Era Istrefi
Era Istrefi | |
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Istrefi performing "BonBon" during the Top Music Awards 2016 in Albania. Istrefi performing "BonBon" during the Top Music Awards 2016 in Albania. | |
Background information | |
Born | Pristina, FR Yugoslavia | 4 July 1994
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2013–present |
Labels | |
Website | Eraistrefi.com |
Era Istrefi (born 4 July 1994) is a Kosovar singer and songwriter.[1] She gained recognition locally following the release of her debut single, "Mani për money" (2013) when she was 19 years old.[2] Over the next two years, Istrefi released the singles "A po don?" (2014), "Njo si ti" (2015) and "Shumë pis" (2015); the music video for "Njo si ti" was watched over one million times on YouTube during one week, while the latter song portrays a collaboration with rapper Ledri Vula.[3] For her contributions to the music industry in 2013, the singer won three Videofest awards in June 2014.[4] In January 2016, Istrefi achieved international recognition after the release of her single "BonBon", which draw comparations to the works of Australian performer Sia and Barbadian recording artist Rihanna.[5] Following the song's success, she signed to American record labels Sony Music Entertainment and Ultra Music one month later.[6]
Life and career
1994–2014: Early life and career beginnings
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Prishtina_perspektiv%C3%AB_nga_Radio_Kosova_5.jpg/200px-Prishtina_perspektiv%C3%AB_nga_Radio_Kosova_5.jpg)
Era Istrefi was born on 4 July 1994 in Pristina, where she currently lives with her mother and siblings.[7] Her parents are Suzana Tahirsylaj—an Albanian singer during the 1980s and 1990s—and Nezir Istrefi—a journalist. Following her father's death in 2004, her mother quit singing, with sister Nora Istrefi becoming a singer. Besides, Istrefi has one more sister, Nita Istrefi, a stylist, and a younger brother, Bledi.
Istrefi made her debut in her native country in 2013 with "Mani për money", eventually releasing material sung in Gheg Albanian—featuring English phrases.[8] A few months later, she released a follow-up recording, "A Po Don?", which was promoted with a music video; it similarly achieved recognition.[9] Her third single "E Dehun"—inspired by Nexhmije Pagarusha's recording of the same name—as well uses lyrics and some parts of the recording's instrumental. Upon its release, "E Dehun" assured Istrefi three Videofest Awards, including one for "Best New Artist". In December 2014, the singer made the pop ballad "13"—which was produced in the United States—available for consumption.[10] Its accompanying music video was viewed almost 200,000 times within 24 hours on YouTube,[11] which later resulted its featuring on V Magazine.[12] That year, it was as well reported that Istrefi was a supporter of LGBT rights.[8]
2015–present: International breakthrough
Istrefi experienced international recognition with her single "BonBon", which was released in December 2015 together with a music video shot in Kosovo.[13] The song became an immediate success, becoming viral on social media.[14] Additionally, the singer began gaining support from American actress Chloë Grace Moretz,[15] and various publications referred to her as the "Rihanna and Sia of Albania".[16][17] In February 2016, Istrefi signed to American labels Sony Music Entertainment and Ultra Music.[6] It was reported that Istrefi will record her upcoming debut studio album in collaboration with RCA Records.[18] In June 2016 an English version of "Bonbon" was released.[19]
Discography
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [20] |
AUT [21] |
BEL (Wal) [22] |
BUL [23] |
CAN | DEN [24] |
FRA [25] |
GER [26] |
NLD [27] |
SWI [28] | ||||||||
"Mani për money" (Money mania) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"A po don?" (Do you want to?) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"E dehun" (Drunk) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
"13" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
"Njo si ti" (Someone like you) | 2015 | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"Shumë pis" (Very naughty) (featuring Ledri Vula) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
"BonBon" | 2016 | 46 | 19 | 39 | 1 | 95 | 38 | 29 | 10 | 68 | 39 | ||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References
- ^ Rishty, David (March 22, 2016). "Ultra Music's Patrick Moxey on New Signee Era Istrefi, Rihanna & Sia Parallels: Exclusive". billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ Rosenzweig, Mathias. "Introducing Era Istrefi, the Eastern European Singer With Pipes Like Rihanna". Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ "Nora dhe Era Istrefi - Videofest 2014". Shqiptarja.com.
- ^ "Video Fest Awards 2014 - The Winners!". Video Fest.
- ^ "WATCH - IF YOU MERGED SIA AND RIHANNA YOU'D GET ERA ISTREFI - BONBON". ixdaily.com. IX Daily. Retrieved 26 Feb 2016.
- ^ a b "Era Istrefi firmos me Sony Music - Lajme rozë". GazetaExpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Kosovo's Istrefi Tastes Sweet Success With 'Bonbon' :: Balkan Insight". www.balkaninsight.com. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ a b "Yjet shqiptarë mbështesin legalizimin e martesave gej dhe lezbike (Foto) - Privé - Faqja Zyrtare". Prive.al. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ ""A Po Don" thotë Era Istrefi!". telegrafi.com. Telegrafi.
- ^ "Era Istrefi lanson baladën "13" (Video)". Telegrafi. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ ""13" drejt rekordeve të para (Video) - Lajme rozë". GazetaExpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Stagg, Natasha. "Meet Era Istrefi". V Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Era Istrefi Is the 22-Year-Old Albanian Singer Who Got Famous in 24 Hours - Noisey". noisey. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ "ChloĂŤ Grace Moretz on Twitter: "Era istrefi. New star. Watch out. she's amazing."". Twitter. 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Era Istrefi, biografia". TeksteShqip.com.
- ^ "Era Istrefi ne rubriken Instagram dhe te rejat e fundit 07.06.2015". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Albanian Popstar Era Istrefi signs to Ultra/B1/Sony Music". Ventsmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Wass, Mike (June 27, 2016). "Era Istrefi Drops English Version Of Global Smash "BonBon"". idolator.com.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - Discography Era Istrefi". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Era Istrefi - Bonbon". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Era Istrefi - Bonbon". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Bulgarian National Top 40". Acharts.co. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Era Istrefi - Bonbon". Danishcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "France Top Singles Charts (Week 21, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Era Istrefi - Bonbon". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Era Istrefi - Bonbon". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.