Albina Kelmendi

Albina Kelmendi
Albina Kelmendi
	Kelmendi in 2019
Background information
Born	27 January 1998 (age 26); Peja, AP Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia; (present-day Kosovo)
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer; songwriter;
Instruments	Vocals; clarinet; piano;
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Folé Publishing

Albina Kelmendi (Albanian pronunciation: [alˈbina kɛlˈmɛndi]; born 27 January 1998)^[1] is a Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter. She rose to fame after placing as the runner-up on the fourth series of The Voice of Albania in 2014.^[2] Kelmendi and her family represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Duje".

Early life

Albina Kelmendi was born in Pejë, Kosovo (then part of FR Yugoslavia). She studied clarinet and piano at the Halit Kasapolli music school in her hometown, and started performing together with her family under the name Family Band.^[1]^[3]

Career

2014–2021: The Voice of Albania and Top Fest

In 2014, she auditioned for the fourth series of The Voice of Albania.^[3] After getting chair turns from all four coaches, she joined Team Elsa. She finished as the runner-up of the season.

*The Voice of Albania* performances
Round	Song	Original artist(s)	Notes
Blind auditions	"Something's Got a Hold on Me"	Etta James	Four-chair turn, joined Team Elsa
Battle	"Run Baby Run"	Sheryl Crow	Won against Nilsa Hysi
Knock Out	"Suus"	Rona Nishliu	Won against Xhejni Memlikaj
Live shows	"Tomlin e nanës"	Jericho
	"Serenata e Shubertit"	Frederik Ndoci
	"All for Love"	Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting	With Team Elsa
Semi-final	"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"	James Brown
Final	"Zgjohu"	Jericho
	"Unchain My Heart"	Ray Charles
	"Tomlin e nanës"	Jericho	With Jericho

The following year, she took part in the twelfth edition of Top Fest, where she presented the song "Nuk ka ma mire".^[4]

2022–present: Nana loke, Festivali i Këngës, and Eurovision Song Contest

In June 2022, Albina Kelmendi released her debut album, Nana loke.^[5] In December of the same year, she and five members of her family took part in the Festivali i Këngës 61 as Albina & Familja Kelmendi, where they presented the song "Duje".^[6] While coming in second place on the final night, the result of which was decided by a jury, the public chose her as the Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.^[7]

At Eurovision in Liverpool, she performed in the second semi-final on 11 May 2023, and managed to successfully qualify to the final. She placed 22nd in the grand final.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums with album details
Title	Album details
Nana loke	Released: 25 June 2022 Label: Fole Publishing

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name
Title	Year	Album
"Ëndrrën mos ma merr"	2015	Non-album singles
"Hera e parë"	2016
"Denim" (with Sinan Vllasaliu)	2018
"Shko"	2020
"Një takim" (with Taulant Bajraliu)
"Ishim"
"Mos më lini vet"
"Ta fali zemra"
"Vjet e mija po kalojn"
"Hallakam" (with Labinot Tahiri)
"Ç'ka don tash prej meje" (with Ymer Bajrami)
"Mirazh"	2021
"Kur ta ktheva Kosovë shpinën"
"Vullkan"
"Zot mos e bo"
"E kom prej teje"
"Pa mu"
"Çikë e bukur"
"Moj e mira te pojata"
"Jetoj me shpresë"	2022
"Nanë moj kom gabu"
"Sytë e tu"
"Emri im"	2023
"Duje"^[a]
"Inat"^[9]

Notes

^ Credited as Albina & Familja Kelmendi.

References

^ ^a ^b "Albina Kelmendi në Radio KFOR zbuloi se në fund të muajit shkurt lanson projektin e ri muzikor". Radio KFOR Shqip. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ "Albina Kelmendi – Biografia". www.teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Ja pse u përlot Albina Kelmendi në intervist". InfoKosova (in Albanian). 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ "Intervistë me këngëtaren Albina Kelmendi: Nuk ka zhanër të mirë apo të keq, gjithçka varet nga interpretimi dhe ndjenja që e përçon përmes këngës". Kosova Sot. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ "Në bashkëpunim me nënën, Albina Kelmendi publikon albumin "Nana loke"". Dielli.info (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ Granger, Anthony (27 October 2022). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 61 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ Farren, Neil (22 December 2022). "Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi to Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
^ "Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^ "New music this week (part 1): Songs from Reiley, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more". Wiwibloggs. 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ronela Hajati with "Sekret"	Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023	Succeeded by Besa with "Titan"

[9] Credited as Albina & Familja Kelmendi.

[:0-1] "Albina Kelmendi në Radio KFOR zbuloi se në fund të muajit shkurt lanson projektin e ri muzikor". Radio KFOR Shqip. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[2] "Albina Kelmendi – Biografia". www.teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[:1-3] "Ja pse u përlot Albina Kelmendi në intervist". InfoKosova (in Albanian). 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[4] "Intervistë me këngëtaren Albina Kelmendi: Nuk ka zhanër të mirë apo të keq, gjithçka varet nga interpretimi dhe ndjenja që e përçon përmes këngës". Kosova Sot. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[5] "Në bashkëpunim me nënën, Albina Kelmendi publikon albumin "Nana loke"". Dielli.info (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[6] Granger, Anthony (27 October 2022). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 61 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[7] Farren, Neil (22 December 2022). "Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi to Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.

[8] "Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.

[10] "New music this week (part 1): Songs from Reiley, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more". Wiwibloggs. 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

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