| Shaya | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Marianna Hansen |
| Also known as | Shaya |
| Born | 17 February 1983 Denmark |
| Genres | Pop, dance pop |
| Occupations | Singer, dancer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Sony Music Greece (2010-present) |
| Associated acts | Hi-5, Mark F. Angelo, My Group |
Marianna Hansen (born 17 February 1983), known professionally as Shaya, is a Danish-Greek singer.[1] Shaya was a member of the girl band Hi-5, the result of the Greek version of the talent show Popstars. She is currently pursuing a solo career and is also currently a contestant on Greece's version of Dancing on Ice.
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Shaya was born in Denmark to a Danish father and a multiracial Guyanese mother of Greenlandic and Indian descent.[2][3][4] The family moved to Sweden after her parents' divorce when she was 6. At the age of 12, Shaya and her family immigrated once more, settling in Thessaloniki, Greece.[1] Her mother was a disc jockey before Shaya's birth.[5] Although Shaya enjoyed singing and dancing from a young age, she became interested in becoming a singer by luck when she was persuaded to get on stage to sing a song with co-workers after work at a club she worked at in Kavala around age 18.[5][3]
In 2001, Shaya released her first solo single titled "Release Me" and promoted it around Europe. During 2001–2003, she performed in many clubs in Thessaloniki. In 2003, Shaya entered the Greek version of the talent show Popstars and won a spot in the girl band Hi-5.[6] Shaya, along with the four other girls, Marlen Angelidou, Irini Psyhrami, Froso Papaharalambous, and Nancy Stergiopoulou, had two chart-topping albums and eight singles in two years.[6] The band decided on an amicable split in 2005.
After Hi-5 split up, Shaya began perusing a solo career, appearing live in various venues.[5] In 2008, Shaya and Greek singer Kostas Martakis were chosen to record a Greek-language version of Right Here, Right Now from the soundtrack of the Disney film High School Musical 3: Senior Year.[7] The cover was titled "Mikroi Theoi" (Little Gods) and was released as a single from the Greek edition of the film's soundtrack; a music video followed with Martakis and Shaya molded together with scenes from the film.[7] The music video was included as a bonus feature on the Greek edition of the film's home video release. Walt Disney Records, via its international distribution partner EMI, commissioned several local market, foreign language versions of songs from the entire High School Musical series, although "Mikroi Theoi" was the only Greek version song.
In 2009, Shaya teamed up with Greek hip-hop group Stavento to release the duet "Prin Se Gnoriso" (Before I Meet You), which garnered them a nomination and win for Best Video-Clip Hip-Hop at the 2009 MAD Video Music Awards.[8] Later that year in 2009, Shaya also teamed up with rapper Stereo Mike to release the duet "Esi Kai Ego" (You and I), while she was also part of the Amita Motion Tour 2009.[9] That same year
In 2010, Shaya signed with the newly created management, production, and artist development company My Group, active in the dance-pop and club music markets, as well under contract with Sony Music Greece. In May 2010, she released the single "Paizis".[6] In June 2010, she teamed up with Greek DJ and fellow label mate Mark F. Angelo for the song "Far From Everything", which was also chosen as the theme song for the 2010 MAD Video Music Awards,[10] and became a summer hit.[11] The duo also recorded the song "My Radio", which became the official jingle for MAD Radio 106.2. Both songs were featured on Mark F. Angelo's debut album Play.Pause.Stop.Rewind. Following the collaboration, Shaya released the the first single from her debut solo album in November 2010 titled "In Your Eyes".[12] She released her debut solo album titled Resurrection in January 2011.[13] Shaya penned music and lyrics to a number of the tracks on the album.[2]
In July 2011, Shaya and Mark F. Angelo were chosen as the opening act for David Guetta's concert in Montenegro.[14] In late 2011, Shaya along with Mark F. Angelo earned the win for Best Greek Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, for their collaboration on the single "Far From Everything" as well as several other track collaborations between the two artists.[15] The duo was also shortlisted for Best European Act.[15] In November 2011, Greece's version of Dancing on Ice premiered on ANT1 featuring Shaya as a contestant.[16]
As of December 2011, Shaya is in the recording studio recording material for her new album scheduled to be released sometime in 2012.[17]