Elvana Gjata

Elvana Gjata
Elvana Gjata
Born	February 3, 1987 (age 39); Tirana, Albania
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman
Years active	2003–present
Known for	Prominent figure in Albanian music; albums Mamës (2007), Afër dhe larg (2011), EPs 3 (2018), Çelu (2021)

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Elvana Gjata, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Elvana Gjata (; born on 3 February 1987) is an Albanian singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Originating from Tirana, she is widely regarded as a prominent figure in Albanian music, often referred to as a "Diva of Albanian music". Her rise to fame began with the albums Mamës (2007) and Afër dhe larg (2011), which established her presence in Albania and the Albanian-speaking Balkans. She further expanded her success with popular singles and EPs such as 3 (2018) and Çelu (2021), securing numerous number-one singles on the Albanian charts. Over the years, Gjata has been honored with multiple accolades, including two Balkan Music Awards, a Festivali i Këngës Award, four Kënga Magjike Awards, and a Top Fest Award.

1987–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Born into a Catholic family in Tirana on 3 February 1987, Elvana Gjata is the daughter of Fatmir and Donika Gjata. Her father dedicated more than twenty years to service in the Albanian Armed Forces. She has an older sister, Migena, who is a professional soprano residing in Germany. Gjata pursued film directing studies at the University of Arts in Tirana. Growing up in a humble yet nurturing environment, she developed an interest in music at 14 after auditioning for the Albanian talent show Ethet e së premtes mbrëma.

In 2003, she entered the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës with "Pranë teje" but did not achieve success. The following year, her single "Të kam xhan" marked her debut appearance at Kënga Magjike. She released her first album Mamës and returned to Kënga Magjike competitions in 2007 and 2009 with songs "Ku jeton dashuria" and "Dhe zemra ndal". June 2011 saw her winning the eighth edition of Top Fest with "Me ty," a tribute to her late friend Elsina Hidersha.

2011–2016: Afër dhe larg

Gjata's second studio album, Afër dhe Larg, was launched in August 2011, comprising fifteen tracks including its title song. This release brought her international acclaim when she received recognition at the Balkan Music Awards held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2012. Later that year, she was appointed as the ambassador for Türk Ekonomi Bankası (TEB) in Kosovo. In February 2012, Gjata participated in Albania's third season of Dancing with the Stars, ultimately emerging as the winner.

To commemorate the centennial of Albanian Independence in April 2012, she released "Gjaku im," dedicating it to the Albanian nation. Shortly afterward, she became the face of Tring Digital, an Albanian television platform. In March 2013, Gjata collaborated with rapper 2po2 on the hit single "Beso".

In February 2014, she unveiled "Disco Disco," featuring Kosovo-Albanian duo Kaos, followed by "Puthe," which reached number 37 on Polish charts. That year also saw the release of her first extended play titled Acoustic Live Session, containing live renditions of five songs. Additionally, Gjata was named the official representative for Albtelecom, a leading Albanian telecommunications company.

March 2015 featured her collaboration with Flori Mumajesi on "Kuq e zi je ti," which served as Albania’s official anthem for supporters during the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. Her single "Love me," featuring Bruno and released later that year, earned a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2016 Top Music Awards.

In July 2016, Gjata surprised audiences by releasing "Njësoj" without prior announcement; it quickly topped charts. In October, she continued her chart success with "Lejla," a joint effort alongside rappers Capital T and 2po2.

2017–2021: 3 and Çelu

Following her work alongside American producer Poo Bear and French DJ David Guetta, Gjata broadened her global reach. In February 2017, she was a guest at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, courtesy of Poo Bear's invitation. Her debut English-language track, "Forever Is Over", produced by Guetta, climbed to the top of the Albanian charts by mid-2017. On 3 February 2018, she released her second EP, 3, which featured hits like "Më fal" and "Xheloz" that dominated the charts.

In 2018, Gjata appeared on Poo Bear's single "Shade" and partnered with American vocalist Ty Dolla Sign for "Off Guard". Upon returning to Albania, her singles "Ku Vajti" and "Mike" both reached the second position on domestic charts. After a short break, she made a comeback in February 2019 with the chart-topping single "Tavolina e mërzisë". In June of the same year, she reunited with Capital T for "Fustani", which also secured the number one spot in Albania. Their subsequent collaboration with German-Albanian artist Ardian Bujupi, titled "Meine Liebe", attained number 73 on Swiss charts.

August 2019 saw Gjata debut "A m'don" and perform at the Sunny Hill Festival, sharing the stage with international icons such as Miley Cyrus, Calvin Harris, and Dua Lipa. In October, she competed in Albania’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with "Me tana", finishing as runner-up despite being a frontrunner.

She returned again in February 2021 with the number-one single "Thirr", coinciding with her 34th birthday. Her third EP, Çelu, launched in April 2021, delivered several chart-topping tracks including "Drandofilat", "Kunadhe", and "Mos u ngut". Songs from this era also achieved regional success: "Loti" not only reached number one in Albania but also peaked at 55 on Swiss charts.

In July 2021, Gjata sustained her chart momentum with "E di", a duet featuring Kosovo-Albanian singer Yll Limani. The August release "Papa", which included Romanian artists Sickotoy and Inna, gained international recognition, charting at number 327 in the Commonwealth of Independent States and reaching number 18 on Romania’s Airplay 100 by November that year.

2022–present: Continued success

Between January and March 2022, Gjata introduced several follow-up singles such as "" alongside Kosovo-Albanian rapper Mozzik, "Pow", and "Ex" featuring German-Albanian DJ Gimi-O and Macedonian-Albanian rapper Bardhi. These releases achieved notable commercial performance within selected markets. In April 2023, she collaborated with Dhurata Dora on "Rrotullo," produced by Panda Music. Her single "Synin" was released shortly after on 16 June 2023.

On 22 June 2023, Gjata celebrated two decades of her music career with a landmark concert titled "Decade" at the Air Albania stadium. The event drew roughly 25,000 attendees, setting a record as the highest-attended solo concert by an Albanian artist within the country. Following this milestone, she released additional singles including "Si Na" and "Pak" in July 2023.

In October 2024, RTSH confirmed Gjata's participation in the 63rd Festivali i Këngës, Albania’s national selection event for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, where she competed with "Karnaval". She ultimately secured second place.

Throughout 2024, Gjata further enhanced her international profile by performing a sold-out show at Cologne’s Lanxess Arena, attracting an audience of approximately 20,000—the largest crowd ever for an Albanian artist abroad.

Artistry

Elvana Gjata's creative output in music and visual presentation, combined with her distinctive fashion choices, attracts significant attention throughout Albania and the Albanian-speaking regions of the Balkans. She has earned widespread acclaim as a style icon due to her unique and adaptable wardrobe. Musically, Gjata primarily fuses modern R&B with pop, while also integrating influences from EDM, ethnic-pop, dance-pop, funk, pop rock, and soul genres. This eclectic musical style represents a deliberate approach to engage a broad array of audiences.

Among her major artistic inspirations are Albanian legends Vaçe Zela, Parashqevi Simaku, Aurela Gaçe, Nexhmije Pagarusha, alongside international superstar Celine Dion, all of whom have contributed to shaping her musical direction and personal brand.

Other ventures

Beyond music, Gjata has expanded her career into film, fashion, and design. She graced the covers of British Velvet and Albanian Anabel magazines in 2014. Two years later, she ventured into fashion by collaborating with Albanian designer Valdrin Sahiti to create the exclusive "Lejla" gown collection, thereby broadening her influence beyond the music industry.

Personal life

As of 2023, Gjata adopted a dietary regimen blending veganism with pescetarianism, describing her nutrition as "90% vegan and 10% pescetarian."

Discography

2008 : Mamës [Album]
2011: Afër dhe Larg [Album]
2014: Beso (feat. 2po2)
2014: Fake
2014: Disco Disco (feat. Kaos)
2014: Puthe
2014: 1990 (feat. MC Kresha)
2015 : Kuq E zi (feat. Flori Mumajesi)
2015 : Love Me (feat. Bruno)
2016: Njesoj
2016: Lejla (feat. Capital T & 2po2)
2017 : Forever is Over (with David Guetta)
2018 : [EP] 3
2018 : Off Guard (feat. Ty Dolla Sign)
2018 : Ku Vajti
2018: Mike (feat. Ledri Vula & John Shah)
2018: Tavolina E Merzise
2019 : Fustani (feat. Capital T)
2019 : Me Tana
2019 : A m'don
2021 : Çelu [Album]
2021 : Edi (feat. Yll Limani)
2021: Marre (feat. Yll Limani)
2021: Loti
2021: Papa (feat. INNA & Sickotoy)
2021: Flake (feat. Capital T)
2022: Ska (feat. Mozzik)
2022: POW
2022: Ex (feat. Bardhi & Dj Gimi-O)
2022 : Gajde (feat. Dhurata Dora)
2022: Clap Clap (feat. Antonia & Gran Error)
2023: Rrotullo (feat. Dhurata Dora)
2023: SI NA
2023: SYNIN
2023 : Pak
2024: Hana
2024: Ku Gjen Me Mire
2024: Besame En Rio
2024: Per ty atdhe
2024: No Love (feat. Ledri Vula)
2024: Nihna (feat. Dardan & Çelik Lipa)
2024: Shhh! (feat. Ledri Vula)
2024: Gocat
2024: Karnaval
2025: Grada
2025 : Lumja Toka
2025 : Knojna
2025: Trilogji (Kapitulli I - GRADA) [Album]
2025: Ego
2025: Sa të du (with Irkenc Hyka)

Filmography

2 Gisht Mjaltë (2019)
2 Gisht Mjaltë 2 (2024)
Tenxherja Kapakun (2024)

External links