Inis Neziri has been selected to represent Albania at the New Wave 2019 festival to be held later this summer in Russia. Her pure and powerful and clear vocals are sure to impress many in the popular music competition.
Inis has had much success in festivals. She won the Grand Prix at the 2018 Cerbul de Aur (Golden Stag) festival in Romania and won the Best Duet prize with Flori Nazifi with the song Fli ne krahet e miat the 2018 Kenga Magjike in Albania.
Inis won the third prize position at the Festivali i Këngës #56 with the much respected Piedestal.
Just recently Inis released her latest song and music video for the beautiful E theve.
You can see the video clip for the new song E theve and also the clip of Piedestal below. You can also recall the moment she won the big prize at the 2018 Cerbul de Aur.
Inis Neziri has released a brand new single and video clip for the song E theve.
E theve is a heartfelt and beautiful ballad sung with emotion and passion by Inis. The lyrics and music are by Inis. The arrangement is by Yla Boshnjaku Neziri and Arben Neziri (Beni’s Recording Studio). It is mixed and mastered by Mariglen Boja.
The beautiful music video is courtesy of Alfredo Shabani. The camera is by Klaudjo Prifti and Emma Video. Lights are by Naldi Event. The MUA is thanks to Beauty Center Linda and Salon Amy.. Thanks also to Angelo Goga and Evarist Marashi. The release is via ONIMA.
Russia and Albania presented their second press conferences at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
Sergey Lazarev said he was happy with rehearsal except for some issues with water. He was joined by Filip Kirkorov (one of the composers). Sergey advised there will soon be a Russian version of Scream. He has the lyrics ready and will record when he returns to Russia.
Jonida Maliqi and her team from Albania were happy with the rehearsal today. Jonida also talked about the lyrics of her song which are about immigration and people around the world.
Jonida Maliqi will soon take the stage at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest representing Albania with Ktheju tokës. The important backing vocalists have been officially announced today. There are the names who will be on the stage as part of the Albanian team with Jonida. They are Wendi Mancaku, Artemisa Mithi and Tiri Gjoci.
Wendi has had success in the important Kënga Magjike festival, where she won Best New Artist.
Artemisa has competed twice at the with E dua botën and the duet with Febi Shkurti – Dua ta besoj. She was a contestant on The Voice of Albania.
Tiri has recorded two hit songs – Më zgjo and Orë e ndalur. He was a popular contestant on The Voice of Albania.
Ktheju tokës is composed by Eriona Rushiti.
You can see the official video for Ktheju tokës and see Wendi, Artemisa and Tiri also perform on the stage.
Artela Brahimi has released a new song called Vec nje enderr (Even a dream). It is haunting and moving song from Albania and has an ethnic type arrangement with a rich and beautiful sound and production.
The music and arrangement for Vec nje enderr is by Arben Neziri with lyrics by Yla. The production and music was at Beni’s Recording Studio.
The music video is by THEDIRECTOREXH / Star Production.
You can see the video clip for Vec nje enderr below.
The second OGAE club to release their top 10 for 2019 is Albania. Their members picked the following 10 songs as their favourites.
1 point to North Macedonia
2 points to Greece
3 points to Azerbaijan
4 points to Belgium
5 points to Slovenia
6 points to Cyprus
7 points to Portugal
8 points to Switzerland
10 points to Italy
12 points to the Netherlands
So after 2 votes, the Netherlands is in the lead as they got 12 points from both clubs reporting so far.
Jonida Maliqi from the music video of ‘Ktheju tokës’
Jonida Maliqi has released the final and revamped version of her song for Albania at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest entitled Ktheju tokës.
The new version of the Ktheju tokës was produced in Sweden. Jonida together with Eriona Rushiti, Enis Mullaj and Sokol Marsi were at the studio in Sweden to overlook and organise the new production.
The video clip has also been released courtesy of Triangle Media Group and TVSH.
Klea has returned with a brand new hit and music video clip for the song No Comment Baby. It has a cool and happy and funky vibe and Klea appears to be having a lot of fun with her dancers in the video. The clip reminds me a little of the iconic video of Britney Spears and Baby One More Time. The video is beautifully shot and gives a positive and feel good mood.
No Comment Baby is another fine production from the DArt Kids Channel. The music is composed by the talented writer and producer, Joniad Banush. Lyrics are by Tiger.
Klea is a rising young star from Albania and recently she gave us the delightful song and video of Me mu.
ESC Covers is sure that Klea has a big future ahead of her.
Congratulations to Klea and the team from DArt Kids Channel.
Eriona Rushiti composed Ktheju Tokës, which is the song that Jonida Maliqi will sing for Albania at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel in May.
Eriona took time out to speak to ESC Covers –
1. Congratulations on your composition, “Ktheju tokës”, being chosen to represent Albania at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. How did you feel when Jonida won Festivali i Këngës #57?
Of course full of joy. Thank you Ian for the interview. But immediately I felt a great responsibility at that moment. It was not simply the victory of a prize, but it was the feeling that “Ktheju tokes” (Return to the land) was not just a song created by myself, but a song of all Albanians representing a small and dignified country in a grand contest.
2. Have you ever worked with Jonida Maliqi before, and how is she feeling that she will be on the Eurovision stage in Tel Aviv?
No, I’ve never collaborated with Jonida. For me it’s the first time I write a song for Jonida’s vocals. Despite having known her for years as a singer, Jonida was also my student at the time when I just started my first teaching at the University of Arts. This song sounded perfect for Jonida. So, as soon as she heard the song, she fell in love with it. And so it continues today. Jonida tells me that in the Tel Aviv scene she will sing with the same passion that she gave to the song from the first moment. When she sings the song she feels it, and feels it with every bit of her soul. She said it fills her full of emotions, something that she has not felt with songs before.
3. Can you tell us something about “Ktheju tokës” and what it is about?
“Ktheju tokes” -music and lyrics are written by me, arrangement and music production by Enis Mullaj. It is a song-message for anyone who has to return to their identity, to their originality, to their land, to search deep in their roots for the best and to return to the human feelings, where life gets a meaning. Many Albanians from more than 25 years left Albania massively for a better life. Despite this message being current to Albanians, the world has recognised it as a phenomenon since the history of humanity. “Ktheju tokes” is a genre of mixed styles: ethnic, folkloric, r’n’b, symphonic and details of trap music. The melodic line is a combination of eolian modes and minor harmonic modes. The rhythmic section is a combination of ethnic rhythms from the south and the north of Albania. From the dark atmosphere in the intro of the song later goes to be a big , glorious and a big sensation. All the song transmits emotionally the energy of the “land”.
4. Do you plan any changes to “Ktheju tokës” for Eurovision?
The song will not change. In addition to the duration of the song, from 3:13 sec will be in 3: 00min. In the revamp, more ethnic elements will be evaded and will be strengthened more in the refrain, through orchestration. Just a few days ago I got back from Sweden where the song was given a final mix at the prestigious Svenska Grammofonstudion. Jonida will sing in Albanian, will sing it in the language with which the song was created and believe that it is best to convey the message this way. Also, in my personal opinion, I would like each country to be represented with it’s language and culture in the Eurosong, because only in this way can it be created more cultural diversity, in a European competition.
5. Will Jonida record any other language versions of “Ktheju tokës”?
No, just in Albanian language.
6. What are you most looking forward to when you visit Israel?
I do not think I will have enough time to visit different places, as the working time in Tel Aviv will be compressed, but my desire is to see the Red Sea and to get time to know a little bit more about traditional Israeli music.
7. Please tell us about some of the songs you have composed for other artists and any festivals you have competed with your compositions.
Yes. I have some preferred songs of mine, as “Atje lart” -Festina Mejzini (Festivali i 55 i Kenges), “Vec lotet” – Semi Jaupaj ( Best Tendence Award in Kenga Magjike 2015”).
8. You had a beautiful song in the Albanian Junior Fest called “Prindër ju lutem” in 2018 for Ana Kodra. Could you tell us about this song, and what it was like to work with Ana?
Ah, I was so happy to work with Ana Kodra. She is such a talented little girl that sings with the power of a womans voice. This song has another message. It is a ballad about a families with divorce problems. It is a nowadays a message for everyone who thinks that family must be created to build on and on, day by day, and to not destroy it for some egoist feelings. Ana was the best choice for me, because she is the best choice for every composer who wants to fulfil the questions of music creativity.
9. Are you working on any other music projects at this time?
Yes, I do have some. But the recent one was a song “Vendi im” (music and lyrics by me,and Enis Mullaj- music production) that I wrote for a big and well known Festival “Vina del Mar” in Chile. This song will be performed by Mirud, a very good Albanian singer, full of ambitions for being a new name in the American playlists music of our days. It’s again an ethnic powerful song.
10. Do you have a favourite Eurovision song from the past?
I have two songs that I still listen to them and get emotions. The are Jamala “1944” and Salvador Sobral (“Amar Pelos”). As you see I am focused on the special songs, not the ordinary ones. Because I think that every song must leave a big impression and emotion.
11. What is your favourite Albanian Eurovision song since the first participation in 2004?
Rona Nishliu with “Suus “and Eugent Bushpepa with “Mall”, last year. They are also the best vocals that represented Albania.
Thank you, Eriona. ESC Covers wishes you lots of good luck.
Thank you very much.
You can see Jonida Maliqi perform Ktheju Tokës below.
Inis Neziri was a special guest at the Selecţia Naţională 2019 final together with Netta (2018 ESC Israel – Winner) and Emmelie de Forest (2013 ESC Denmark – Winner).
All the guests performed a couple of songs each but it was Inis who shined with her performances of Piedestal (from Festivali i Këngës #56 Albania national selection) and also Man’s World (the soul classic).
This was a triumphant return to Romania for Inis after her big success in 2018 where she won the Cerbul de Aur – Golden Stag festival.
Emmelie performed Sanctuary and Only Teardrops and Netta performed her new single Bassa Sababa and Toy.
You can see Inis perform her two songs below as well the performances by Netta and Emmelie.
