Emin Agalarov

Emin Ağalarov
Background information
Birth name Emin Araz oglu Agalarov
Born 12 December 1979
Origin Baku, Azerbaijan
Genres Jazz, pop, jazz rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Years active 2005–present
Labels Saffron Music UK
Website www.emin-music.com

Emin Araz oglu Agalarov (Azerbaijani: Emin Araz oğlu Ağalarov; 12 December 1979), simply known under the stage name Emin, is an Azerbaijani singer-songwriter and businessman.[1] He writes and performs songs in English[2] and Russian and is well known in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Early life

Agalarov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, but at the age of four he and his family moved to Moscow, where his father Aras Agalarov started his own business, Crocus International. Educated first in Russia, he later was schooled in Switzerland and New Jersey, United States. In 2001 he graduated with a bachelor degree in Business & Management from New York University.[3] Agalarov also works as a commercial director at Crocus International.[4]

Music career

Emin Agalarov, Robert De Niro and Aras Agalarov.

Agalarov's interest in music began in high school whilst in the United States. After graduating from high school, he returned to Russia, where he continued to write songs. In 2005 he began working with his vocal and music teacher, the Azerbaijani singer Muslim Magomayev, to whom he pays tribute in his concerts.[5]

In 2006 Emin gained attention for his debut studio album Still which in the first six months sold 70,000 copies in Russia and an additional 30,000 copies in CIS countries.[6]

He then released an album per year: Incredible in 2007, Obsession (a set of classic Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley songs) in 2008;[3] and in 2009, Devotion. Each of these albums was supported by concerts in Moscow and Baku.

In 2010 he relocated to London, to work with producer Brian Rawling and to focus on the UK music market. Emin's album Wonder was released in Russia and CIS in November 2010 and in the UK on 21 March 2011. The song "Heart Keeps Beating" was the first single in Russia from his second album After the Thunder and received good radio airplay on Russian Radio.

Emin's first single from his 2012 album After The Thunder was the song "Baby Get Higher"[7] written by David Sneddon, David Sneddon, Graham Stack, Mark Read and was added to the BBC Radio 2 A-List in April 2012.

In popular culture

On 26 May 2012, Emin was the local interval act during intermission on the Eurovision Song Contest[8] held in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the break, Emin performed "Never Enough", a track taken from the album After the Thunder.[9]

He will also make a special guest appearance with Jennifer Lopez at the opening of the FIFA Women's World Cup in September 2014.[9] Later, in November 9. Emin performed at Miss Universe 2013 held in Moscow, Russia in the evening gown competition section.

Personal life

Emin Agalarov is the son of Aras Agalarov, a Russian billionaire,[10] and married to Leyla Aliyeva, the daughter of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.[11] The couple has twin sons, Ali and Mikail, who were born in 2008

Discography

Albums

Year Title Notes
2006 Still
2007 Incredible
2008 Obsession
2009 Devotion
2010 Wonder
2012 After the Thunder
2013 На краю
(Russian-language album)
2014 Amor

Singles

DVDs

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2013 Love in Big City 3 Himself

References

External links

Preceded by
Jan Delay		 Eurovision Song Contest
Final Interval act
2012 		Succeeded by
Loreen
Sarah Dawn Finer