Annet Artani

Name	Annet Artani
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Annette Denise Stamatelatos
Alias	Annette Artani
Born	September 6, 1976 New York City, New York, USA
Origin	New York, United States
Instrument	Vocals
Genre	Pop rock, R&B;, soul
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1994–present
Label	Virus Music (2005-2008) Ultra Records (2008–present)

Annet Artani (Αννέτ Αρτάνι in Greek; born September 6) is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Why Angels Cry", as well as co-writing worldwide hit "Everytime" with Britney Spears.

Artani is currently signed to Ultra Records and is pursuing a career in the American music industry. Her debut single "Alive" was released in March 2009 and is a precursor to a full length studio album.

Early life

Artani was born Annette Denise Stamatelatos in Flushing, New York to Gregory and Julia Stamatelatos. Her family originates from the village of Karavados on the island of Kefalonia, Greece. She is named after her maternal grandmother, Anneta, and she chose to use her paternal grandmother’s first name, Artani, in her stage name, as a dedication to both of them for guiding and inspiring her both during their lives and after their deaths. Artani chose to use "Annet" rather than her original "Annette" because of the pronunciation problems that Greeks experienced when saying her name.

Musical career

1994–2003: Beginnings

Artani expressed her interest and love for music at a young age, particularly in offerings of such greats as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, and Madonna. and has also won several talent titles in America’s Favorite Pageants, the New York Star Pageant, the Ophelia Devoure Talent Connection, and has been featuring in both Pageantry and Billboard Magazine.

Over the years, Artani incorporated influences of singing in her college Gospel choir, as well as listening to R&B;, pop and rock music. She started off her singing career as an opening act for Mando, a Greek pop star, and was featured in her own summer concert in 1995. She wrote three candidate songs, however, she never submitted them after talking it over with the network and realizing the strings attached. She had already left her Greek record label Virus Music and had signed to a label in the United States, but by submitting the songs, she would have to be signed to a Greek label once again, which would have meant unsigning in the US. Artani felt that it would be better to be obligated to her US label instead as it could do more for her career. "Alive" was released as an eight-track digital download on March 31, 2009 through iTunes and was accompanied by a music video in the months succeeding. It was then licensed by Ultra Records worldwide and became available in all iTunes music stores.

In an interview with Radio International on November 18, 2009, Artani announced that she was working on her second single which was produced by Swedish producer Ishi Mughal and described it as a "sort of" remake of The Supremes 1966 hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On". During the interview, she played an exclusive clip of the unfinalized song as well as the previously unheard song "Nothing Lasts". She ended the interview by playing a new version of her song "Too Late" which was remixed by her friend Greg Christos.

Personal life

Artani married talent agent Kirk Ceballos in a Greek Orthodox ceremony held on July 3, 2010 at Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York; the two had been dating since May 2008.

Discography

Albums

2006: Mia Foni

Maxi singles

2005: "Goodbye Amor"

2006: "Why Angels Cry"

2009: "Alive"

References

External links

Official Site

Artist Site at Ultra Records

Category:American female singers Category:American people of Greek descent Category:American pop singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:Cypriot Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from the United States Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2006 Category:Greek Orthodox Christians Category:Living people Category:1976 births Category:Modern Greek-language singers Category:Ultra Records artists Category:Virus Music artists Category:Musicians from New York City