Alban Skënderaj facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alban Skënderaj
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Skënderaj in 2017
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| Born | 20 April 1982 Lushnjë, Albania
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| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor, producer, television personality |
| Years active | 2004–present |
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Notable work
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Discography |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels | Acromax |
Alban Skënderaj (Albanian: [alˈban skənˈdɛɾaj]) is a famous Albanian singer, born on April 20, 1982. He was born in Lushnjë and grew up in Vlorë. Alban is well-known in Albania and other Albanian-speaking areas for his music. Besides singing, he has also been a judge on popular TV shows like The X Factor Albania and The Voice of Albania.
Contents
Alban Skënderaj's Journey
Early Life and Starting Music
Alban Skënderaj was born on April 20, 1982, in Lushnjë, Albania. His father, Qerim Skënderaj, was in the Albanian Armed Forces. His mother, Afërdita Skënderaj, was from Vlorë. Alban went to Halim Xhelo secondary school in Vlorë.
When he was young, his family moved from Albania to Pistoia, Italy. His brothers encouraged Alban to try a music career. He started taking music lessons and learned to play the guitar. An Italian composer named Sandro Bartolozzi discovered Alban. He invited him to a music studio in Florence, Italy, where Alban continued to sing with different bands.
Rise to Fame: Music Contests and Hit Songs
After returning to Albania, Alban Skënderaj began to join various music contests. In April 2005, he won the second edition of Top Fest with his song "Vetëm ty" (Only You). The next year, he won Top Fest again, this time with the group Kthjellu, for their song "Diçka" (Something).
In December 2006, he took part in the Festivali i Këngës contest with his song "Eklips" (Eclipse). In October 2008, he released his second album, Melody. In December 2010, Alban returned to Festivali i Këngës and came in second place. He sang "Ende ka shpresë" (There's Still Hope) with his wife, Miriam Cani.
In November 2012, Alban won the 14th edition of Kënga Magjike with his song "Refuzoj" (I Refuse). From 2012 to 2015, he was a judge on the TV show X Factor Albania. In November 2014, he held a special concert in Tirana to celebrate 10 years of his music career.
Continued Success and Popularity
Alban Skënderaj's first song to reach number one was "Une dhe ti" (Me and You), released in February 2016. He then released his first live album, Tingujt e ditarit tim (Sounds of My Diary), in April 2016. Another song, "Kam nëvoje" (I Need), featuring rapper Elinel, also became number one in Albania in May 2016.
In June 2016, he was named the male artist of the year at the Top Music Awards. Later that year, three more of his songs, "Duart lart" (Hands Up), "Engjëll" (Angel), and "Stoli i trëndafilave" (Rose Ornament), made it into the top 10. In 2017, Alban was a coach on the sixth season of The Voice of Albania.
In June 2017, he held a concert in Pristina to promote his live album, Tingujt e ditarit tim. Several other songs, "Dikur" (Once Upon a Time), "1000 premtime" (1000 Promises), "Nuk je vetëm" (You Are Not Alone), and "Dhurata" (The Gift), became popular in 2017. The song "Dhurata," which he sang with Miriam Cani, was dedicated to their daughter Ameli and reached the top of the Albanian charts. In December 2017, "Une dhe ti" was named the song of the year at the Kult Awards.
Recent Achievements
Alban Skënderaj continued to have hit songs in 2018. In May, "Ping Pong" with rapper MC Kresha became a top three song. Another popular song, "Deja vu," with singer Young Zerka, followed in June 2018. His song "Lea" became a number-one hit in September 2018, and "Nëntor, 26" also did very well.
In October 2018, Alban released his second live album, Hapësira e një ëndrre (The Space of a Dream). In 2019, three more songs, "Plagë në gjysmëshpirt" (Wound in Half-Soul), "Drejt në zemër" (Straight to the Heart), and "Duamë" (Love Us), reached the top 10. The music video for "Duamë" included clips from Alban's wedding in the Maldives.
Personal Life
Alban Skënderaj began a relationship with Albanian singer Miriam Cani in 2007, after they worked together on a song. On November 28, 2015, Miriam gave birth to their daughter, Ameli Skënderaj.
In June 2019, Alban held a concert in Pristina, Kosovo. During the show, Miriam Cani joined him to perform "Dhurata," and they announced that she was expecting another baby. Their son, Duam, was born on January 14, 2020.
Discography
- Fllad në shkretirë (2006)
- Melody (2008)
- Ende ka shpresë (2011)
- Tingujt e ditarit tim (2016)
- Hapësira e një ëndrre (2018)
See Also
- List of awards and nominations received by Alban Skënderaj
