Gentiana Ismajli (born 12 April 1984), known professionally as Genta Ismajli, is a Kosovo-Albanian singer, songwriter, and actress.

Career

Ismajli was born in

Gjilan Gjilan, or Gnjilane ( sr-cyr, Гњилане) is the eighth largest city in Kosovo and seat of Gjilan Municipality and Gjilan District. Name Ottoman chronicler Evliya Çelebi mentions ''Morava'' as a settlement of the Sanjak of Vučitrn. � ...

to an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

family. Before Genta was born, they moved to Gjilan. A few months after her birth, her parents decided to move to

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

in the United States, where she was raised. At the age of 19, she went to

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...

and released the single "Dridhem". The song became a hit, which ignited Ismajli's music career. She later relocated permanently to Kosovo, and has participated in several music competitions, both in Albania and Kosovo. She won

Kënga Magjike Kënga Magjike (; ) is an annual music competition organised by the Albanian television broadcaster Televizioni Klan. The music competition has been broadcasting annually since its inauguration in 1999 with the exception of 2020. The first edi ...

in 2005 with the song "S'dua tjetër" composed by Adrian Hila, an Albanian composer, receiving 292 points. Ismajli continued her career in Albania and Kosovo for three more years. She had great success; she then went back to the United States to spend some time with her parents, and came back to Albania with new projects in mind. Ismajli sings mostly commercial pop songs, similar to other Balkan pop. Lascivious stage movements with challenging clothes are a part of her image. Ismajli is known for her energetic dance performances as well as catchy pop and hip hop rhythms. She participated in the first edition of ''Dancing with the Stars'' (Albania), where she ranked second overall. She began singing in the English language, recording songs that were released in her then-upcoming 2008 album, her first all-English album. Many of these songs leaked onto the internet prior to the release of the album. The majority of the songs on the album were written by American songwriter

Kara DioGuardi Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (; born December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and singer. She writes music primarily in the pop rock genre. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; sales o ...

. In her interviews, Ismajli says she wants to be a famous singer, and in America she is working with known composers and songwriters."Singer wants hits in U.S. after topping charts in Plainfield parents' homeland"
''Joliet Herald-News'', November 8, 2009 (pay site). She released a half English, half Albanian album in 2011 entitled ''Guximi''. Her English songs included "One Shot", "Accident", "Something to Remember Me By", "Idolize Me", "Intoxicated", "Choose", and her debut English single, "Planet Me", written and produced by

Discography

Albums

*''Mos më Shiko'' (2004) #Pranoje #Pse Nuk Vallëzoni? #Unë të Dua #Mos më Shiko #Melodi Pa Fund #Dridhem *''Më e Fortë Jam Unë'' (2005) #Unë Jam Fati Yt #Për Ty Jam e Vdekur #Zor Me Mu' e Keq Pa Mu' #Pse të Dua Ty #M'puq, M'puq #S'do të Pres #M'u Largo #Gabova #Luj Me Mu *''Posesiv'' (2006) #Një Lutje #Posesiv #Nuk Harrohet #Hajde Bukuri #Shko #Largohu #E Kam Shpirtin Eksplosiv #Fjalë Me Bisht #Lutem #Me Hare *''Zero Zero'' (2008) #Një Her' në Vit #S'dua t'jem e Tjetër Kujt #Zero Zero #E Pamundur #Qeni që Leh #Sa Ilaqe #Relax #Jan's Picikato *''Guximi'' (2011) #Guximi #One Shot #Hajde, Qka po Pret #Pa Ty #Pini Sonte #Pse Ike? #Mos u Ndal #Accident #Number One (Remix) #Shkune Tune (Remix) *''Guximi (Bonus Tracks Version)'' (2011) #Guximi #One Shot #Hajde, Qka po Pret #Pa Ty #Pini Sonte #Pse Ike? #Mos u Ndal #Accident #Something to Remember Me By #Idolize Me #Choose #Intoxicated #Planet Me #Something to Remember Me By (Remix) #Number One (Remix) #Shkune Tune (Remix) #Outro

Compilation albums

*''Dekada'' (2014)

Awards and nominations

, - , rowspan="2", 2005 , rowspan="2", "Nuk Dua Tjeter" , First Prize , , - , Internet Prize , , - , , 2014 , , "Maje" , Best Performer , Kult Awards , - , , 2009 , , "Zero Zero" , Best Album of the Year , Netet e Klipit Shqiptar , - , , 2006 , , "Pse të dua ty" , Best Video / First Prize , Poli Fest , - , rowspan="3", 2006 , rowspan="3", "Me hare" , Internet Prize , , - , Public Prize , , - , Second Prize , Video Fest Awards , - , rowspan="2", 2005 , rowspan="2", "Pranoje" , Best Female , , - , Best Popular Video , , - , rowspan="2", 2006 , rowspan="2", "Luj me mu" , Best Popular Video , , - , Best Production , , - , rowspan="3", 2006 , rowspan="3", "Pse te du" , Best Female , , - , Best Camera , , - , Best Director , , - , , 2007 , , "Posesiv" , Best Female , , - , , 2008 , , "Sa llaqe" , Best Pop Folk Video , , - , , 2010 , , "Si panter I zi" , Best Performance , , - , rowspan="2", 2012 , rowspan="2", "Guximi (ft.Dalool)" , Best Dance , , - , RTV 21 PLUS Prize , , - , , 2013 , , "Ole Ole(ft.Dj Blunt & Real 1)" , Best Dance , , - , , 2014 , , "Anuloje" , Best Pop Folk Video , Zhurma Show Awards , - , rowspan="2", 2008 , rowspan="2", "Një Herë Në Vit" , Best Pop & Rock Video , , - , Top 10 Vip , , - , , 2009 , , "Si Panter I Zi" , Best Pop Video , , - , rowspan="2", 2010 , rowspan="2", "Shkune Tune" , Best Video / First Prize , , - , Best Pop , , - , rowspan="3", 2011 , rowspan="3", ""Guximi (ft.Dalool)" , Best Dance , , - , Best Album , , - , Best Song , , - , rowspan="2", 2012 , rowspan="2", "Ole Ole (ft. DJ Blunt & Real 1)" , Best Video / First Prize , , - , Best Song , , - , rowspan="2", 2013 , rowspan="2", "Si ty nuk ka" , Best Pop , , - , Best Video / First Prize , , - , rowspan="2", 2014 , rowspan="2", "Anuloje" , Best Female , , - , Best Pop , , - , rowspan="2", 2016 , rowspan="2", "Shake it (ft.Etnon)" , Best Collaboration , , - , Best Song ,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismajli, Genta 21st-century Albanian women singers Kosovo Albanians Kosovan singers Kosovan actresses People from Gjilan Yugoslav emigrants to the United States American people of Albanian descent American people of Kosovan descent American women pop singers American women songwriters Singers from Chicago Living people 1984 births 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers Kënga Magjike winners