Inna

Inna is the stage name of Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu, a Romanian singer and songwriter from Constanța, Romania. Born in 1986, she is associated with dance-pop, electro house, electropop, euro house, pop, dance, house, electronic and trance music. She also works with the vocal group G Girls.

Early career

She studies political science at Ovidius University before meeting the Romanian production trio Play & Win and turning to music professionally. In 2008 she first performs under the name Alessandra with a pop-rock direction, then later the same year adopts the name Inna and moves into EDM, house and popcorn music.

Breakthrough and albums

Her debut single, “Hot”, appears in 2008 and becomes an international commercial success, reaching number one in Romania and on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart. The single gives its name to her debut studio album, released in 2009, which is certified Gold and Platinum and also includes “Amazing”, her second number-one single in Romania.

Her second album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011), includes “Sun Is Up” (2010), a global success that wins the Eurodanceweb Award. She becomes the first and only Romanian artist to receive that award.

Party Never Ends follows in 2013 and is nominated for Best Album at the Romanian Music Awards in two consecutive years. It reaches the top ten in Mexico and includes “More than Friends”, a collaboration with Daddy Yankee that becomes a moderate European hit.

In 2014 she signs with Atlantic Records and releases “Cola Song” with J Balvin, a successful single used in promotion for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Her self-titled fourth studio album appears in 2015 and includes “Diggy Down”, her third number-one single in Romania.

Her fifth album, Nirvana, is released in 2017 and its singles chart in European countries including Romania and Turkey. She signs with Roc Nation in 2018 and releases her sixth studio album, Yo, in 2019. The Spanish-language album is entirely envisioned by her and marks a shift towards experimental and gypsy-influenced styles.

After Yo, “Bebe” reaches number one in Romania in 2020. Heartbreaker, her seventh studio album, follows in 2020 and includes the lead single “Flashbacks” and also “Up”, both of which gain success in Eastern European territories. Her eighth album, Champagne Problems, is issued in two parts in 2022.

Other work and recognition

From 2017 she serves as a coach on the television talent show Vocea României Junior alongside Andra and Marius Moga. She is also described as a human rights activist, taking part in campaigns against domestic violence and in support of children’s rights.

Her first three studio albums sell four million copies worldwide, making her the best-selling Romanian artist. Over her career she receives nominations and awards including the Balkan Music Awards, the European Border Breakers Award, the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Romanian Music Awards.