ILIRA

Ilira, a singer-songwriter based in Berlin whose vibrant electro-pop style stands out, launched her major-label career in 2018 through the release of the single "Whisper My Name."

Ilira Gashi spent her childhood and adolescence in Brienz, Switzerland, absorbing an eclectic mix of popular sounds that ranged from hip-hop and heavy metal to pop and alternative rock, with particular admiration for figures such as Rihanna and Nirvana. During her teenage years she entered vocal contests across Switzerland and Albania, a period when her Albanian and Kosovar roots came into focus, and she notably stood in for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 alongside the band the Colors. Around the same time she began composing tracks over downloaded drum loops and posting the results on social platforms.

Once she reached adulthood, Ilira moved to Berlin and secured a deal with FOUR/Sony Music. She first appeared on the 2017 Jumpa song "Wasted," then issued her own debut single, "Whisper My Name," in the middle of 2018. Before the year closed she unveiled the collaborative cut "Fading" with Alle Farben and followed it with the independent track "GET OFF MY D!CK."