Genta Ismajli

Gentiana "Genta" Ismajli (born April 12, 1984 in Gjilan, Kosovo) is an Albanian Kosovar singer-songwriter and actress.

Career

A few months after her birth, her parents decided to move to Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 19, she went back to Kosovo to sing a song called "Dridhem". The song became an instant hit, which ignited Genta's music career. She soon relocated to Kosovo with the intention of remaining for good, and has participated in several music competitions, both in Albania and Kosovo. She won Kënga Magjike in 2005 with the song "S'dua tjetër" composed by Adrian Hila, an Albanian composer. She got 292 points. Genta's first hit was "Kthehu". The music video was released in America and when she came to Kosovo she was already known. Gentiana continued her career in Kosovo for three more years. She had great success; she then went back to America to spend some time with her parents and came back to Kosovo with new projects in mind.

Ismajli sings mostly commercial pop songs, similar to other Balkan pop. Lascivious stage movements with challenging clothes are a part of her image. Genta is known for her energetic dance performances as well as catchy pop and hip hop rhythms. She participated in the first edition of Dancing with the Stars (Albania), where she ranked second overall.

She began singing in the English language, recording songs that were released in her then-upcoming 2008 album, her first all-English album. Many of these songs leaked onto the internet prior to the release of the album. The majority of the songs on the album were written by American songwriter Kara DioGuardi. In her interviews, Genta says she wants to be a famous singer, and in America she is working with known composers and songwriters.^[1][2]

She released a half English, half Albanian album in 2011 entitled "Guximi". Her English songs included "One Shot", "Accident", "Something to Remember Me By", "Idolize Me", "Intoxicated", "Choose", and her debut English single, "Planet Me", written and produced by Kara DioGuardi

Discography

Albums

• Mos më Shiko (2004)

1. Pranoje
2. Pse Nuk Vallëzoni?
3. Unë të Dua
4. Mos më Shiko
5. Melodi Pa Fund
6. S'mund ta Them
7. Kthehu
8. Fenomen
9. Dridhem

• Më e Fortë Jam Unë (2005)

1. Unë Jam Fati Yt
2. Për Ty Jam e Vdekur
3. Zor Me Mu' e Keq Pa Mu'
4. Pse të Dua Ty
5. M'puq, M'puq
6. S'do të Pres
7. M'u Largo
8. Gabova
9. Luj Me Mu

• Posesiv (2006)

1. Një Lutje
2. Posesiv
3. Nuk Harrohet
4. Hajde Bukuri
5. Shko
6. Largohu
7. E Kam Shpirtin Eksplosiv
8. Fjalë Me Bisht
9. Lutem
10. Me Hare

• Zero Zero (2008)

1. Një Her' në Vit
2. S'dua t'jem e Tjetër Kujt
3. Zero Zero
4. E Pamundur
5. Qeni që Leh
6. Sa Ilaqe
7. Relax
8. Jan's Picikato

• Guximi (2011)

1. Guximi
2. One Shot
3. Hajde, Qka po Pret
4. Pa Ty
5. Pini Sonte
6. Pse Ike?
7. Mos u Ndal
8. Accident
9. Number One (Remix)
10. Shkune Tune (Remix)

• Guximi (Bonus Tracks Version) (2011)

1. Guximi
2. One Shot
3. Hajde, Qka po Pret
4. Pa Ty
5. Pini Sonte
6. Pse Ike?
7. Mos u Ndal
8. Accident
9. Something to Remember Me By
10. Idolize Me
11. Choose
12. Intoxicated
13. Planet Me
14. Something to Remember Me By (Remix)
15. Number One (Remix)
16. Shkune Tune (Remix)
17. Outro

Compilation Albums

• Dekada (2014)

Awards and Nominations

Kënga Magjike

Kult Awards

Netet e Klipit Shqiptar

Poli Fest

Video Fest Awards

Zhurma Show Awards

References

1. ↑ "Genta Ismajli Facebook Biography". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-04-09. 
2. ↑ "Singer wants hits in U.S. after topping charts in Plainfield parents' homeland", Joliet Herald-News, November 8, 2009 (pay site).