Pristina, Kosovo

July 4, 1994

Albanian-Kosovar singer/songwriter Era Istrefi broke internationally in 2015 with her single "Bon Bon." Born in Pristina in the former Yugoslavia, Istrefi debuted in 2013 as simply Era with her single "Mani Per Money." Blending pop and reggae in the style of Rihanna and Sia, the track hit in Albania and Kosovo, as did the 2014 follow-up, "E Dehun." "Njo Si Ti" appeared in 2015 and charted in the Top 40 in Belgium, and by the end of year she released the dance-pop track "Bon Bon," which became an international viral hit. After the track reached 96 million views, the Ultra label signed Era and re-released "Bon Bon" internationally in 2016. The next year, she issued "Redrum" with production by Felix Snow. ~ David Jeffries