Samanta Karavella

Samanta Karavella
Born	(1990-07-09) 9 July 1990 (age 34) Tirana, Albania
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	2004–present
Musical career
Genres	Pop[1]
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Onima

Samanta Karavella (Albanian: [saˈmanta kaɾaˈvɛɫa]; born 9 July 1990) is an Albanian singer and songwriter.

Life and career

1990–2012: Early life and career beginnings

Samanta Karavella was born on 9 July 1990 into an Albanian family in the city of Tirana, then part of the People's Republic of Albania.[1][2] Showing an interest in music from a very young age, Karavella began dedicating herself to music when she was 13 as she auditioned for the Albanian talent show Ethet e së premtes mbrëma.[1] At age 16, she had a cameo role in the film Gjoleka.[3] She pursued her early career by competing in various music events on several occasions, including at Festivali i Këngës and Kënga Magjike.[1] In December 2011, Karavella attempted to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, following her participation in the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr", in which she finished in fourth place.[4][5]

2013–present: Mama and continued success

In 2013, Karavella emerged as the winner of the 10th edition of Top Fest with the song "Loti i fundit".[6] Starting with the release of "Ti s'e din se" in July 2014, it received a nomination at the 2015 Netët e Klipit Shqiptar gala in Ulcinj, Montenegro.[7] In December 2017, she successfully returned to Kënga Magjike for its 19th edition with the song "Humbur".[8] Finishing in fourth place, Karavella also received the Best Ballad Award at the contest.[9][10] In January 2019, she released "Vonë", a collaboration with Kosovo-Albanian musician Elinel, which incorporated R&B and hip hop elements into its sound.[11] In the course of 2020, "Pse" and "NKN" featuring Kosovo-Albanian singer, peaked at numbers 19 and 34 in her native country, respectively.[12][13] Released in May 2021, Karavella's follow-up single "Emnin tem" reached number seven in Albania.[14][15] Starting with the release of "Mala" in July, the single's official remix, "Mala (naBBoo RMX)", received airplay in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and was licensed by the Russian subsidiary of Warner Music in December 2021.[16][17]

Karavella's debut studio album, Mama, is currently under development.[18][19] Released as its lead single, "Mama" reached its peak at number 19 on the native top 100 chart in November 2021, and was followed by the album's second single, "Jeta ime", a month later.[18][20][21]

In 2023, she was selected to compete in the Festivali i Këngës 62 with the song "N'Majë".[22] However, she later withdrew from the competition.[23]

Artistry

Karavella's music style is often regarded as electric with various other styles of musical influences such as ethnic pop and R&B.[24]

Discography

Albums

• Mama

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		ALB [25]
"Buzëqeshje"	2004	—	Non-album singles
"Ylli im polar"	2006
"Të dua"	2007
"Iluzion"
"Pse u harrua dashuria"
"S'të mbaj dot peng"	2008
"Po më prite" (with Vedat Ademi)
"Shumë Happy" (featuring Roy)	2009
"Pa përse"
"Femër fatale"	2010
"Le të jetë"
"Start" (with Big Basta and Lyrical Son)	2011
"Provoje edhe një here"
"Larg"	2012
"Loti i fundit"	2013
"All I Need" (featuring Erion)
"Pafundësi" (featuring Ddy Nunes)
"Më jeto" (with Kledi Bahiti)	2014
"Ti s'e din se" (featuring Onat)
"Ss" (featuring Skivi)	2015
"Asnjo si un"		7
"Na e dina" (featuring Gent Fatali)	2016	3
"Si ai"		5
"Bashk'" (featuring 2Ton)	2017	2
"Zemrën maje"		1
"Humbur"		—
"Kush jam"	2018	10
"E jotja"		55
"Vonë" (featuring Elinel)	2019	42
"Ku ma le"		28
"Golosa"		—
"Pse"	2020	19
"NKN" (with Skerdi)		34
"Emnin tem"	2021	7
"Mala"		24
"Cha Cha Cha"		24
"Mala (naBBoo RMX)"		29
"Mama"		19	Mama
"Jeta ime"		68
"Vaj"	2022	10
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

1. "Samanta Karavella – Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
2. "Samanta Karavella #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Music Awards. 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
3. "Shikoni sa e vogël ishte Samanta kur luante në këtë film shqiptar". Opinion.al (in Albanian). 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
4. Sahiti, Gafurr (17 December 2011). "Exclusive: FiK song titles and lyricists announced". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
5. Brey, Marco (29 December 2011). "Rona Nishliu to represent Albania!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
6. Samanta Karavello fiton Top Fest 10
7. "Netet e Klipit Shqiptar 2016 – Fituësit" (in Albanian). Netët e Klipit Shqiptar. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
8. "Samanta publikon këngën e re 'Humbur'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
9. "Samanta ua dedikon adhuruesve çmimin e 'Baladës më të Mirë'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
10. "Anxhela Peristeri fiton 'Kënga Magjike 2017'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
11. "Samanta dhe Elinel sjellin 'Vonë'". Koha (in Albanian). 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
12. "Samanta Karavella publikon këngën e re 'Pse' në ditën e të dashuruarve". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
13. "Skerdi dhe Samanta vijnë në bashkëpunim me këngën 'NKN'". Koha (in Albanian). 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
14. "Rikthehet Samanta dhe e nis aty ku e kishte lënë..." (in Albanian). Top Channel. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
15. "Samanta publikon këngën e re 'Emnin tem'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
16. "Samanta – Mala (naBBoo Remix) on TopHit". TopHit. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
17. @WarnerMusic_RU (19 November 2021). "На старт, внимание, марш – листайте список новинок! Там вас ждёт парочка сюрпризов в виде релизов крупных артистов — тех, кого раньше на нашем лейбле не было" (in Russian). Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via Instagram.
18. "Samanta Karavella nesër publikon këngën e parë nga albumi i ri". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
19. Reka, Sindi (28 October 2021). "Samanta Karavella më në fund na zbulon surprizën për të cilën na paralajmëroi!" (in Albanian). Top Albania Radio. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
20. "Samanta Karavella publikon këngën e re 'Jeta ime'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
21. "Samanta vjen me një baladë që premton shumë thyerje zemrash!" (in Albanian). Top Albania Radio. 28 December 2021. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
22. Juhász, Ervin (2023-10-17). "Meet all the participants of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës!". ESCBubble. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
23. Bijuvignesh, Darshan (2023-11-01). "Albania: More Details of Festivali i Këngës 62 Announced Including Line-up Change". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
24. Thomas, Zachary (29 July 2013). "Potential Artist Profile: Albania 2014". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
25. Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
    • For "Asnjo si un":"The Top List – 24/01/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 24 January 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Na e dina":"The Top List – 17/07/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 17 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Si ai":"The Top List – 30/10/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 30 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Bashk'":"The Top List – 28/05/2017" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Zemrën maje":"The Top List – 30/07/2017" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 30 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
    • For "Kush jam":"The Top List – 29/07/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "E jotja":"The Top List – 23/09/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Vonë":"The Top List – 27/01/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 27 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Ku ma le":"The Top List – 28/04/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 28 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Pse":"The Top List – 23/02/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "NKN":"The Top List – 19/07/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
    • For "Emnin tem":"The Top List – 29/05/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
    • For "Mala":"The Top List – 26/06/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
    • For "Cha Cha Cha":"The Top List – 26/06/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
    • For "Mala (naBBoo RMX)":"The Top List – 31/07/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
    • For "Mama":"The Top List – 27/11/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 27 November 2021. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
    • For "Jeta ime":"The Top List – 25/12/2021" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
    • For "Vaj":"The Top List – 05/03/2022" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 5 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

External links

• Samanta Karavella at IMDb
• Samanta Karavella discography at Discogs

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Elhaida Dani with "S'je më"	Top Fest 2013	Succeeded by Soni Malaj with "Me të jeton"