Aiko (Czech singer)

Czech singer-songwriter (born 1999)

Aiko

Birth name| Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova
Born|  (1999-12-26) 26 December 1999 (age 24)
Moscow, Russia
Origin| Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Occupation(s)|

* Singer
* songwriter

Years active| 2015–present
Website| www.aikomakesmusic.com

Musical artist

Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova (Russian: Алёна Ширманова-Костебелова; born 26 December 1999), known by her stage name Aiko, is a Czech singer and songwriter based in Brighton, England. She is set to represent Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Pedestal".

## Early life[edit]

Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova was born in Moscow, Russia. Shortly after, she moved with her family to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, where she was raised.[1][2]

## Career[edit]

In 2015, Shirmanova participated in season 4 of the reality talent show Česko Slovenská SuperStar.[1] She then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a musical career, first settling in London and later in Brighton. Under the stage name Aiko, she released her debut self-titled album in 2018, followed by Expiration Date in 2020, when she released her first single "Hunt".[2]

She was the first Czech artist to feature on the Times Square screens and the first Czech female to take part in the Spotify Equal Campaign. She performed at the Rock for People, ESNS, Metronome Prague, The Great Escape, Grape, Nouvelle Prague, Sziget and Waves Vienna festivals, as well as following Alice Merton, Black Honey, Lauren Ruth Ward and Tamino in some of their tours as a supporting artist. Some of her songs were included in the TV shows Teen Mom and Love Island.[2][3]

Aiko released her third album Fortune's Child on 13 October 2023. On 28 November 2023, she was announced as one of the contestants of the Czech national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024,[4] competing with the song "Pedestal". On 13 December, it was revealed that she had won the selection.[5]

## Discography[edit]

### Albums[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

Aiko |

* Released: 25 August 2018
* Formats: Streaming, digital download

Expiration Date |

* Released: 17 July 2020
* Formats: Streaming, digital download

Fortune's Child |

* Released: 13 October 2023
* Formats: Streaming, digital download

### Singles[edit]

#### As lead artist[edit]

Single  | Year  | Album / EP

|
|

"Hunt"  | 2020  | Expiration Date
"Power"  | 2021  | Fortune's Child
"Daughter of the Sun"
"Gemini"
"Alter Ego"  | 2022  | Non-album singles
"I Want to Be Perfect"
"Restless"
(with Boy Jr.) | Fortune's Child
"Instincts"  | 2023  | Non-album single
"Lucky Streak"  | Fortune's Child
"Pedestal"

#### As featured artist[edit]

Single  | Year  | Album / EP

|
|

"Why Don't You"
(Ivo Blahunek featuring Aiko) | 2023  | Non-album singles
"The Internet"
(Noisy Pots featuring Aiko)
"Come Closer"
(Tonya Graves [cs] and Blanka Maderová
featuring Teza and Aiko)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b SuperStar 2015 - III. casting - Alena Shirmanová (in Czech). TV Nova. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023 - via YouTube.
2. ^ a b c "Aiko (CZ)". Nouvelle Prague (in Czech). 22 October 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
3. ^ "Aiko". aikomakesmusic.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
4. ^ "Czechia finalists revealed ahead of ESCZ 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
5. ^ "Aiko will represent Czechia at Eurovision 2024". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

Awards and achievements

Preceded by

Vesna
with "My Sister's Crown"

|  Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest
2024 | Succeeded by

TBD

* v
* t
* e

Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest

Participation|

* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Artists|

* Aiko
* Martina Bárta
* Václav Noid Bárta
* Benny Cristo
* Gipsy.cz
* Gabriela Gunčíková
* Marta Jandová
* Mikolas Josef
* Kabát
* Tereza Kerndlová
* Lake Malawi
* Vesna
* We Are Domi

Songs|

* "Aven Romale"
* "Friend of a Friend"
* "Have Some Fun"
* "Hope Never Dies"
* "I Stand"
* ~~"Kemama"~~
* "Lie to Me"
* "Lights Off"
* "Malá dáma"
* "My Sister's Crown"
* "My Turn"
* "Omaga"
* "Pedestal"

* Note: Entries scored out signify where the Czech Republic did not compete

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Countries|

| Final|

* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Spain
* Sweden
* United Kingdom

|

Semi-finals|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Australia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* Georgia
* Greece
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovenia
* Switzerland
* Ukraine

Artists|

| Final|

* Olly Alexander
* Isaak
* Angelina Mango
* Nebulossa
* Slimane

|

Semi-finals|

* 5miinust and Puuluup
* Aiko
* Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil
* Baby Lasagna
* Bambie Thug
* Natalia Barbu
* Silvester Belt
* Besa
* Sarah Bonnici
* Nutsa Buzaladze
* Dons
* Gåte
* Eden Golan
* Kaleen
* Silia Kapsis
* Joost Klein
* Luna
* Megara
* Mustii
* Nemo
* Raiven
* Saba
* Marina Satti
* Tali
* Windows95man

Songs|

| Final|

* "Always on the Run"
* "Dizzy"
* "La noia"
* "Mon amour"
* "Zorra"

|

Semi-finals|

* "11:11"
* "Before the Party's Over"
* "The Code"
* "Doomsday Blue"
* "Europapa"
* "Fighter"
* "Hollow"
* "In the Middle"
* "Liar"
* "Loop"
* "Luktelk"
* "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi"
* "No Rules!"
* "Pedestal"
* "Rim Tim Tagi Dim"
* "Sand"
* "Teresa & Maria"
* "The Tower"
* "Ulveham"
* "Veronika"
* "We Will Rave"
* "Zari"
* "Zemrën n'dorë"

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template