Hi-Q (band)

Hi-Q is a Romanian pop group, founded in 1996 in Braşov. The group is made up of Mihai Sturzu and Florin Grozea. Hi-Q also hosts its own TV show on national television. Dana Nălbaru was part of the project between 1996–2003, and it was announced in late 2010 that she has returned.

Hi-Q
Hi-Q performing at Mega Discoteca Tineretului in Costineşti
Background information
Origin	Romania
Genres	Pop
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Roton (1998-2002) Cat Music / Sony Music (2002-present)
Website	www.hi-q.ro
Members
Mihai Sturzu (1996-) Florin Grozea (1996-) Dana Nălbaru (1996-2003, 2010-)
Past members
Nicoleta Drăgan (2003-2008) Anya Buxai (2008-2010)

History

Music

• 1996 – Hi-Q is born in Braşov.
• 1997 – first album – “The very best of Hi-Q”;
• 1998 – first nation-wide promoted hit single – “Nu pot face nimic (I can't do anything)”
• 1999 – 2nd album – “urasQbesc” (produced and promoted with a major Romanian label – Roton)
• March 2000 – first video – “Totul va fi bine! (Everything will be all right)” (first single on the “urasQbesc” album)
• July 2000 – 2nd video “E vara mea! (It's my summer)” – official song of the 2000 summer campaign for Antena 1 (national television).
• 2001 – 3rd album – “Dă muzica mai tare! (Turn the music up)” with 3 videos (February – September 2001): “Cât te iubeam”, “Un minut” and “Dă muzica mai tare !”.
• 2002 – release of a special compilation CD “Hi-Q noi !” (rom. “Hai cu noi !” = eng. “Come along !”)
• 2002 – 4th album – “Pentru Prieteni (For friends)” with 3 videos (March – November 2002): “Tu eşti dragostea mea (You are my love)”, “Prea departe (Too far away)” and “Dor de tine, dor de noi (Missing you, missing us)”.
• 2003 – Hi-Q produces and performs the official song for “Big Brother” – the TV Show, followed by a video and a special CD.
• 2003 – 2 new singles – “Dor de tine, dor de noi” and “Mai dulce”
• 2004 – 5th album – “O mare de dragoste” with 4 videos (November 2003 – March 2005); “Mai dulce”, “Poveste fără nume (Nameless story)”, “Gaşca mea”, “Te-am iubit, dar.. (I loved you, but...)”
• 2006 - 6th Album - “Razna (Going bonkers)” with 2 videos until now: "Razna" and "Ce bine e (It's so good)"
• 2007 - 7th Album - Best of / Acoustic - “De 10 ani va multumim!” ("10 years - we thank you!" with the nr.1 hit single: "Buna dimineata (Good morning)" - 12 consecutive weeks the most played Romanian song. The album has 15 tracks composed between 1996 and 2007, in an acoustic/unplugged manner
• 2008 - "Aşa-s prietenii" was launched online April 2008
• 2009 - The first pan-European single "Lose You" was launched on January 20
• 2009 - October 22nd - Hi-Q's new single "Hello, Say Hello" produced by The Bombjack, an Austrian musical producer
• 2010 - May - new english single "Ice of you" and a re-edit for "Mor de dor" with Romanian singer Alexandra Stan
• 2010 - October - Dana is back in the band and Hi-Q announce a new single "Încă o dată" (Once again) and a national tour
• 2011 - May 19th - Anniversary concert at Hard Rock Cafe (Bucharest) - Hi-Q 15 years

As of 2011, in over 15 years of activity, Hi-Q has released 7 albums, 2 single CDs, 17 videos and appeared on tens of compilation CDs.

Awards and nominations

• 2000 – “The Golden Microphone” for “Totul va fi bine !”
• 2001 – “The Popularity Award” at “Mamaia” festival for ‘Un minut”
• 2001 – “Double Golden Disk” and “Platinum Disk” for the album “Dă muzica mai tare !”
• 2001 – Nominated for the best entertainment TV show at the “TV Mania Awards”
• 2002 – “Special Award For The Contribution Brought To The Development Of The Romanian Music” at the “Romanian Music Industry Awards”.
• 2002 – “2nd place – Best Song” and “Public’s Special Award” at “Mamaia” festival for “Tu eşti dragostea mea !”
• 2003 – “Best Video” for “Dor de tine, dor de noi”, at “Atomic TV Awards”
• 2003 – Nominated for “Best Group” at the “MTV Romanian Music Awards”
• 2005 – Nominated for ”Best Dance Song”, “Best Song” and “Best Group” at the “MTV Romanian Music Awards”
• 2007 – Nominated for “Best Group” at the “MTV Romanian Music Awards”

Television

Hi-Q is the only group in Romania which has been hosting its own TV shows on major national TV stations, combining the musical career with television at the same time and with outstanding results.

• July 2000 – August 2002 (Antena 1)

"Totul va fi bine !"; "Hi-Q noi !"; "Traieşte-ţi vara !"

• July – August 2003 (Prima TV)

"Hi-Q noi 2 !"

• October 2004 – December 2005 (Acasa TV)

"Îndrăgosteşte-mă de tine !"; "La agăţat de vedete"

In addition to hosting its own TV shows, Hi-Q has appeared on shows of all Romanian TV stations – TVR 1, TVR 2, PRO TV, Antena 1, Acasa TV, Prima TV, B 1, National TV, Atomic TV, MTV.

Radio

Hi-Q has also hosted its own radio shows on two national radio stations, succeeding in achieving new experience with great results.

• July – August 2003 (Radio STAR) - week-end shows (Saturday and Sunday)
• October 2003 – March 2004 (Radio 21) - the morning show (Monday to Friday) - this morning show had the best ratings for that season, over classing the other competitors (Kiss FM, Pro FM, Europa FM)

Advertising

During over 12 years of its existence, Hi-Q has combined music, television, radio and entertainment with great success and results. Naturally, Hi-Q has been part of major campaigns, promoting both commercial products and educational programs. In spite of the very large number of offers, Hi-Q has always chosen its partners with care and according to its own public image.

• The only brand Hi-Q has represented so far is the Italian scooter producer – Piaggio (and its other brands – Vespa and Gilera)
• Hi-Q has been part of other promotional campaigns for different products or services, but without any public image association (Connex, Coca Cola, Ursus, 7Up, Winston, L&M, and more)
• Hi-Q is also an important partner of P.S.I. (Population Services International) in their humanitarian campaigns, mainly anti-HIV educational programs.
• In 2008 Hi-Q has teamed with Mercedes-Benz Vito for a co-branded deal, including an online video show with the band touring Romania

Band members

Current members

• Florin-Alexandru Grozea: singer, songwriter, music producer
• Mihai-Răzvan Sturzu: singer, manager
• Dana Nălbaru: singer (1996–2003, 2010–present)

Past members

• Original member Daniela Alina Nălbaru was replaced in 2003 by Nicoleta Drăgan. She returned to the band in late 2010.
• Nicoleta Drăgan: singer, songwriter, lyrics writer, officially retreated from the band on Monday April 7, 2008
• Anya Buxai: singer, officially retreated from the band in 2010

Band

• Tuliga Florin - sound engineer
• Cristi Matesan - drums
• Virgil Dulceanu - keyboards
• Mac Aciobăniței - guitar

Albums

• The Very Best Of Hi-Q (1997)
• ...urasQbesc (1999)
• Dă muzica mai tare!!! (2001)
• Pentru prieteni (2002)
• O mare de dragoste (2004)
• Razna (2006)
• De 10 ani va multumim! (2007)

Singles

• Nu pot face nimic (1998)
• Totul va fi bine (2000)
• E vara mea (2000)
• Cât te iubeam (2001)
• Un minut (2001)
• Dă muzica mai tare (2001)
• Tu eşti dragostea mea (2002)
• Prea departe (2002)
• Trăieşte! (2003)
• Dor de tine, dor de noi (2003)
• Mai dulce (2003)
• Poveste fără nume (2004)
• Gaşca mea (2004)
• Te-am iubit, dar... (2005)
• Razna (2006)
• Ce bine e (2006)
• Buna dimineata (2007)
• Aşa-s prietenii (2008)
• Lose You (2009)
• Ice Of you (2010)
• 'The One (2010)
• Încă o dată (2010)

External links

• Official Hi-Q page
• Download mp3 - only for Romania
• MySpace Account
• Interview @ Radio Lynx
• Interview @ Acasa.ro
• Interview @ UUPS!