AF: How did you get started in the music industry?
AA: I’ve been surrounded by music since I was young. I always danced and sang around the house to hone my skills. When I was 14 years old, I was the winner of X Factor Albania 2. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I would never trade it for another cause that’s when my music career took its first step!
AF: What is your most memorable moment as an artist?
AA: Every second of being an artist is incredibly amazing! When I’m on stage, I perform like it’s the last thing I do and that feeling inside me is always as strong as the first time I felt it.
There’s this one photo that’s deep-rooted on my mind, an unforgettable one. The audience and me singing my music, performing together, feeling all the tears of them and seeing all the big smiles on their faces!
I live for this! And my father always told me “If you turn your passion into a job, you won” and I think I achieved that!
AF: Who has been your biggest critic? What did you learn from that person?
AA: My biggest critic is my manager since day one! But at the same time he’s the one who values and admires me more than anyone else. He has taught me everything, he has made me believe that respect and the love that you have for yourself and your work begins within you. He has taught me that discipline is one of the keys to be a successful person and artist! He raised and followed me in every step, delicate phase and he still takes care of my being the same as he did when I was a kid. He’s my mentor and guide, and everything I’ve learned in the music industry and life is because of him.
AF: Walk me through the process of creating your current album Pop Art.
AA: The idea of the album “Pop Art”, started since 2020 in the period of COVID-19 when the whole world, without exception was quarantined in their homes.
I remember, my manager and I were sitting, and we even were recovering from the virus and it was the 7th day of quarantine for us and he presented to me this idea that results on being the absolute most amazing project of my career!
Everything started there! We had such a great year setting the project “Pop Art” and we started working very intensively for 7 months straight in the studio with all the producers, song-writers and the guests of the album!
The first day I got in the studio to write and work on melody, together with the producer of the album, Mixey, were so inspired that we recorded 12 demos! It was crazy and we thought it wouldn’t work…Can you believe that 10 demos out of those 12 made it to the album? Me neither haha
I’ve sincerely put all my energy and heart as a person and artist into all the lines and music and that’s why I’m so proud of this album, all the colossal work and every person who was a part of this project and has endured the Titan Arilena in every studio session. ;p
AF: With your international fame, how you manage your everyday life?
I try to live a very normal life, behind the cameras and stage or being a role model and having a perfect life on social media cause that’s what happens after you finish a successful show or a photoshoot, I’ll go home, cook some food , wash the dishes, do my laundry and then finally sleep.
I try to enjoy and appreciate the little things that fill my heart with love and give a meaning to the behind the camera life.
Honestly, I live a very disciplined life, that’s why I wake up every single day at 6am and start the day by practicing on the piano with my teacher. After that, I get ready to start my workout at the gym! Physical activity, fitness is as important as music for me. I’ve turned it into a lifestyle and I have only one rest day from the heavy weights of the gym. After I finish my workout, I love going on grocery shopping trips with myself because I absolutely am obsessed with healthy and nutritious foods that don’t have many calories and except that , I cook for myself and that’s why I do it with the greatest pleasure!
The other part of the day, I’m in the studio where I spend my creative time in there, then I have dance classes with my choreographer!
When I have free time, I like spending it at home listening to music or watching movies! I like organizing dinners or little parties with my closest friends at home because that’s the most comforting and private place!
We have the best time when we’re together making memories for us to remember after time passes..
AF: What’s next for you and your career?
AA: After the launch of the album “Pop Art”, my team and I are getting ready to organize Pop Art Tour! It will be a magnificent experience for each of us and I can’t wait to get back on tour near my fans, where I belong!
After we finish, we’ll fly to Los Angelos to work on my second album that will be ready very soon for 2022!
