Ilira

Ilira Gashi (born 29 October 1994), known professionally as just Ilira, (stylized in all caps) is a Swiss singer and songwriter. In 2018, she signed to Four Music and released her debut single "Whisper My Name".

Ilira
Ilira in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Ilira Gashi
Born	(1994-10-29) 29 October 1994 (age 30) Brienz, Bern, Switzerland
Genres	Pop[1]
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Years active	2011, 2017–present
Labels	Four Music,[2] Virgin Records, Universal Music Group

Early life

Ilira Gashi was born on 29 October 1994 in Brienz, Switzerland, to father Ismet and mother Entela Gashi, the former a Kosovo Albanian from Pristina and the latter an Albanian from Tirana.^[3][4] She uploaded videos of herself singing on Instagram, which led to a record label deal.^[1]

Career

Ilira later moved to Berlin, Germany and signed a management and publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In 2018, Ilira signed a label deal with Four Music, and released her debut track "Whisper My Name" on 24 August 2018,^[5] followed by her second single "Get Off My D!ck" that same year which entered the Spotify Viral Top 50 in the U.S.^[1] Her first chart placement was achieved together with Alle Farben and the song "Fading",^[6] which reached number 16 on the German Single Charts and number 1 on the German Airplay Charts for four consecutive weeks.^[7][8]

Ilira talking about Intellectual Property in Geneva in 2023

In 2019, Ilira released four singles, "Do It Yourself", "Diablo" (with Spanish producer and recording artist Juan Magán),^[9] "Pay Me Back!", and "Extra Fr!es".^{[citation needed]}

In 2020, she released the singles "Royalty", "Fuck It, I Love It!", "Ladida (My Heart Goes Boom)" (together with Crispie), "Easy", and "Eat My Brain".^{[citation needed]}

On 14 December 2021 Ilira announced that she had signed a joint deal with Virgin Records and Universal Music Group.^[10] She released the single "Flowers" on 17 December 2021 as her first solo single of 2021, and her first single under Virgin Records. In 2022, she released the single "Another Heart".^[11]

In 2023, she released three non-album singles followed by her six-track debut EP Never Really The End. In late 2024, she independently released the single, "Floating with the sharks".

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with release date and label shown

Title	Details
Never Really The End	Released: November 24, 2023 Label: Virgin Records Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions												Certifications	Album
		SWI [12]	AUT [13]	BEL (Wa) [14]	CIS [15]	CZR [16]	FRA [17]	GER [18]	HUN [19]	POL [20]	RUS [21]	SVK [22]	UKR [23]
"Whisper My Name"	2018	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album singles
"Fading" (with Alle Farben)		17	16	—[A]	61	1	—	16	1	2	74	2	6	IFPI AUT: Gold[25] IFPI SWI: Platinum[26] ZPAV: 2× Platinum[27]	Sticker on My Suitcase
"Get Off My D!ck"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	—	—		Non-album singles
"Do It Yourself"	2019	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Diablo" (with Juan Magán)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Pay Me Back!"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	64	—	—	—
"Extra Fr!es"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Royalty"	2020	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9	—	—	—	—
"Fuck It, I Love It!"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Ladida (My Heart Goes Boom)" (with Crispie)		—	—	33	244	—	156	—	18	5	—	—	—
"Easy"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Happiness" (with Moguai and Tomcraft)		—	—	—	519	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
"Eat My Brain"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Anytime" (with Phil The Beat)	2021	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"See You in Tears" (with Amber Van Day)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Dynamite" (with Vize)		—	71	—	—	—	—	72	—	—	—	—	—	IFPI AUT: Gold[25]
"Can't Get You Out of My Head" (with Crispie)[28]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Flowers"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		TBA
"Alien" (with Galantis and Lucas & Steve)[29]		—	—	—	4	—	—	—	—	10	1	—	—	ZPAV: Gold[27]	Non-album singles
"Another Heart"	2022	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Clean Break"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Time After Time"(with Pascal Letoublon)	2023	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Rich In Love"(with Super-Hi)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Be My Light"(with Stress)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Floating with the sharks"	2024	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		US Dance [30]	US Dance Dig. [31]	US Dance/Mix [32]
"Stay High" (Jumpa and Bad Paris featuring Ilira)	2016	—	—	—	Non-album singles
"Wasted" (Jumpa featuring Ilira)	2017	—	—	—
"Afterglow" (Jumpa featuring Ilira)		—	—	—
"Lost Without You" (James Carter featuring Ilira)		—	—	—
"Ain't Growing Up" (Jumpa featuring Ilira)		—	—	—
"Level Up" (Jumpa featuring Ilira)	2018	—	—	—
"Growing Up" (Funcc. and Tee Peters featuring Ilira and Epifania)	2019	—	—	—
"Lose You" (Tiësto featuring Ilira)	2020	37	17	2	The London Sessions
"Are You OK?"[33] (Yves V and Dubdogz featuring Ilira)	2021	—	—	—	Non-album single
"Infinity"[34] (Wilkinson featuring Ilira, Iiola and Tom Cane)	2023	—	—	—	TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Notes

1. "Fading" did not reach the region's Ultratop 50 chart, but charted on the Ultratip Bubbling Under ranking.^[24]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Nomination	Work	Result	Ref.
2019	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Swiss Act	Herself	Nominated	[35][36]
	New Faces Awards	Music		Won	[37]