She’s been compared to some of America’s most prominent pop stars. Her singing voice could rival Rihanna, and she’s frequently mistaken for Bella Thorne. But this Albanian songstress, Era Istrefi, is a celebrity in her own right. Her 2016 breakout hit “Bonbon” has amassed over half a billion views on YouTube, and she is ready to step back into the limelight.
Era Istrefi drops in at the Nexus Lounge Amsterdam during ADE, to chat with us about her Amsterdam experience and more.
“I’m having so much fun here in Amsterdam. I love coming here. I come here pretty often, it’s quite close to my country.“
Era Istrefi
Era voiced that she’s currently working on new tracks and a new album, and she describes the symbolic experience of having been selected as a featured singer for FIFA’s 2018 World Cup opening theme song.
“It was crazy. It was epic. So huge! I was in shock when I found out that I’m going to be the one to sing and perform the song for the World Cup 2018 with Will Smith and Nicky Jam. The song was amazing, and I was so happy and grateful to do it. The experience was incredible. “
Era Istrefi
Era also answered some of our most burning questions, including which celebrity she’d take to Mars and what other profession she would choose if she hadn’t become a successful artist.
“I would probably be a psychologist because I have a huge passion for psychology even though I don’t look [the part]. I don’t give that impression but honestly, I’m very fascinated by how [the] human mind works.”
Era Istrefi
Listen to our exclusive interview with Era Istrefi below!