Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Akcent.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Akcent
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Akcent (Romanian pronunciation: [akˈt͡ʃent])[1] is a Romanian dance pop group whose members sing in Romanian, English and Spanish. Their name originated as a wordplay on accent. Originally a duo, it consisted of Adrian Sînă and Ramona Barta. They released their debut album Senzatzia in 2000. Except for the first track, "Ultima vara", which received some airplay, the album was a commercial failure and the duo disbanded shortly after. Sînă brought Marius Nedelcu, Mihai Gruia and Sorin Brotnei into the group, changing it from a duo to a boyband in 2001. They came to prominence with the single "Ți-am promis" in their native Romania.
Key Information
Their single "Kylie" was commercially successful in Europe. In 2006, they attempted to represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest with the single "Jokero", in collaboration with Romanian singer Nico. It became their first number-one single on the Romanian Top 100. Due to several conflicts, Sînă became the sole member of the project in 2013.
History
[edit] |
Early years
[edit]Akcent is a Romanian dance-pop group known for performing in Romanian, English, and Spanish. The group's name is a wordplay on "accent." Initially formed as a duo in 1999 by Adrian Sînă and Ramona Barta, Akcent released its debut album, Senzatzia, in 2000. Despite some airplay for the single "Ultima vară," the album did not achieve commercial success, leading to the duo's disbandment.
In 2001, Sînă restructured Akcent as a boy band by bringing in Marius Nedelcu, Mihai Gruia, and Sorin Brotnei. The group gained widespread recognition in Romania with the release of the single "Ți-am promis." They later achieved international success with the song "Kylie," which performed well across Europe.
In 2006, Akcent competed in Romania’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Jokero," a collaboration with Romanian singer Nico. The song became their first number-one hit on the Romanian Top 100.
Following internal conflicts, Sînă became the sole remaining member of Akcent in 2013, continuing the project as a solo act.
Continued success
[edit]In 2003, the band released their third studio album, 100 BPM. Its title refers to the intensity of a heartbeat during a kiss. It included their number-one single "Buchet de trandafiri" ("Bouquet of roses"). Their fourth album, Poveste de viata (Life story), was also a huge success for the band. It included hits like "Spune-mi (Hey baby!)" ["Tell me (Hey baby!)"]. They reached the peak of their success with the release of their studio album S.O.S. and its lead single "Dragoste de inchiriat" ("Love for rent"). It became their signature song and hit number one in Romania, both digitally and in airplay. Due to its success, the song was rewritten in English and released to the international market as "Kylie" (an ode to Kylie Minogue). It became a radio hit in countries like Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, and Ukraine. Akcent's debut English album, French Kiss with Kylie, was released in Europe on August 23, 2006, and it included their two hit singles, "Kylie" and "Jokero."
In April 2008, Marius Nedelcu left the band to go solo. The remaining three members called in Corneliu Ulici, a former member of another Romanian group, Bliss. However, Corneliu did not want to make music his career and left after only five months, after which Akcent officially became a trio. Adrian Sînă was commissioned to produce Akcent's album Fără lacrimi (No Tears). The international hit singles "That's My Name," "Stay with Me," and "Lover's Cry" were all produced by Sînă. In 2009, he also produced the True Believers album, which has been one of Akcent's most successful to date. The album included the hits "That's My Name," "Stay with Me," "Lover's Cry," and "Tears." In the same year, Akcent won the Balkan Music Award for "Best Duet or Group." Because of the success of "That's My Name," the song, along with "Stay with Me," was released through U.S. record label Ultra Records and Warner Music Group in Scandinavia, Turkey, Italy, Greece, and other countries. The single was also included on the Just Dance: Vol 3 compilation album released by The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2010. After this multi-platinum album, the band started performing worldwide.
The new decade
[edit]In 2011, Akcent signed a recording contract with Robbins Entertainment, and in May 2012, "My Passion" was officially released in the United States. Then came the song "Feelings on Fire," which featured Ruxandra Bar and a music video that was filmed with the band members driving sports cars in Romania, on Transfagarasan. Sînă also became a judge of X Factor the same year. 2012 was a busy and successful year for Akcent with touring and more hits. In January, the group released the single "I'm Sorry" featuring pop singer Sandra N. The single was later licensed to Disco Wax Records and distributed by Sony Music Entertainment in the United Kingdom, Finland, and Denmark. Several of Akcent's singles have been added to dance compilations and/or released singularly off of different major recording labels, including Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Ministry of Sound.
In the northern-hemisphere summer of 2012, Akcent released the single "Chimie Intre Noi" ("Chemistry between us"), produced by Sînă. In September 2012, the group embarked on a U.S. tour, performing sold-out shows in New York City, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. Akcent signed with Shakir Entertainment Management in New York City on November 26, 2012. As of December 2012, the group's music videos and songs on YouTube had been viewed close to 1 billion times, and they had more than 3 million fans on Facebook. Akcent is the only international pop act to perform live in Pakistan several times within the past two years. [When?]
2013–2014: Disbandment and lasting success
[edit]In September 2013, the band split after a quarrel, leaving Sînă as the only member of the band.
As of September 2013, Adrian Sînă was the only male artist with the most chart entries on the Romanian Top 100. Overall, only artists like Madonna or Rihanna had more entries than him. In 2014, he saw immense success with the songs "Kamelia" and "Faina."In 2015, he released the successful singles "Te Quiero" ft. Galena and "Amor Gitana" ft. Sandra N. In 2016, he released the album Love the Show. He has remained loyal to the original style of Akcent. Meanwhile, Sorin Brotnei and Gruia Mihai started their own band, "Two."
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [2] | ||||
| Senzatzia |
|
— | ||
| În culori |
|
— |
|
|
| 100 bpm | — | |||
| S.O.S. |
|
— |
|
|
| French Kiss with Kylie | 37 | |||
| King of Disco |
|
— | ||
| Fără lacrimi |
|
— | ||
| True Believers |
|
— | ||
| Love the Show |
|
— | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Extended play details |
|---|---|
| Poveste de viaţă | |
| Around the World |
|
Compilations
[edit]| Title | Compilation details |
|---|---|
| Primul capitol |
|
| Luchshiye Khity (Лучшие Хиты) |
|
| Diamentowa Kolekcja Disco: Faina | |
| Akcent 20 |
|
| The Greatest Hits of Akcent |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM [18][F] |
BUL [19] |
CIS [20] |
DEN [21] |
FRA [22] |
GER [23] |
GRE [24] |
NLD [25] |
SWE [2] |
TUR [26] | |||
| "Ultima vară" | 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Senzatzia |
| "Ți-am promis"[3] | 2001 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | În culori |
| "Prima iubire" | 2002 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "În culori" | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Buchet de trandafiri" | 2003 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100 bpm |
| "Suflet pereche" | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Poveste de viață" | 2004 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Poveste de viață |
| "Spune-mi (Hey Baby)" | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Kylie"[G] | 2005 | 2 [28] |
— | 105 | 18 | 21 | 91 | — | 4 | 18 | — | S.O.S. / French Kiss with Kylie |
| "Jokero" | 2006 | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 7 | — | S.O.S. |
| "French Kiss" | 2 | — | 108 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "King of Disco" | 2007 | 7 | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | King of Disco |
| "Let's Talk About It" | 51 | — | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Umbrela ta" | 2008 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fără lacrimi |
| "Stay with Me" | 2009 | 1 | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fără lacrimi / True Believers |
| "That's My Name" | 5 | 3 | 73 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | ||
| "How Deep Is Your Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Too Late to Cry" (Vivien O'Hara featuring Akcent) |
— | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Stoned" | 2010 | 27 | — | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "My Passion" | 5 | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | ||
| "Feelings on Fire" (featuring Ruxandra Bar) |
2011 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Angel" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I'm Sorry" (feat. Sandra N.) |
2012 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Back to Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Chimie între noi" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Arde ceva" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Boracay" (featuring Sandra N.) |
— | 5 | 176 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | ||
| "Lacrimi curg" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Kamelia" (featuring Lidia Buble and DDY Tunes) |
2014 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | Around the World |
| "Faina" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | ||
| "Dilemma" | 2015 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Love the Show |
| "Te Quiero" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | ||
| "Amor Gitana" (featuring Sandra N.) |
59 | — | 168 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Push" (featuring Amira) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Lost in Love" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA |
| "You Don't Know My Love" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Heart Attack" (with Olivia Addams) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Miracle of Love"[29] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Don't Leave (Kylie)(featuring SERA and Misha Miller) | 2025 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | [H] | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||
Other charted songs
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROM [31] | |||
| "Cel mai dulce cadou" | 2002 | 21 | În culori |
Notes
- ^ Sales of În culori in Romania as of June 2007.[3]
- ^ Sales of S.O.S. in Romania as of December 2005.[7]
- ^ Russia-only release.[14]
- ^ Poland-only release.[15]
- ^ Asia-only release.[17]
- ^ Notes concerning the Romanian peaks:
- Due to the lack of national chart Romanian Top 100 archives for the late 2000s, the airplay charts published at that time by Nielsen Music Control and Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România (UPFR) are taken into consideration for "Stay with Me", "That's My Name" and "My Passion". It is unknown whether the two were affiliated with the Romanian Top 100, however their charts are reliable.
- Airplay 100 replaced the Romanian Top 100 in 2012 after the latter chart ceased its weekly issuing.
- ^ "Kylie" is the English version of "Dragoste de închiriat".[27]
- ^ "Don't Leave (Kylie)" did not chart on the Dutch Single Top 100, but reached number 25 on the Dutch Single Tip chart.[30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Interview Akcent 2007 on YouTube
- ^ a b "Discography Akcent". Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b Georgescu, Oana (9 June 2007). "Akcent si-a lansat cel mai nou single" [Akcent has released their new single] (in Romanian). 9am. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Pop-Rock Romanesc: Akcent" [Romanian pop-rock: Akcent] (in Romanian). Agerpres. 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ 100 bpm (Liner notes). Akcent. Roton/NRG!A. 2003. 5948204340841.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ S.O.S. (Liner notes). Akcent. Roton/NRG!A. 2005. 5948204375447.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Andronie, Dana (28 December 2005). "Cei mai vanduti cantareti" [The best-selling artists]. Jurnalul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "French Kiss with Kylie by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store (PL). 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Fără lacrimi (Liner notes). Akcent. Roton/NRG!A. 2009. 5948204422028.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "True Believers by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store (PL). 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Love the Show by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 28 April 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Poveste de viaţă (Liner notes). Akcent. Roton/NRG!A. 2004. 5948204354749.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Around the World by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Лучшие Хиты by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Diamentowa Kolekcja Disco: Faina" (in Polish). Empik. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Akcent 20 by Akcent on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ The Greatest Hits of Akcent (Liner notes). Akcent. EQ Music. 2021. 8886352741660.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ For peak positions in Romania:
- For "Ți-am promis": "Ediția 6, săptămâna 11.02 – 17.02, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- For "Prima iubire": "Ediția 19, săptămâna 13.05 – 19.05, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- For "În culori": "Ediția 33, săptămâna 19.08 – 25.08, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- For "Buchet de trandafiri" and "Suflet pereche": "Topul anului 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 19 March 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- For "Poveste de viață": "Topul anului 2004". Romanian Top 100 via Imgur. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- For "Spune-mi (Hey Baby)": "Ediția 1, săptămâna 10.01 – 16.01, 2005" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- For "Dragoste de închiriat": "Ediția 23, săptămâna 13.06 – 19.06, 2005" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 17 June 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- For "French Kiss": "Romanian Top 100 – Top 10" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- For "Jokero": "Romanian Top 100". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 5 April 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- For "King of Disco": "Romanian Top 100" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- For "Let's Talk About It": "Romanian Top 100" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- For "Stay with Me": "Akcent no.1 în Nielsen Airplay Chart" (in Romanian). Roton. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- For "That's My Name": "Cele mai ascultate hituri" (in Romanian). Cotidianul. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- For "Love Stoned": "Top 100" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 7 August 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- For "My Passion": "UPFR – 07.02.2011 – 13.02.2011". Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- For "Feelings on Fire": "Top 100" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- For "I'm Sorry": "Kiss FM | Airplay 100" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 22 October 2012. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- For "Kamelia": "Kiss FM | Airplay 100" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- For "Dilemma": "Kiss FM | Airplay 100" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- For "Amor Gitana": "Kiss FM | Airplay 100" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ For peak positions in Bulgaria:
- For "Stay with Me": "WEEK09 23.02.2009 - 01.03.2009". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "That's My Name": "WEEK30 20.07-26.07.2009". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- For "Boracay": "Airplay Top 5 - 28.10.2013-03.11.2013". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Akcent - Listen All Songs" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Discography Akcent". Danish Charts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Discographie Akcent" (in French). French Charts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Akcent - Kylie" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Greece Digital Songs – November 14, 2009". Billboard. 14 November 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Discografie Akcent" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ For peak positions in Turkey:
- For "My Passion": "Number One Top 20". Number One (in Turkish). Hayatadir. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Boracay": "Number One Top 20". Number One (in Turkish). Hayatadir. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Kamelia": "Number One Top 20". Number One (in Turkish). Hayatadir. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Faina": "Number One Top 20". Number One (in Turkish). Hayatadir. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Te Quiero": "Number One Top 20". Number One (in Turkish). Hayatadir. Archived from the original on 15 December 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Piesa trupei Akcent - hitul verii in Olanda" [Akcent's song - hit of the summer in the Netherlands] (in Romanian). 9am. 10 June 2005. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ Naie, Mihai (4 March 2006). "Akcent a tras un Joker(o)" [Akcent has pulled a Joker(o)]. Jurnalul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Miracle of Love - Single - Album by Akcent on Apple Music". 10 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Netherlands chartwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Ediția 2, săptămâna 20.01 – 26.01, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
Sources
[edit]- Click! (in Romanian). 11 December 2013
External links
[edit]- http://akcentonline.com/
- http://www.adriansina.com/ Archived 2011-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
- Akcent signs with U.S management Archived 2013-01-31 at archive.today
- KHNC Top 89 of 2012 New Years Eve coundtown
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
Akcent
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
1999–2003: Formation and early releases
Akcent was founded in 1999 by Adrian Claudiu Sînă as a DJ project while he worked at Radio Contact in Bucharest, initially forming a duo with vocalist Ramona Barta.[7] The group drew its name from a wordplay on "accent," reflecting their Romanian roots in dance music production.[1] In 2000, the duo released their debut single "Ultima vară," which achieved modest airplay and marked a small hit on Romanian radio charts.[7] That same year, they issued their first album, Senzatzia, through the Roton label after catching the attention of executive Cătălin Muraru, who signed them in 1999.[8] The album featured tracks like "Încearcă Să Mergi Mai Departe" and "Pauza De Viață," establishing an early dance-pop style, though it ultimately proved a commercial disappointment despite some initial buzz. By 2001, Ramona Barta departed the group, prompting Sînă to recruit vocalists Mihai Gruia, Sorin Ștefan Brotnei, and Marius Nedelcu, shifting Akcent to an all-male quartet format.[7] This lineup change allowed the band to refine their dance-pop sound, emphasizing male harmonies and electronic production. They began performing live in Bucharest clubs, building a local following through energetic sets that showcased their evolving club-oriented material.[7]2004–2007: Domestic breakthrough
Akcent achieved their domestic breakthrough in Romania during this period, marked by the release of their second studio album, Poveste de viață, in 2004 under NRG!A, which solidified their presence in the local dance-pop scene with a blend of upbeat tracks and evolving electronic elements.[1] The album represented a shift toward more polished production techniques, incorporating synthesized beats and club-oriented rhythms that appealed to Romanian audiences seeking energetic pop. The pivotal moment came in 2005 with the release of their third studio album, S.O.S., on April 30 via NRG!A and Roton, featuring the lead single "Dragoste de închiriat" (later re-released in English as "Kylie" in June).[9] This track, co-written by band members Adrian Sînă and Marius Nedelcu, became a massive summer hit in Romania, peaking at number two on national charts and driving album sales that exceeded significant thresholds by year's end.[10] The song's catchy eurodance melody and romantic lyrics captured widespread radio play and club rotation, establishing Akcent as a leading act in the domestic market.[11] The album itself emphasized electronic production, with layered synths and dance beats that marked the band's maturation from earlier electro-pop roots. In 2006, Akcent capitalized on their momentum with the compilation album Primul Capitol (First Chapter), released on December 7 by Roton, which collected their early hits including "Kylie" and new material, achieving multi-platinum certification in Romania for over 40,000 units sold.[12] That year, they also entered Romania's Eurovision Song Contest national selection with "Jokero," a collaboration with singer Nico featuring Spanglish lyrics and upbeat rhythms, which, although not winning, garnered substantial media attention and live performance exposure.[13] The band won Best Group at the MTV Romania Music Awards in 2006 for "Dragoste de închiriat," affirming their rising stardom.[14] Live tours began across Romania and extended to neighboring Eastern European countries, including club shows and festivals that showcased their high-energy performances and growing fanbase. By 2007, Akcent released King of Disco under NRG!A and Roton, further embracing electronic dance influences with tracks like "Let's Talk About It," which maintained their chart presence and reinforced their status as Romania's premier dance-pop group.[1] The album's disco-infused production highlighted the band's adaptation to club culture, contributing to sold-out domestic venues and initial award recognition at events like the Romanian Music Awards.[15] This era cemented Akcent's commercial dominance in Romania, with cumulative sales and airplay establishing them as multi-platinum artists before their international push.2008–2012: International expansion
In 2008, Akcent initiated their international expansion by enlisting producer Edward Maya to helm their album Fără Lacrimi (No Tears), which was released in Romania in 2009. The English-language counterpart, True Believers, followed the same year, featuring tracks adapted for global audiences, including "Stay With Me" and "That's My Name". These singles propelled the band to prominence beyond Romania, charting in multiple European countries and gaining traction in Turkey and Russia through radio play and digital platforms.[16][17] The album's lead single "That's My Name" topped charts in several Balkan nations and earned Akcent the Balkan Music Award for Best Balkan Group/Duet in 2009, underscoring their regional breakthrough. "Stay With Me" and "Out of Time" further supported extensive tours across Europe and Asia, with performances in cities like Baku and Istanbul drawing large crowds and solidifying their dance-pop appeal in diverse markets. By 2010, True Believers achieved multi-platinum status in Turkey.[18][19][3] Akcent's collaboration with singer Sandra N on the 2012 single "I'm Sorry" extended their international momentum, topping charts in Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey while amassing millions of streams. In 2011, the band released "Dorința" (Desire), a Romanian track that maintained domestic support while they engaged in Eurovision-adjacent events, including promotional appearances tied to the contest's regional qualifiers. Their first U.S. performances occurred in 2012 following a deal with Robbins Entertainment, including shows in New York and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the single "Kamelia," released in 2014 with re-recorded versions and remixes, contributed to over 50 million YouTube views by the end of the decade across various uploads.[20][21]2013–2014: Hiatus announcement
In September 2013, Akcent announced their split after 14 years together, driven by escalating internal conflicts among the remaining members Adrian Sînă, Sorin Brotnei, and Mihai Gruia.[22] The primary issues revolved around disputes over financial distributions, with Sînă receiving a larger share due to his roles in composing and lead vocals, as well as disagreements on the rights to the band's name, culminating in legal proceedings.[22] Sînă described the decision as inevitable, stating that he had managed the group's operations and that continuing as a unit was no longer feasible, with the law expected to support his position.[22] Brotnei confirmed the tensions, noting that the trio's contract with their label extended until December 2013 and that lawyers were involved in resolving the matter.[22] The departure of Brotnei and Gruia in September 2013 left Sînă as the sole custodian of the Akcent project, effectively ending the quartet's era that had begun with earlier lineup changes, including Marius Nedelcu's exit in 2008.[23] While Brotnei and Gruia signed with Mango Records to pursue new opportunities, Sînă immediately signaled a solo continuation by announcing plans for fresh recordings and a restructured band concept.[23] Although no formal disbandment occurred—allowing Sînă to retain the name—the announcement paused collaborative group activities, shifting focus toward individual creative pursuits amid the unresolved legal tensions over branding and earnings.[24] Prior to the full transition, Akcent issued the single "Boracay" featuring Sandra N in October 2013, which became one of the last releases under the original trio's involvement and achieved moderate chart success in Romania.[25] The split drew widespread media attention in Romania, with outlets covering the scandalous details and reflecting on the band's domestic achievements, though no dedicated farewell tour materialized.[24] By early 2014, Sînă publicly reaffirmed his dedication to Akcent through a statement introducing a new solo-led phase, emphasizing production work and international touring to sustain the project's momentum.[26] This pivot resulted in the EP Around the World, released in March 2014, featuring tracks like "Kamelia" that topped Romanian charts and supported over 25 global concerts in the following months.[26] The period underscored Akcent's lasting impact through retrospective coverage in Romanian media, which highlighted the end of the group's classic lineup while noting its role in popularizing dance-pop domestically.[27]2015–present: Solo continuation and tours
Following the hiatus announcement in 2014, Adrian Sînă revived Akcent as a solo project in 2015, collaborating with featured vocalists to maintain the group's dance-pop sound while establishing his parallel solo career under his real name. The project debuted that year with the single "Amor Gitana" featuring Sandra N, which blended electronic production with romantic themes and was released via Roton Music.[28] This marked Sînă's shift to leading Akcent single-handedly, producing and performing as the core act.[13] In 2016, Akcent released the album Love the Show, featuring collaborations such as tracks with Reea, emphasizing upbeat house rhythms and international appeal. Sînă's dual pursuits gained momentum in 2017, with a revival of his solo endeavors alongside Akcent, including sold-out tours across the US, Turkey, Pakistan, UAE, and Russia, where performances highlighted classic hits like "Kamelia" and new material. The following year, 2018, saw the EP Stories Between Life and Lust, the first major release since Love the Show, comprising six tracks rolled out monthly: "My Lady" ft. Reea (which topped Nexus FM charts), "Stole My Heart" ft. REEA (exceeding 10 million YouTube views), "Deep in Your Eyes," "Rita" (a slow-dance track filmed in Istanbul), "Rendez Vous" ft. Ackym & Veo, and "How Many Times" (incorporating oriental rhythms). A five-date US tour followed in November 2018, solidifying Akcent's live presence.[29] Akcent's international touring expanded into Asia during this period, with performances in Oman in 2016 organized by Tour Oman, where Sînă expressed admiration for the region's beauty and culture. Visits to Pakistan in 2021 included promotional activities in Hunza to promote tourism, alongside concerts that drew large crowds for dance-pop sets. Earlier shows in India, such as Bangalore in the mid-2010s, featured live DJ elements blending pop and house genres. European dates continued, focusing on high-energy renditions of hits, while Sînă's solo work under Adrian Sina, like the 2018 single "Hold On," complemented the project's output.[30][31][32][33] Recent years have emphasized digital releases and sustained touring. In 2024, Akcent dropped the single "Hearts in Stereo," composed by Sînă with collaborators including Dorin Achim and Viorel Sirbu, maintaining the euphoric electronic style. A 2025 collaboration, "Don't Leave (Kylie)" with SERA and Misha Miller, arrived in July, showcasing fresh production by Sînă and Marius Nedelcu. Additional 2025 singles include "Sugar Daddy," "Ten świat należy do nas," and "Now You're Gone." Streaming platforms reflect growing success, with Akcent's catalog surpassing 1.33 billion total streams by late 2025, driven by evergreen tracks and newer uploads. As a dance-pop live act, Sînă positions Akcent for ongoing global engagement, including announced South Asian dates and active fan interaction via official channels.[34][35][36][37]Band members
Current members
Adrian Claudiu Sînă serves as the founder, lead vocalist, songwriter, producer, and DJ for Akcent, having been the sole core member since the group's formation in 1999.[38][39] Sînă handles primary creative responsibilities, including composition and stage performances, while maintaining the project's dance-pop identity through ongoing tours and releases.[40][41] For live shows, Sînă is supported by a rotating lineup of musicians, including DJs and backup vocalists, as seen in 2024 tours such as the Helsinki City Festival performance.[42] Recent collaborations feature vocalists like Sera and Misha Miller on tracks such as "Don’t Leave Kylie," which charted highly in Romania and topped charts in Hungary in 2025, though these are project-specific rather than fixed band roles.[43] A planned 2025 world tour, including stops in Bangladesh and Romania, continues this model with ad-hoc supporting personnel to accommodate international performances.[44][45]Former members
Akcent's original lineup began as a duo in 1999, featuring Ramona Barta on vocals alongside founder Adrian Sînă. Barta contributed lead vocals and co-wrote lyrics for the band's debut album, Senzatzia, released in 2000, which marked their initial foray into electro-pop sounds. She departed the group in 2001 to pursue a solo career.[46][47] In 2001, the band transitioned to a four-member boy band format with the addition of vocalists Mihai Gruia, Sorin Ștefan Brotnei, and Marius Nedelcu. Nedelcu left in April 2008 to pursue a solo career; the band briefly added Corneliu Ulici as a replacement from 2008 to 2009. Gruia served as a primary vocalist from 2001 until 2013, playing a pivotal role in the group's vocal arrangements during their domestic breakthrough and international expansion phases, including performances across Europe and Asia that helped popularize tracks like "Kylie" and "That's My Name." Brotnei, also a vocalist during the same tenure (2001-2013), focused on providing harmonies and injecting high energy into live shows, contributing to the band's dynamic stage presence in international tours.[1][48][49][50] The departures of Gruia and Brotnei occurred amid internal conflicts in September 2013, coinciding with the band's announced hiatus, after which Sînă continued Akcent as a solo project. Neither member has returned to the group since, instead forming the duo "Two" to perform Akcent's hits and new material independently.[48][51]Musical style
Genre evolution
Akcent's musical journey began in the late 1990s with a focus on electro-pop rooted in Romanian-language tracks featuring simple house-influenced beats and straightforward production. Their debut album Senzatzia (2000) exemplified this early phase, blending pop melodies with electronic elements in songs like "Ultima Vară," which became a summer hit emphasizing catchy, accessible rhythms. Subsequent releases such as În culori (2002) and 100 BPM (2003) maintained this foundation, incorporating basic house grooves and male harmonies from the quartet lineup of Adrian Sînă, Marius Nedelcu, Mihai Gruia, and Sorin Brotnei, prioritizing romantic themes in a domestic pop context.[50][13] During their breakthrough period from 2004 to 2007, Akcent shifted toward upbeat dance-pop infused with Eurodance elements, featuring faster tempos, synthesized hooks, and more energetic arrangements to appeal to broader audiences. Tracks like "Kylie" from the album S.O.S. (2005) highlighted this evolution, combining romantic lyrics with pulsating beats and a polished club sound that marked their domestic success. By 2006–2007, albums such as French Kiss with Kylie and King of Disco incorporated disco-pop revival influences, with anthemic choruses and layered production, reflecting the established quartet's vocal dynamics and group interplay.[50][52] The international expansion era of 2008–2012 saw Akcent embracing English lyrics and club-oriented EDM styles, characterized by synth-heavy production, accelerated tempos, and global-oriented hooks to target international markets. The album Fără lacrimi (2009), reissued internationally as True Believers, introduced innovative elements like accordion-infused hooks alongside collaborations such as "Stay with Me" with Edward Maya, blending EDM with pop sensibilities for a more electronic, festival-ready sound. Later singles like "Love Stoned" and "My Passion" (2010) further emphasized this direction, focusing on immersive synth layers and rhythmic drive while retaining emphasis on memorable, harmonious choruses.[50] In the post-2015 phase, following the group's reconfiguration as Adrian Sînă's solo project under the Akcent name, their music adopted a hybrid approach remixing classic hits with modern pop-house elements, adapting to streaming platforms through concise, upbeat tracks suitable for digital consumption. Releases like Love the Show (2016) combined nostalgic dance-pop with contemporary EDM production, maintaining catchy hooks but incorporating streamlined arrangements and diverse cultural influences from Sînă's travels, evolving the sound toward versatile, globally appealing pop-dance subgenres. As of 2025, the style continues with recent singles like "Sugar Daddy," upholding upbeat dance-pop foundations.[50][2]Production techniques
Adrian Sînă, the founder and primary creative force behind Akcent, draws heavily from his early career as a DJ, which began at age 16 and influenced the band's incorporation of loops and samples into their tracks, as seen in hits like "I'm Sorry" that blend oriental motifs with modern dance beats.[30][26] His DJ background also shaped the use of Auto-Tune on vocals to achieve polished, energetic dance-pop effects, enhancing the group's signature sound.[26] In the studio, Sînă leads the songwriting and recording process, often collaborating with producers from Roton Music, the band's label, to layer synthesizers and craft bass drops central to their dance tracks, such as those in "Kamelia" and "That's My Name."[26] This collaborative approach extended to the 2016 album Love the Show, which involved a team of 50 contributors for 16 fresh tracks, emphasizing high-energy builds like in "My Passion" to suit live performances.[26] For international releases, Akcent employs bilingual mixing, exemplified by the Arabic-English fusion in "I'm Sorry," to broaden appeal while integrating music production with video creation for promotional synergy, releasing 10 songs and accompanying videos simultaneously.[26] Post-2010, the production evolved with digital tools, including FL Studio for remixing and adapting tracks at Akcent Music Studio, allowing rapid iterations based on fan feedback.[26]Discography
Studio albums
Akcent's debut studio album, Senzatzia, was released on July 27, 2000, by Roton in Romania.[8] Featuring 10 tracks in an electro-pop style with Euro house elements, it marked the initial output of the original duo consisting of Adrian Sînă and Ramona Barta.[53] The album achieved modest commercial success, primarily driven by the summer hit single "Ultima Vară," which received notable radio airplay, though the project overall underperformed.[54] The band's second studio album, În Culori, arrived on January 10, 2002, also via Roton.[55] This release shifted toward a more polished dance-pop sound and included the hit single "Ţi-am promis," contributing to its status as one of the best-selling albums in Romania that year.[56] It sold over 150,000 units domestically as of 2007. In 2003, Akcent released 100 Bpm on Roton, featuring 10 tracks of upbeat dance-pop.[57] The 2005 album S.O.S., released April 30 via Roton, included hits like "Dragoste de închiriat" and marked their growing domestic popularity.[58] In 2006, Akcent released French Kiss with Kylie on September 21 via various labels including Edel, their first English-language studio album aimed at international markets.[59] Comprising 12 tracks, it highlighted a Eurodance style and featured key singles "Kylie" and "Jokero," which propelled the album onto European charts and marked a breakthrough in commercial performance beyond Romania.[60] The project achieved success in several Eastern European territories.[61] King of Disco, issued in 2007 by Roton, featured 12 dance-oriented tracks building on their international momentum.[62] Fără Lacrimi, issued February 2, 2009, by Roton, blended emotional dance-pop tracks with collaborations.[1] It included 12 songs, such as "Stay With Me" and "Delight," and saw strong regional sales, particularly in Asia.[63] A parallel English version, True Believers, was released September 18, 2009, via Magic Records.[17] Akcent's most recent studio album, Love the Show, was released digitally on April 1, 2016, by Roton Music, under Adrian Sînă's continuation of the project.[64] This 13-track effort featured modern dance-pop productions with guest artists like Lidia Buble on "Serai" and Amira on "Push," emphasizing club-oriented sounds and achieving digital streaming success in Romania and abroad.[65]| Album Title | Release Date | Number of Tracks | Key Highlights and Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senzatzia | July 27, 2000 | 10 | Debut Romanian electro-pop; modest sales via "Ultima Vară" single. |
| În Culori | January 10, 2002 | 10 | Hit "Ţi-am promis"; over 150,000 units sold in Romania as of 2007. |
| 100 Bpm | May 14, 2003 | 10 | Upbeat dance-pop release. |
| S.O.S. | April 30, 2005 | 11 | Featured "Dragoste de închiriat"; domestic success. |
| French Kiss with Kylie | September 21, 2006 | 12 | International English debut; singles "Kylie," "Jokero"; European charts. |
| King of Disco | January 2007 | 12 | Dance-focused follow-up. |
| Fără Lacrimi | February 2, 2009 | 12 | Romanian version with collaborations; Asian sales. |
| True Believers | September 18, 2009 | 12 | English counterpart to Fără Lacrimi. |
| Love the Show | April 1, 2016 | 13 | Digital release; features "Serai," "Push"; streaming success. |