Aiko (Czech singer)

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Aiko
Aiko in 2024
Aiko in 2024
Background information
Birth nameAlena Shirmanova-Kostebelova
Born (1999-12-26) 26 December 1999 (age 24)
Moscow, Russia
OriginKarlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present
Websitewww.aikomakesmusic.com

Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova (Russian: Алёна Ширманова-Костебелова; born 26 December 1999), known by her stage name Aiko, is a Russian-born Czech singer and songwriter based in Brighton, England. She is set to represent Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Pedestal".

Early life

Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova was born in Moscow, Russia. Shortly after, she moved with her family to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, where she was raised.[1][2]

Career

In 2015, Shirmanova participated in

Česko Slovenská SuperStar.[1] She then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a musical career, first settling in London and later in Brighton. Under the stage name Aiko, she released her debut self-titled album in 2018, followed by Expiration Date in 2020, when she released her first single "Hunt".[2]

She was the first Czech artist to feature on the Times Square screens and the first Czech female to take part in the Spotify Equal Campaign. She performed at the Rock for People, ESNS, Metronome Prague, The Great Escape, Grape, Nouvelle Prague, Sziget and Waves Vienna festivals, as well as following Alice Merton, Black Honey, Lauren Ruth Ward and Tamino in some of their tours as a supporting artist. Some of her songs were included in the TV shows Teen Mom and Love Island.[2][3]

Aiko released her third album Fortune's Child on 13 October 2023. On 28 November 2023, she was announced as one of the contestants of the Czech national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024,[4] competing with the song "Pedestal". On 13 December, it was revealed that she had won the selection.[5]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details
Aiko
  • Released: 25 August 2018
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Expiration Date
  • Released: 17 July 2020
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Fortune's Child
  • Released: 13 October 2023
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Single Year Album / EP
"Hunt" 2020 Expiration Date
"Power" 2021 Fortune's Child
"Daughter of the Sun"
"Gemini"
"Alter Ego" 2022 Non-album singles
"I Want to Be Perfect"
"Restless"
(with Boy Jr.)
Fortune's Child
"Instincts" 2023 Non-album single
"Lucky Streak" Fortune's Child
"Pedestal"
"White Flag" 2024 Non-album singles
"Hunger"
(with Teya)

As featured artist

Single Year Album / EP
"Why Don't You"
(Ivo Blahunek featuring Aiko)
2023 Non-album singles
"The Internet"
(Noisy Pots featuring Aiko)
"Come Closer"
(Tonya Graves [cs] and Blanka Maderová
featuring Teza and Aiko)

References

  1. ^ a b SuperStar 2015 - III. casting - Alena Shirmanová (in Czech). TV Nova. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c "Aiko (CZ)". Nouvelle Prague (in Czech). 22 October 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Aiko". aikomakesmusic.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Czechia finalists revealed ahead of ESCZ 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Aiko will represent Czechia at Eurovision 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest
2024
Succeeded by
TBD