Luena Martinez

Luena Martins-Aguiar (/luːɛnɑː/), known professionally as either Luena Martinez, LUENA or Franqi, is a British musician.

Luena Martinez
FranQi headshot
Background information
Birth nameLuena Martins-Aguiar
Also known as
  • LUENA
  • Franqi
BornEast Finchley, England
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Member of
Formerly ofReal Like You

Born in East Finchley, she auditioned for the thirteenth series of The X Factor in 2016 and made it to Six Chair Challenge, before joining "The Power of Muzik", as part of which she released two singles, and toured with Boyzone and All Saints; she also toured with Steps and The Vamps. In 2019, she auditioned for The X Factor: The Band, became a member of Real Like You, and won the series; after leaving the band, she formed KYNO with her boyfriend. She is a member of Loud LDN.

Life and career

Early life and The X Factor
FranQi headshot

Luena Martins-Aguiar[1] grew up in East Finchley.[2] She started singing in church[3] aged three.[2] In 2013, Martinez was a finalist in the 2013 Mayor of London Gigs Competition.[4] She attended SoundSkool,[5] where she took artist development and business,[6] and as part of which she released a single to SoundCloud, "Sleigh Final Vox", also featuring its alumni Deeno Dirty and Yinka.[7] Whilst there,[6] she auditioned for the thirteenth series of The X Factor; she got as far as its Six Chair Challenge, at which she sung Snow Patrol's Run,[8] but did not progress further.[9] In January 2017, she released a single, "Be My Baby",[10] which she had premiered at the Precious Moments charity concert at St James' Church, Muswell Hill the previous November.[2] On 10 February 2018, she featured on Barbara's "Deeply Serendipity".[11]

The Power of Muzik

In April 2018, Martinez joined "The Power of Muzik", CeCe Sammy's anti-bullying campaign,[12] as part of which she released two singles;[13] "Bruised" featuring Michael Rice, Asher Knight, Ben Ofoedu and Angels N Bandits,[14] a charity single which raised money for Barnardo's[15] and which was released 13 April 2018, and "Fire", which was released 24 August 2018, and also featured Big Zuu.[14] The campaign toured with the Vamps[16] and Steps,[17] while she herself appeared as a supporting artist for Boyzone[18] and All Saints.[19] On 15 February 2019, she released a solo single, "Worth It".[20] On 5 April 2019, she featured on "I'm Hot", an album track from Caviar's "The Love Of Music",[21] and on 19 April, she released another solo single, "Honeymoon Phase".[20]

The X Factor: The Band and KYNO
KYNO

In December 2019, Martinez auditioned for The X Factor: The Band with "Worth It",[22] and at the series' arena auditions, she sang *NSYNC's "It's Gonna Be Me".[23] As part of Real Like You, she sang "Independent Women" by Destiny's Child, "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato, a mashup of Ariana Grande's "Problem" and The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face", and their own original song "Be Like Them";[24] they won the series.[25] She told a December 2022 episode of the Universal Thoughts podcast that she had left the band earlier that year, and that she and her boyfriend had formed their own band, KYNO[26] (Keep Ya Nose Out);[27] the pair use the aliases Franqi and Riso,[28] and released on to SoundCloud "Persuaded" on 20 January 2023, "Oh My! (demo)" on 14 February 2023, "I Will See You Cry" on 24 February 2023, and "Sometimes I :'(" on 28 April 2023.[27]

Personal life

Martinez is dyslexic.[29] She suffered from depression, following struggles to fit in at school owing to being mixed race;[30] she told a December 2022 episode of the Universal Thoughts podcast that she struggled with anxiety and suicidal thoughts whilst in Real Like You, that she had been clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and that she was a Christian.[26] She is a member of Loud LDN.[31]

Discography

Singles
Title Year Album
"Be My Baby" 2017 Non-album single
"Worth It" 2019
"Honeymoon Phase"
Title Year Album
"Deeply (Serendipity)"
(Barbara ft. LUENA)		 2018 Non-album single
"Bruised" (Power Of Muzik feat. Michael Rice, Asher Knight,
Luena Martinez, Ben Ofoedu & Angels N Bandits) 		Non-album single
"Fire"
(Power Of Muzik feat. Luena Martinez & Big Zuu)

Guest appearances
Title Year Album
"I'm Hot"
(Caviar ft. LUENA)		 2019 The Love Of Music

References
  1. "X Factor star inspires students after 'incredible experience' on ITV talent show". The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. "X-Factor contestant Luena Martinez is debuting new single at Noah's Ark Children's Hospice concert". This Is Local London. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  3. "Music - Finding London's Hidden Talent". Anthea Turner's Hot Topics. 15 October 2019. London Live.
  4. "Enfield band Stella Star crowned Gigs Champion 2013". London City Hall. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  5. "Young musicians strike a chord". Islingtonnow.co.uk. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. "Student Luena Martinez appeared on the X Factor". FE Week. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  7. "Stream Deeno Dirty, Yinka & Luena Martinez (Prod. TGH Beats) Sleigh Final Vox by SoundSkool". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. "The X Factor 2016: Which Girls made it through to the Six Chair Challenge? Full list of tonight's performances". Digital Spy. 23 September 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. "Bruising encounter for X Factor hopefuls in Six Chair Challenge". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. "Be My Baby - song and lyrics by Luena Martinez". Spotify. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  11. "Deeply Serendipity". Spotify. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  12. "Coach to star of The Voice to tour her anti-bullying campaign". Londonnewsonline.co.uk. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. "The Ambition- A Charity Benefit Evening For Leukaemia Care - Cavern Club". The Cavern Club. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  14. "Power Of Muzik - Discography". Spotify. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  15. "Anti-bullying music tour to visit Battersea school". Wandsworth Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  16. "CeCe Sammy's The Power of Muzik to support The Vamps at Birmingham show". Shropshire Star. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  17. "Steps and Blue take 5,000-strong Colchester crowd back in time". Gazette-news.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  18. "Who is supporting Boyzone on tour? Irish group kick off Thank You & Good Night shows". Chronicle Live. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  19. "LUENA Teases Her Brand New Single 'Worth It'..." Voicemag.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  20. "LUENA - Discography". Spotify. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  21. "I'm Hot (feat. Luena) - song and lyrics by Caviar". Spotify. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  22. "X Factor: The Band contestants: the full line-up so far in the ITV series". i. 15 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  23. "Meet X Factor: The Band winner Luena Martinez – age, Instagram, parents!". Realitytitbit.com. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  24. "Who won X Factor: The Band? Real Like You crowned winners after beating Unwritten Rule in final – here's how it happened". i. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  25. "X Factor: Can The Band winners Real Like You be successful?". BBC News. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  26. "Is Modern Music Corrupting The Youth ft Luena Martinez". Universal Thoughts. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  27. "Stream KYNO music". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  28. "KYNO". The Grace. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  29. "WATCH: Casio team up with London Live for documentary on music education and mental health". Pianist Magazine. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  30. Sammy, CeCe (31 January 2019). If You Can Speak You Can Sing. Eyewear Publishing. ISBN 9781912477869.
  31. "Here is our Loud LDN wrapped 2022 💖 We're very excited about what 2023 has in store and are excited to grow our community in the new year!". Instagram. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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