Hersi Matmuja

Hersi Matmuja

Hersjana Matmuja (2014)
Background information
Birth name Hersjana Matmuja
Also known as Hersi[1]
Born 1 February 1990
Kukës, Albania
Genres Pop, classical
Occupation(s) Singer/songwriter
Years active 2005-present
Associated acts Genti Lako, Gjergj Leka

Hersjana Matmuja[2][3] (born 1 February 1990), also known as Hersi Matmuja or simply Hersi is an Albanian singer, best known for winning the 52nd edition of Festivali i Këngës. In 2014 she represented Albania in Eurovision Song Contest held in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the song "One Night's Anger".[4]

Biography

Early life and career

Matmuja was born on 1 February 1990 in Kukës, a city located in northern Albania, and when she was 5 years old her family moved to Tirana.[5] She started singing when she was 8 years old and participated in many festivals as a child and in the talent show "Ethet e së premtes mbrëma" (where she was one of the 10 finalists).[6] Although not a big name in the Albanian-speaking territories, Matmuja was very active in Festivali i Këngës, where she finished tenth in 2006 (after winning in the youth category), eleventh in 2010, last with nul points in 2011 (together with six other artists, among which the winner of The Voice of Italy, Elhaida Dani), third in 2012 and first in 2013. At the same time, she competed for the right to study in the "Santa Cecilia" Conservatory in Rome (being qualified as the first of the list), where she studies canto and started committing professionally to music, participating on concerts and competitions for classical music.[7] She also took part two times in Kënga Magjike.[8]

She speaks Albanian, English and Italian.

Despite her classical music training, Matmuja says her musical influences include Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Rihanna, Björk and ABBA.[9] She studies at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.[10]

52nd Festivali i Këngës and Eurovision Song Contest 2014

Matmuja was among the 16 participants taking part at the 52nd edition of Festivali i Këngës. Her song "Zemërimi i një nate" (One night's anger) was written by Jorgo Papingji and composed by Genti Lako. She performed on the first presentation night and shortly became a favourite to win the show. She opened the final night and received 69 points from the jury, thus getting the rights to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. She left Klodian Kaçani and "Me ty" behind with 24 points. The Eurovision version of Zemërimi i një nate (One Night's Anger) and official video was released on 20 March.[11] Matmuja performed in the first semi final, on 6 May, but failed to qualify.

References

  1. ↑ "About Hersi". Eurovision.TV.
  2. ↑ "HI vererybody!". twitter.com. Hersi Official. 6 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "-9 #teamonenightsanger". twitter.com. Hersi Official. 27 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Omelyanchuk, Olena (28 December 2013). "Hersi Matmuja wins Festivali i Këngës!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union.
  5. ↑ "Albania: Meet Hersiana Matmuja". eurovisiontimes.wordpress.com. The Eurovision Times. 30 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Hersi Matmuja: "Canto per l’Albania... ma sono innamorata dell’Italia"". eurofestivalnews.com (in Italian). Eurofestival NEWS. 1 January 2014.
  7. ↑ García, Belén (2 January 2014). "Interview: Hersi Matmuja (Albania 2014) speaks to ESC+Plus! (EXCLUSIVE)". esc-plus.com. ESC+Plus.
  8. ↑ "Hersiana Matmuja Biografia". teksteshqip.com (in Albanian). teksteSHQIP.
  9. ↑ Besim, Ramadan (22 January 2014). "Hersiana Matmuja Interview: I like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Mozart". wiwibloggs.com. wiwibloggs.com.
  10. ↑ "Hersi Matmuja speaks to Eurowizja.org". eurowizja.org. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Albania: Hersiana Matmuja will release her song on March 20". wiwibloggs.com. wiwibloggs.com. 25 February 2014.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko with "Identitet"		 Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2014 		Succeeded by
Elhaida Dani
with "I'm Alive"