Anxhela Peristeri

Anxhela Peristeri ([ˈandʒɛla pɛɾiˈstɛɾi]; born 24 March 1986), also known mononymously as Anxhela, is an Albanian singer, songwriter and model. Peristeri emerged as the winner of the 19th edition of Kënga Magjike in 2017. After winning the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës, she represented Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

1986–2015: Early life and career beginnings

Anxhela Peristeri was born on 24 March 1986 into an Albanian family of the Eastern Orthodox faith in the city of Korçë, People's Republic of Albania. There, she began to pursue music and attended high school in her elementary years studying violin. Following this, the singer continued her studies and enrolled at Jordan Misja Lyceum in Tirana. After her graduation in Tirana, Peristeri and her family moved to Thessaloniki, Greece. During an interview in Greece, Peristeri stated that her paternal great-grandfather was Greek, from whom she inherited the surname Peristeri. In another interview in Greece, when asked if she considers herself Greek, she answered that she is Albanian and her connection to Greece comes from a distant ancestor, namely her great-grandfather.Describing her life in the latter country, she had stated that she experienced discrimination because of her Albanian origin. In 2001, Peristeri participated as a contestant in the Miss Albania national pageant in Tirana. Her initial forays into the music industry were in December 2001 as she unsuccessfully took part in the 40th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Vetëm ty të kam".

2016–present: Kënga Magjike and Eurovision

From March to June 2016, Peristeri appeared as a contestant on the first season of Your Face Sounds Familiar and eventually emerged as the winner. Later that year, she took part at Kënga Magjike with the song "Genjështar" in December 2016 and finished in the second place. In December 2017, she returned to compete in the 19th edition of Kënga Magjike and won the contest with the song "E Çmëndur". Following her victory, her follow-up single, "Shpirti ma di", went on to reach number 73 in Albania. Another charting single, "Pa mua", followed in late 2018 and peaked at number 74 in her native country. A Balkan ballad incorporating Albanian folk elements, "Pa mua" was eventually honored as the song of the year by the Akademia Kult at the 2019 Kult Awards with Peristeri donating her prize winnings to victims of the 2019 Albania earthquake.

Peristeri's chart success ensued into September 2019 with the single "Shpirt i bukur", marking her third chart appearance. In December 2019, following a one-year absence, she returned to compete in the 21st edition of Kënga Magjike with the song "Dikush i imi" and eventually finished in third place. Succeeding "Dikush i imi" in January 2020, the follow-up single, "Ata", featuring Kosovo-Albanian singer Sinan Vllasaliu peaked at number 100 in Albania. In October 2020, the broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), announced her as one of the contestants selected to compete in the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the pop ballad "Karma". During the show, Peristeri emerged as the winner and was thus announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. In the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, Peristeri successfully qualified for the grand final and eventually finished in 21st place.

Albums

• Anxhela për ju (2004)

Singles

As lead artist