Nico (Romanian singer)

Nico
Background information
Birth name Nicoleta Matei
Also known as Nico
Born (1970-02-01) 1 February 1970
Origin Romania
Genres Pop, R&B, Rap
Occupation(s) singer, TV personality, spokesperson
Years active 1999–present
Website http://www.nicomusic.ro

Nicoleta Matei, known by her stage name Nico (born on 1 February 1970), is a Romanian singer, TV personality and spokesperson for Catena in Romania. In her country, she is known for having collaborated with several Romanian hip hop artists, such as Morometzii (in 1999), B.U.G. Mafia (in 2000, 2002), Cabron (in 2003, 2007, 2010), Puya, Blat Jargon, and Codu Penal. She is considered one of the best Romanian voices ever. She represented Romania along with Vlad in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Pe-o margine de lume".[1]

Biography

1970-2000: Early life and career beginnings

Nico was born and raised in Ploiești, where she still lives. In 1990, she graduated from The Popular Art School and starting with 1996, she attended several Romanian music contests, winning many prizes. Since 1996 she is the main voice of the Toma Caragiu Theater in Ploiești, winning for 4 years in a row the award for the Best Female Vocal Performer on The National Festival of Variety Shows in Theatres in Romania. In 1998 she made her first TV appearance, together with Horia Brenciu on a show called Sarabanda, where she used to cover many of Romanian and international hits. In 1999 she made her first major participation on a national music competition, called Mamaia Music Festival, finishing 2nd on the Composing Section with the song Si Daca Viata Mea.

2002-2003: The Breakthrough and Gand Pentru Ei

In 2002 she made a guest appearance on the chorus of "Cine E Cu Noi", a song released by Romanian Hip-Hop group B.U.G. Mafia, which became an instant hit. Following the success of "Cine E Cu Noi", she continues to collaborate with several Romanian Hip-Hop artists, at the same time with the recordings for her first solo studio album. In 2003 she released Gand Pentru Ei, her 1st solo material of R&B and Hip-Hop Music. The album contains collaborations with Puya and Cabron. The only single released from the album was Nu Pot Sa Mai Suport (I Can't Stand Anymore), a featuring with Cabron. The song was a smash hit in Romania, remaining her signature song. Later that year she represented Romania at the Golden Stag Festival, with the song Heaven Knows, a Filippa Giordano cover, finishing 2nd.

2004-2007: Asa Cum Vrei and Cast Away

In 2004 Nico participates at several International Music Competitions in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan and once again at the Mamaia Music Festival in Romania, finishing 2nd on the Composing Section with the song Spune Da, Spune Nu. In 2005 she released her 2nd studio album, Asa Cum Vrei. Laurenţiu Duţă wrote the first and only single released from the album, also called Asa Cum Vrei, a pop song which received critical acclaim from media and was played on the majority of the radio stations in Romania. Asa Cum Vrei is one of Nico's most popular songs. In 2006 she recorded Vocea Inimii, a song written by Marius Moga for the soundtrack theme of Romanian soap-opera with the same name. Nico also made a guest appearance on some of the series episodes. Cast Away, her 3rd studio album was released in 2007. Cast Away and Dulce Amaruie were the two singles released from the album, the second one being composed by Costi Ioniţă.

2008: Eurovision Song Contest

Nico (left) with Vlad Miriţă performing Pe-o margine de lume in the UK, during the Promo Tour

In February 2008, Nico and Vlad won Selecția Națională with the ballad Pe-o margine de lume. The song represented Romania in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The song managed to finish 7th on the Semi-final, allowing the duo to perform also on the Grand Final, where it has finished the 20th, with 45 points to a big disappointment through Romanians. However, Pe-o margine de lume was not a failure, as the song received the Composer Award at the Marcel Bezençon Awards, later that night.

2009-2013: Love Mail and other releases

After the Eurovision, Nico started to work on new material. In May 2009, she released a new single called Love Mail, a Pop song which was a moderate success in Romania. In 2010, she released Poate Undeva, the single being preceded by her 4th studio album, called Love Mail. On the next 3 years, Nico released several singles, but due to the lack of promotion they failed to gain much attention from media or the public.

2014-present: Clipe and new album

In June 2014 Nico returned to her first love, R&B, with the release of her next single, Clipe. The song was a collaboration with Romanian rapper Shoby. Clipe received generally positive reviews from media and the public, the song being one of her best releases in years. Following the success of Clipe, Nico decided it was the right time to put out a new studio album, due to release somewhere in the beginning of 2016.

Discography

Studio Albums

Singles

Music Competitions, Awards and Nominations

Year Competition Category Song/ Album Result
1999 Mamaia Music Festival Creation Si Daca Viata Mea 2nd place
2003 Golden Stag Festival Best Interpret Heaven Knows 2nd place
2004 Mamaia Music Festival Creation Spune Da, Spune Nu 2nd place
Voice of Asia Final If You Go Away 1st place
Discovery Final 1st place
2005 Selecția Națională Final All The Time feat. Mihai Trăistariu 3rd Place
2006 Selecția Națională Final Jokero feat. Akcent 2nd Place
RRA Awards 2006 Best Pop Song Asa Cum Vrei Nominated
Best Female - Nominated
2008 Selecția Națională Final Pe-o margine de lume feat. Vlad Miriţă 1st place
Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Semi-Final Qualified
Final 20th Place
Marcel Bezençon Awards Won
2009 RRA Awards 2009 Best Pop Song Won
2010 International Competition Of Istanbul Songs Final Ah Istanbul 1st place
2011 RRA Awards 2011 Best Album Love Mail Nominated
Best Pop Song Poate Undeva Nominated
Best Female - Won
2012 RRA Awards 2012 Best Pop Song Mai Da-Mi O Sansa Won
Best Female - Won
2015 RRA Awards 2015 Best Female - Nominated

References

  1. ↑ http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/year/participant-profile/?song=24530

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nico (Romanian singer).
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Todomondo
with "Liubi, Liubi, I Love You"		 Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008
(with Vlad) 		Succeeded by
Elena Gheorghe
with "The Balkan Girls"


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