Era Istrefi

Era Istrefi was born on July 4, 1994, in Pristina, Kosovo. Her mother, Suzana Tahirsylaj, was a singer in the 1980s and 1990s, and her father, Nezir Istrefi, was a journalist. Her sister, Nora Istrefi, is also a singer. Era Istrefi began her musical career in 2013, releasing her debut single “Mani Per Money” in her native Kosovo. She continued to release music in Gheg Albanian, often incorporating English phrases into her songs. Her early works gained local recognition, with tracks such as “A Po Don?” and “E Dehun” achieving popularity. The music video for “E Dehun” earned her three Videofest Awards, including ‘Best New Artist’. In December 2014, she released the pop ballad “13,” which quickly garnered significant views on YouTube and was featured in V Magazine.

Istrefi’s international breakthrough occurred with the release of her single “BonBon” on December 31, 2015. The song rapidly achieved viral status across social media platforms, leading to comparisons with artists such as Rihanna and Sia. This success led to her signing with American record labels Sony Music Entertainment and Ultra Music in February 2016. She subsequently released an English version of “BonBon” in June 2016. In 2017, she continued to release new music, including “Redrum” featuring Felix Snow and “No I Love Yous” in collaboration with French Montana. Her career reached another significant milestone in 2018 when she was announced as one of the performers for the official 2018 FIFA World Cup song, “Live It Up,” alongside Will Smith and Nicky Jam. She performed the song during the closing ceremony of the World Cup Final in Moscow.

Her career in the subsequent years included collaborations with various international artists and further single releases. In 2019, she collaborated with Belgian duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike on “Selfish,” which topped the Billboard Dance Club Airplay chart. The same year, she released “Nuk E Di” with her sister Nora Istrefi, marking their first musical collaboration, and “Sayonara детка” with Russian rapper Eldzhey. She also featured on Yellow Claw’s single “Let’s Get Married,” alongside American rapper Offset. Istrefi’s musical style is characterized by a blend of dancehall, hip hop, pop, and electronic elements, consistently evolving her sound while maintaining her unique artistic identity.