated with clarinetist Paolo Tomelleri, appeared at Teatro Dal Verme in Milan and performed at the Porretta Soul Festival in 2011.
In 2016, Casio Italy selected her as one of four Italian songwriters to present its Grand Hybrid piano at Piano City Milano. That same year she released her debut album, Ring, became a finalist at Area Sanremo and released the single “In Fondo al Film.”
In 2017, Lene reached the finals of Musicultura, winning both the Jury Prize and the Audition Prize, opened for Marina Rei at Palazzo d’Avalos in Vasto and won Best Song at Note d’Autore. Her 2018 single “Domani è un Altro Giorno” received extensive radio airplay, including Radio 105, and was selected by Recensiamo Musica among the 100 best songs of the year.
Her international performances include the 2023 Wine & Blues Festival in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. In 2024 she released the EP Texas, reflecting her move from Italy to the United States, followed by Like a Stranger in 2026. Its song “I Wanna Be Your Lover” received airplay on Austin’s KUTX.
Teaching
Alongside her work as an artist, Lene has taught voice and piano for more than fifteen years. She taught piano, singing and ensemble music at Ricordi Music School in Milan from 2011 to 2016, then vocal technique, modern piano and songwriting at the Pop Music School by Paolo Meneguzzi in Mendrisio, Switzerland, from 2016 to 2023.
In 2025, she founded Lene Music Studio in Austin, building a community of more than 25 teen and adult students. She also prepares singers for Trinity College London Rock & Pop examinations.