Nico (Romanian singer)

Nico
File:Flickr - proteusbcn - Semifinal 1 EUROVISION 2008 (128).jpg
Background information
Birth name	Nicoleta Matei
Also known as	Nico
Born	(1970-02-01) 1 February 1970
Origin	Romania
Genres	Pop, R&B, Rap
Occupation(s)	singer, TV personality, spokesperson
Years active	1999–present
Website	http://www.nicomusic.ro

Nicoleta Matei, known by her stage name Nico (born on February 1, 1970), is a Romanian singer, TV personality and spokesperson for ro in Romania. In her country, she is known for having collaborated with several Romanian hip hop artists, such as Morometzii (in 1999), B.U.G. Mafia (in 2000, 2002), Cabron (in 2003, 2007, 2010), Puya, Blat Jargon, and Codu Penal. She is considered one of the best Romanian voices ever. She represented Romania along with Vlad in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Pe-o margine de lume".

Biography

1970-2000: Early life and career beginnings

Nico was born and raised in Ploiești, where she still lives. In 1990, she graduated from The Popular Art School and starting with 1996, she attended several Romanian music contests, winning many prizes. Since 1996 she is the main voice of the Toma Caragiu Theater in Ploiești, wining for 4 years in a row the award for the Best Female Vocal Performer on The National Festival of Variety Shows in Theatres in Romania. In 1998 she made her first TV appearance, together with Horia Brenciu on a show called Sarabanda, where she used to cover many of Romanian and international hits. In 1999 she made her first major participation on a national music competition, called Mamaia Music Festival, finishing 2nd on the Composing Section with the song Si Daca Viata Mea.

2002-2003: The Breakthrough and Gand Pentru Ei

In 2002 she made a gust appearance on the chorus of "Cine E Cu Noi", a song released by Romanian Hip-Hop group B.U.G. Mafia, which became an instant hit. Following the success of "Cine E Cu Noi", she continues to collaborate with several Romanian Hip-Hop artists, at the same time with the recordings for her first solo studio album. In 2003 she released Gand Pentru Ei, her 1st solo material of R&B and Hip-Hop Music. The album contains collaborations with Puya and Cabron. The only single released from the album was Nu Pot Sa Mai Suport (I Can't Stand Anymore), a featuring with Cabron. The song was a smash hit in Romania, remaining her signature song. Later that year she represented Romania at the Golden Stag Festival, with the song Heaven Knows, a Filippa Giordano cover, finishing 2nd.

2004-2007: Asa Cum Vrei and Cast Away

In 2004 Nico participates at several International Music Competitions in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan and once again at the Mamaia Music Festival in Romania, finishing 2nd on the Composing Section with the song Spune Da, Spune Nu. In 2005 she released her 2nd studio album, Asa Cum Vrei. Laurenţiu Duţă wrote the first and only single released from the album, also called Asa Cum Vrei, a pop song which received critical acclaim from media and was played on the majority of the radio stations in Romania. Asa Cum Vrei is one of Nico's most popular songs. In 2006 she recorded Vocea Inimii, a song written by Marius Moga for the soundtrack theme of Romanian soap-opera with the same name. Nico also made a guest appearance on some of the series episodes. Cast Away, her 3rd studio album was released in 2007. Cast Away and Dulce Amaruie were the two singles released from the album, the second one being composed by Costi Ioniţă.

2008: Eurovision Song Contest

File:Nicovlad.jpg

Nico (left) with Vlad Miriţă performing Pe-o margine de lume in the UK, during the Promo Tour

In February 2008, Nico and Vlad won Selecția Națională with the ballad Pe-o margine de lume. The song represented Romania in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. The song managed to finish 7th on the Semi-final, allowing the duo to perform also on the Grand Final, where it has finished the 20th, with 45 points to a big disappointment through Romanians. However, Pe-o margine de lume was not a failure, as the song received the Composer Award at the Marcel Bezençon Awards, later that night.

2009-2013: Love Mail and other releases

After the Eurovision, Nico started to work on new material. In May 2009, she released a new single called Love Mail, a Pop song which was a moderate success in Romania. In 2010, she released Poate Undeva, the single being preceded by her 4th studio album, called Love Mail. On the next 3 years, Nico released several singles, but due to the lack of promotion they failed to gain much attention from media or the public.

2014-present: Clipe and new album

On June 2014, Nico returns to her first love: R&B, with the release of her next single, Clipe. The song was a collaboration with Romanian rapper Shoby. Clipe received generally positive reviews from media and the public, the song being one of her best releases in years. Following the success of Clipe, Nico decided it was the right time to put out a new studio album, due to release somewhere in the beginning of 2016.

Discography

Studio Albums

• 2003 Gand Pentru Ei
• 2005 Asa Cum Vrei
• 2007 Cast Away
• 2010 Love Mail

Singles

• Nu Pot sa Mai Suport, featuring Cabron
• Asa Cum Vrei Peak: 98, Romanian Top 100
• Vocea Inimii
• Cast Away
• Dulce Amaruie
• Pe-o Margine De Lume Peak: 24, Romanian Top 100
• Love Mail Peak: 3, Romanian Top 100
• Poate Undeva
• Mai Da-Mi O Sansa
• 100 De Zile
• 9, featuring F.Charm
• Clipe featuring Shobby
• Alt Inceput featuring Sonny Flame
• In Locul Tau

Music Competitions, Awards and Nominations

Year	Competition	Category	Song/ Album	Result
1999	Mamaia Music Festival	Creation	Si Daca Viata Mea	2nd place
2003	Golden Stag Festival	Best Interpret	Heaven Knows	2nd place
2004	Mamaia Music Festival	Creation	Spune Da, Spune Nu	2nd place
	Voice of Asia	Final	If You Go Away	1st place
	Discovery	Final		1st place
2005	Selecția Națională	Final	All The Time feat. Mihai Trăistariu	3rd Place
2006	Selecția Națională	Final	Jokero feat. Akcent	2nd Place
	RRA Awards 2006	Best Pop Song	Asa Cum Vrei	Nominated
		Best Female	-	Nominated
2008	Selecția Națională	Final	Pe-o margine de lume feat. Vlad Miriţă	1st place
	Eurovision Song Contest 2008	Semi-Final		Qualified
		Final		20th Place
		Marcel Bezençon Awards		Won
2009	RRA Awards 2009	Best Pop Song		Won
2010	International Competition Of Istanbul Songs	Final	Ah Istanbul	1st place
2011	RRA Awards 2011	Best Album	Love Mail	Nominated
		Best Pop Song	Poate Undeva	Nominated
		Best Female	-	Won
2012	RRA Awards 2012	Best Pop Song	Mai Da-Mi O Sansa	Won
		Best Female	-	Won
2015	RRA Awards 2015	Best Female	-	Nominated

External links

• Official site
• Interview @ Radio Lynx Romania

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Todomondo with "Liubi, Liubi, I Love You"	Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 (with Vlad)	Succeeded by Elena Gheorghe with "The Balkan Girls"