SingerSongwriterRomanianMusic producer

Costi Ioniță

Costi Ioniță is a Romanian singer, musician, and music producer known for his diverse styles, including manele, pop, rock, and dance, and for extensive international collaborations and media ventures.

1. Overview

Constantin "Costi IoniţăRomanian" (born January 14, 1978), widely known as Costi, is a Romanian singer, musician, and music producer. He holds a unique position as one of the most celebrated ethnic Romanian vocalists in the manele genre, a musical style predominantly associated with Romani culture. Beyond his significant contributions to manele, Costi has continuously diversified his artistic expression by exploring various musical styles, including rock, dance, and opera, thus avoiding being solely confined to the manele genre or closely linked to Romani culture. His career spans from early success with the pop boy band Valahia to a prominent solo career, marked by extensive international activities and notable collaborations that have brought him global recognition and widespread influence on Romanian and international music. He has also ventured into the media industry, establishing and operating his own music television channels.

2. Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Costi Ioniță's early life and initial foray into the music world laid the foundation for his diverse career.

2.1. Childhood and Education

Born on January 14, 1978, in Constanța, Romania, Costi Ioniță initially pursued a different professional path, receiving training as a dentist. Despite his dental education, his passion for music guided his career trajectory.

2.2. Initial Music Career

Costi began his musical journey by performing traditional Romanian folkloric music. This early experience provided him with a strong foundation in his country's musical heritage before he ventured into more contemporary genres.

3. Career Development and Rise to Fame

Costi Ioniță's career is marked by a significant transition from pop music to his prominent role in the manele genre, alongside his exploration of diverse musical styles.

3.1. Success with Valahia

Costi first achieved widespread fame as a member of the pop boy band Valahia. During his tenure with the group, Valahia enjoyed considerable success, releasing several hit songs that established Costi's presence in the Romanian music scene. The band's popularity provided a substantial platform for his emerging talent.

3.2. Transition to Manele and Solo Career

In 1999, Costi began to experiment with manele, a composite Balkanic musical style. This experimental phase culminated in a pivotal collaboration in 2000 with the acclaimed manele singer Adrian Minune on the song "Of, viaţa meaRomanian". This track became one of the first mainstream successes for the manele genre in Romania, significantly raising its profile. Following Valahia's dissolution in 2002, Costi embarked on a solo career, increasingly focusing on manele. During this period, he frequently collaborated with numerous well-known manele singers, solidifying his standing within the genre.

3.3. Unique Position and Musical Diversity

Costi Ioniță's success in manele is considered unusual because he is one of the few ethnic Romanians to achieve prominence in a genre predominantly perceived as Romani. Unlike many of his Romani counterparts, Costi Ioniță has chosen not to use a nickname. Despite his notable success in manele, he has continuously explored other musical styles, including rock, dance, and opera. This diverse musical approach demonstrates his active effort to avoid being solely identified with manele or being too closely associated with Romani culture, highlighting his versatility and broader artistic vision.

4. Media Ventures

Costi Ioniță expanded his entrepreneurial reach into the media industry by establishing and operating several music television channels, showcasing his business acumen alongside his musical career.

On June 28, 2007, he launched Party TV, a music channel dedicated to broadcasting party music. In October of the same year, his company secured licenses for two additional music television channels: Mynele TV, specifically created to promote manele music, and MusiKlub, intended for club music. Mynele TV officially commenced broadcasting on July 1, 2008, shortly after Party TV's first anniversary. MusiKlub followed, launching on November 20, 2009. However, Party TV ceased operations at the end of 2011 due to the expiration of its license. MusiKlub was subsequently closed on February 26, 2015, and Mynele TV also ceased broadcasting on March 10, 2015, similarly due to a lack of license.

5. International Activities and Production Work

Costi Ioniță's musical influence extends beyond Romania, encompassing significant international activities and a robust role as a music producer and songwriter for other artists.

5.1. Expansion in the Balkans and Middle East

In the late 2000s, Costi expanded his musical endeavors into the Balkans and the Middle East. He achieved considerable success in Turkey and Saudi Arabia with his song "Ca la AmsterdamRomanian" ("Like in Amsterdam"). This tune gained further recognition when it was included in the 2010 compilation album released by Café del Mar. He also launched several hit songs in Bulgaria, collaborating with local chalga singers, notably forming the duo Sahara with Bulgarian artist Andrea.

5.2. Producer and Songwriter Activities

Since 2008, Costi has served as a prolific producer and songwriter for the pop rock girl group Blaxy Girls. His talent in composition was highlighted in 2009 when three songs he composed reached the finals of the Romanian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. One of these songs was performed by Costi himself, another by Blaxy Girls, and a third by the group IMBA. Beyond these national endeavors, Costi has produced songs for various international artists, including notable collaborations with figures such as Bob Sinclar, Shaggy, and Mario Winans.

6. Global Recognition and Notable Collaborations

Costi Ioniță gained significant international recognition through a series of high-profile collaborations that led to global hit songs.

His most notable international success came in 2015 with the song "I Need Your LoveEnglish", initially titled "Habibi (I Need Your Love)". This track was credited to Shaggy, Mohombi, Faydee, and Costi. A revamped version, simply titled "I Need Your Love", became a major hit on various U.S. dance charts and peaked at number 66 on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. The song performed well across Europe, charting in Austria (number 75), Belgium (number 6 on Ultratip), France (number 147), Germany (number 91), and the Netherlands (number 10), and garnered immense popularity in the Middle East.

Costi's collaborative ventures include:

  • In 2011, he was featured on the single "Idemo Na SveSerbian" by Serbian singer Ana Kokić.
  • In 2013, he collaborated on the single "Devojka Tvog DrugaSerbian" by Sandra Afrika.
  • In 2014, he was featured alongside DJ Spaz on Viki Miljković's single "DosadnoSerbian".
  • In 2015, he was featured on Edward Maya's single "Universal Love" alongside Andrea.
  • Also in 2015, he was featured on "Passion" by Andrea and Otilia, which also featured Shaggy.
  • In 2016, he collaborated with Shaggy on Kreesha Turner's single "Reggae Dancer".

7. Discography

Costi Ioniță's discography includes a range of solo albums, collaborative projects, and numerous singles both as a lead artist and a featured collaborator.

7.1. Albums

  • 2000: Viata Mea
  • 2001: Nopți Și Zile
  • 2001: Dr. Costi
  • 2002: Juraminte Si Suspine
  • 2003: Pentru Suflet
  • 2008: R-Evolutia Mynele

7.2. Collaboration Albums

  • 2000: Fără Concurență (with Adrian Minune)
  • 2000: Autoconcurență (with Adrian Minune)
  • 2000: La Marele Fix (with Vali Vijelie)
  • 2003: Voi, Români Din Lumea-ntreagă (with Liviu Guță)
  • 2005: Garantat De Costi (featuring Adrian Minune, Liviu Guță, Minodora)
  • 2006: Fac Diferenta (with Florin Salam)

7.3. Best-of Albums

  • 2001: Costi Ioniță
  • 2001: Best Of - Nopti Si Zile

7.4. Singles

  • 2017: "Good People"
  • 2017: "I Love You California" (with Drei Ros and Nastasia Griffin)
  • 2017: "Come Alive" (featuring Alix)

8. Other Activities

Beyond his primary music career, Costi Ioniță has also engaged in other notable activities. He was selected to provide the voice for the character Gambit in the animated series, X-Men.

9. Legacy and Reception

Costi Ioniță has significantly impacted the Romanian and international music landscape, particularly through his unique contributions to the manele genre. As one of the few ethnic Romanian artists to achieve widespread recognition in a genre largely associated with Romani culture, he has played a crucial role in broadening its appeal and challenging conventional perceptions. His deliberate choice not to adopt a nickname, a common practice among Romani manele artists, further distinguishes his approach and underscores his desire for his work to stand on its own merit.

His continuous exploration of diverse musical styles, including rock, dance, and opera, demonstrates a commitment to artistic versatility that extends beyond manele. This versatility has allowed him to transcend genre boundaries and appeal to a wider audience, contributing to a more inclusive understanding of popular music. Costi's international success, particularly his collaborations with global artists and chart performances in major music markets, highlights his ability to bridge cultural divides through music. His entrepreneurial ventures in establishing music television channels also reflect his comprehensive influence on the media landscape and his vision for promoting various musical genres, including manele, to a broader public. Costi Ioniță's career thus represents a dynamic force that has both shaped and been shaped by evolving cultural identities and musical trends.