Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova (Russian: Алёна Ширманова-Костебелова, pronounced [ɐˈlʲɵ.nə ʂɨrˈma.nə.və kə.stʲɪˈbʲe.lə.və]; born 26 December 1991), known by her stage name Aiko, is a Russian-Czech singer and songwriter based in Brighton, England. She represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Pedestal".
Aiko | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Aiko in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova |
| Born | 26 December 1999 Moscow, Russia |
| Website | www |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
Early life
editAlena Shirmanova-Kostebelova was born in Moscow, Russia. At the age of 5, she moved with her family to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.[1][2][3]
Career
editIn 2015, Shirmanova participated in season 4 of the reality talent show 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] Her stage name originates from a combination of her love for Japanese culture and her childhood nickname 'Ajka'.[3]
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][4]
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,[5] competing with the song "Pedestal". On 13 December, it was revealed that she had won the selection.[6] At the event, she failed to qualify from the second semi-final, placing 11th out of 16 with 38 points.[7]
Personal Life
editAiko is currently in a relationship with Spanish drummer Kat Almagro, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 for San Marino as a member of Megara.[8][3][9]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Expiration Date |
|
| Fortune's Child |
|
| Aikonic |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Aiko |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album / EP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTU [14] | ||||
| "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" | 49 | |||
| "White Flag" | 2024 | — | Aikonic | |
| "Hunger" (with Teya) |
— | |||
| "Regal" | — | Non-album single | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
As featured artist
edit| 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 and Blanka Maderová featuring Teza and Aiko) |
References
edit- ^ a b SuperStar 2015 - III. casting - Alena Shirmanová (in Czech). TV Nova. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Aiko (CZ)". Nouvelle Prague (in Czech). 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Anthony B. (12 January 2023). "We Are The Night Part XIII: Aiko". Brno Daily.
- ^ "Aiko". aikomakesmusic.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Czechia finalists revealed ahead of ESCZ 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Aiko will represent Czechia at Eurovision 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 13 December 2023. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ Sturtridge, Isaac. "REVEALED: The Eurovision 2024 semi-final and final jury/televote detailed voting results". ESCXTRA. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Daniel Hidalgo (16 May 2024). "Flechazo en Eurovisión: la batería de Megara y la representante de Chequia confirman su relación". Los Replicantes (in Spanish).
- ^ @katalmagro (12 May 2024). "Nemo won the mic but... I have to say that I won the best of Eurovision". Twitter.
- ^ "Expiration Date - Album by Aiko". Spotify. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Fortune's Child - Album by Aiko". Spotify. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "AIKONIC - Album by Aiko". Spotify. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "AIKO - Album by Aiko". Spotify. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "2024 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.