Akcent's career started somehow on a left foot. The boys were so broke, they couldn't even afford a tram ticket (train, plane, any ticket). Or so they said in their debut single. Fast forward to now: they really made it!
Their story begins at dawn in 2002. That's early on that year. There were four of them: Adrian, Marius, Mihai and Sorin. Their mission: MUSIC without borders! The stars were in good mood that time of year and the planets perfectly aligned. Meet the hopefuls:
Adrian Sana Aries, born April the 18th 1977 in Baia Mare, Adi is the embodiment of his sign: passionate and perseverent. He started out as a DJ in his native city and credits music as having a major influence in his life. Not a day goes by without music for him. In the meantime he has studied acting and made professional singing his career.
Mihai Gruia In 2001 Mihai was a freshman studying Journalism and Philosophy at a Bucharest University. His then cv read professional sports: swimming, judo and football but also modelling. Joining Akcent changed his priorities and music became his full time job although in the meantime he finished University with a diploma in journalism. Objectivity and communication are the pillars of his philosophy of life.
Sorin Brotnei Born in Baia Mare, Sorin came to Bucharest as an art student. His career though really took off when he started modelling. One of the best models of his generation, he was the image of Radio 21, appeared in commercials for Sony or Orange and did a lot of catwalk work. His future as a model looked bright until he joined Akcent. Asides from his music, movies, fashion and photography are high on his agenda.
Team ready – they were four members at that time, Marius included - the first chapter of their mission started with the hit single "Ti-am promis" (the song with the ticket) and their debut album "In Culori". It went gold in less than three weeks and platinum several months later in the process the boys becoming a national phenomenon and releasing several other singles: « Ti-am promis », « Prima Iubire », « In culori » si « Cel mai dulce cadou ». The boys shared their success with composer Marius Moga, who wrote the whole album.
Next on the agenda 2003 brought the second album, technically titled 100 BPM. The hit that sent the boys back to the top of the charts was « Buchet de trandafiri » and they also won the Romanian fans over when they revealed the meaning behind the album's title: it's the beating of the heart during a passionate kiss. Second single released was « Suflet Pereche ».
"A rougher image and a slight change of rhythm followed in 2004 when the boys put out "Poveste de viata". The title track and « Spune-mi (Hey Baby !) » both charted and the change marked yet another colorful chapter in the band's cv. Not really the silence before the storm as their national success was at high levels but what followed took everyone by surprise.
2005 was the year MUSIC without borders, the boys' mission, came into being. The European door finally was slammed open by the boys' first single from the new album SOS. Naming the single Kylie and adding some cheeky lyrics was one of the smartest moves of their career. It gradually took Europe by storm and charted almost all over the continent. The Romanian version of the song « Dragoste de închiriat » won for the boys the BEST GROUP award at The MTV Romanian Music Award in 2006, the trophy being handed out by the girls from SUGABABES.
2006 also meant the release of their PRIMUL CAPITOL album which included the first songs 100% written and produced by the boys « JoKero » and « French Kiss ». The European success continued and soon Akcent found themselves having more gigs abroad than in their native Romania.
To keep the fire burning, "King of Disco" was released in 2007, a "tribute song and video" to Madonna. It stayed for weeks at the top of Romanian airplay and Europe followed shortly. "King of Disco" also gave name to the new album from which another pan European hit was released: "Let's Just Talk About It" - a song about words unspoken and feelings not shared. Charts alight? You bet. And that summer heat caught the boys In Poland, Russia and Northern Europe doing what they do best - singing and dancing for the fans.
After so much success (and hard work) something was bound to go wrong or not? 6 Golden and Platinum records, heaps of hits all over the continent and beyond and thousands of concerts... the feeling of invincibility came to a halt for a moment as Marius decided to fulfill his long time desire of becoming a solo artist. So he left the band. As the four boys became close friends during their time in the band, Adi, Mihai and Sorin respected Marius' decision and even supported him. And so four became three.
And they went ahead. In 2008, as fall approached, the boys released their eagerly anticipated new single "Stay With me" produced and written in Adrian's own studio. It stayed four weeks at number one in Romania and charted in many other territories over the coming months, including Russia, Poland, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and newly reached countries such as India. It paved the way for the new album, the first as a trio, "Fara lacrimi" and a brand new single, the 2009 summer smash "That's My Name".
That’s My Name” became an instant dance hit in clubs all over the Mediterranean area in the beginning, only to grow faster and bigger all over Europe and then to take over the world, taking the Akcent club shows to new places, from Kuala Lumpur to Caracas, from Oslo to Bangalore and so on.
Following “That’s My Name” which had a very long life as a single, another string of dance hits emerged from the Akcent studios, starting with “Happy People”, continued with “Make Me Shiver” then “Love Stoned.
“Love Stoned” reached number 1 status in most of the Southern European territories where “That’s My Name” was a hit. With a video filmed under heavy sun and during a sand storm in deep Morocco, the song was released beginning of 2011 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Kontor Records.
Meanwhile, another interesting song, made especially for 2010 summer time in collaboration with famous rapper Dollarman, got to clubs and radios. “Spanish Lover” is the title of the track and it became a summer hit.
Just a few months after summer, inspiration kicked once more and Akcent released what became maybe the most popular song to date, “My Passion”, which went straight to number 1 in their home country, crowning them as the kings of pop-club music. Time for a new album came, so the entire collection of hits from past years was gathered together on a super-album containing only hits and simply titled “That’s My Name”. The album has already been released in Portugal, Mexico, Central America countries, Middle East countries, North African countries, South Africa and India.
As their weekends are full with concerts all over the place from Moscow to Baku and Madrid to Rejkyavik the boys spend their weekdays writing. For their new material, of course. Which, of course it's coming soon to a radio station/ TV/music store near you. “Feelings On Fire” is just a glimpse of what’s coming up…
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