Dren Abazi (born 13 February 1985) is a Kosovo-Albanian singer, songwriter and producer.[1][2] He is the founder and leader of Zig Zag Orchestra, a popular band in Kosovo, Albania, and other Balkan countries. His music is a fusion of Balkan music, jazz, klezmer, ska and rock.[citation needed]

Dren Abazi
Background information
Birth nameDren Abazi
Born (1985-02-13) 13 February 1985 (age 39)
Pristina, SAP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia
GenresBalkan, klezmer, jazz, ska, world, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Guitars, bass, vocals
Years active2003–present
Member ofDren Abazi & Zig Zag Orchestra
Formerly ofSansara (1997-2005), Gre3nt (2007)
WebsiteDren Abazi – Artist Website

Biography

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Dren Abazi was born in Pristina, at the time in the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo. Although he made his debut at a very young age, as a guitar player for different local rock bands, he gained public and media attention and made his breakthrough after creating his own band Zig Zag Orchestra in 2008. He rose to fame quickly in 2011 after composing and performing "Ti dhe Une"[3][4] a duet with Albanian female singer Anjeza Shahini, the song quickly became a hit in Albania and was chosen as the song of the year by national Albanian TV Top Channel.

In 2014 his song "Naten" became a part of the soundtrack for Let's Be Cops, which starred Andy Garcia and Nina Dobrev.[5][6] In addition, the song is part of the album Afterparty, released in 2012 won the National Prize KULT[7] in Tirana, Albania, for the best Albanian album of the year.[8]

Dren Abazi and Zig Zag Orchestra

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The orchestra composes and performs multicultural trans-ethnic music. Beginning in 2009, it has performed in several concerts and festivals all around the Europe.[9][10][11][12] In 2015 Dren Abazi & Zig Zag Orchestra performed in the famous Jazz on Sienne[13][14][15] and in Sunset Festival,[16][17] in Paris. As well as in June in Fete de la Musique[18] also known as Make Music Day, in Republique concert in Paris.[19]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Welcome to Prishtina – Sansara (2003)
  • Afterparty – Dren Abazi & Zig Zag Orchestra (2012)
  • Mes yjesh – Dren Abazi & Zig Zag Orchestra (2017)

Singles

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  • "Pa Lidhje" - Gre3n (2007)
  • "Jorgjica" (2009)
  • "I dehur jam" (2010)
  • "Dasma" (2010)
  • "Une ty moj" (2010)
  • "Euphoria" (2010)
  • "Iku me eren" (2011)
  • "Ti dhe une" (2011)
  • "Pa frymë" (2011)
  • "Naten" (2012)
  • "Si Era" (2013)
  • "Mes yjesh" (2013)
  • "Mbreti Nates" (2014)
  • "Sa Larg" (2014)
  • "Du" (2015)
  • "Lamtumire" (2016)
  • "Kur je me mu" (2017)
  • "Deja vu" (2018)
  • "Zjarr e akull" (2020)
  • "Hana" (2021)
  • "Ne Syte E Tu" (2022)
  • "Nuk Te Harroj" (2022)
  • "Ndoshta" (2023)

References

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  1. ^ "Dren Abazi & Elina Duni". Koha Ditore ( Albanian Daily Newspaper ). Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Balkan Bras World". Balkan Brass World. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Ti Dhe Une". Albeu ( in Albanian ). Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Ti Dhe Une". Top Channel ( in Albanian ). Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Koha Ditore". Koha Ditore ( Albanian Daily Newspaper ). Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Telegrafi – Dren abazi". Telegrafi.com ( Kosovo Albanian Media Portal ). Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Albanian Kult Price Winner". Gazeta Express (Kosovo Albanian Daily). Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Anabel – Albanian Kult Price Winner". Anabel (in Albanian). Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Revista Porta". Revista Porta ( Albanian Magazine ). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Albanian Ministry of Culture". Albanian Ministry of Culture. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Albanian Telegraphic Agency". Albanian Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Dialog Plus". Dialog Plus ( Swiss Magazine ). Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Rveista Anam". Revista Anam ( Albanian Magazine ). Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Jazz on Seine". Jazz-On-Seine – 22 June. Retrieved 12 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Sortira Paris". Sortira Paris. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  16. ^ "Sunny Live Jazz Festival 2015". Sunset Sunside. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  17. ^ "Kult Plus". Kult Plus ( Albanian Magazine ). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Koha Jone". Koha Jone ( Albanian Newspaper ). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Make Music Day". Make Music – 21 June. Retrieved 2 December 2015.