Era Istrefi

Era Istrefi (born 6 July 1996 in Prishtinë, Kosovo) is an Albanian Kosovar singer-songwriter.^[1] She rose to fame after releasing her debut single "Mani për money" in 2013, which gained a positive feedback and attention from the public.^[2] Her following songs "A po don" and "E dehun", gained the same success. In June 2014, she won three Videofest awards for her music videos, including "Best New Artist" for her work in 2013.^[3][4]

Life and career

Era Istrefi was born on 4 July 1995 in Prishtinë, Kosovo to Suzana Tahirsylaj, a well known Albanian singer in the 80s and 90s and Nezir Istrefi, a cameraman. After her father's death in 2004, her mother quit singing, and her older sister Nora Istrefi shortly became one of the more popular singers in the Albanian-speaking territories.^[5] Era made her television debut in 2013, with her single "Mani për money", a reggae-pop song, new to the national music industry. The song received mainly positive criticism from the audience, becoming an instant hit. However, a few months after her first single, she released "A Po Don?", another song with a different style, accompanied by a provocative music video.^[6] The song received mixed criticism to negative. Her third single, "E Dehun" - inspired by Nexhmije Pagarusha's song with the same title, which also samples the lyrics and some parts of the instrumental, was another hit from Era, which assured her three Videofest Awards (Albanian Music Awards), including "Best New Artist" for her work in 2013. However, the music video was heavily criticized by the Serbian media, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, due to her scene in the Orthodox Church in Prishtina, where Era appeared with a semi-naked shirt.^[7][8]

In December 2014, she released her newest single "13", a pop-ballad produced in the United States.^[9] The music video received almost 200,000 viewers within 24 hours.^[10] The song was featured in V Magazine as well.^[11]

Discography

Era's songs are mainly written in Kosovar Gheg dialect, rather than using Standard Albanian, spoken in Albania. She is among the fewest singers in the Albanian-speaking territories to use and mix reggae, dubstep and pop.

Singles

• 2013: Mani për money (Addiction to money)
• 2014: A po don? (Do you wanna?)
• 2014: E dehun (Drunk)
• 2014: 13

Music video controversy

Her third single "E dehun", which was released in May 2014 was shot in the Mother Teresa Cathedral and in the Serbian Orthodox Church in Prishtina (which began constructing in 1995 under Milosevic's rule, but was never finished). Era shot her music video in the entrance of the church, with a semi-naked shirt, singing and dancing. The Serbian media and the Serbian Orthodox Church immediately reacted to the video, which caused Era a huge cyber-buzz.^[12][13] The director of the music video, Astrit Ismaili reacted to the buzz immediately, citing that there was no intention to offend Serbians, and that he had the permission to shoot the video in the entrance of the church.^[14]

Personal life

Era has two older sisters, Nora Istrefi, one of Kosovo's biggest pop-stars and Nita Istrefi, a stylist. She has a younger brother, Bledi. Her Bob Marley influence has become very prominent in her songs. She often uses his name, and quotes his songs. Besides Gheg Albanian, she often uses English phrases, as well. Era lives in Prishtina with her mother and siblings.

References