Aiko (Czech singer)
Czech singer-songwriter (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova (Russian: Алёна Ширманова-Костебелова, pronounced [ɐˈlʲɵnə ʂɨrˈmanəvə kəsʲtʲɪˈbʲeləvə]; born 26 December 1999), known by her stage name Aiko, is a Russian-Czech singer and songwriter based in Brighton, England. She represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Pedestal".
26 December 1999
- Singer
- songwriter
Aiko | |
|---|---|
Aiko in 2026 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova 26 December 1999 Moscow, Russia |
| Website | www |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
Early life
Alena Shirmanova-Kostebelova was born in Moscow, Russia. At the age of five, she moved with her family to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.[1][2][3]
Career
In 2015, Shirmanova participated in the fourth season 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] Her stage name originates from a combination of her love for Japanese culture and her childhood nickname 'Ajka'.[3]
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][4]
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,[5] competing with the song "Pedestal". On 13 December, she was crowned as the winner of the selection.[6] At the event, she failed to qualify from the second semi-final, placing 11th out of 16 with 38 points.[7]
Personal life
Aiko came out as bisexual in May 2025.[8] She is currently in a relationship with Spanish drummer Kat Almagro, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 for San Marino as a member of Megara.[9][3][10]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Expiration Date |
|
| Fortune's Child |
|
| Aikonic |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Aiko |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album or EP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTU [15] | ||||
| "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 | — | ||
| "Lucky Streak" | — | |||
| "Pedestal" | 49 | |||
| "White Flag" | 2024 | — | Aikonic | |
| "Hunger" (with Teya) |
— | |||
| "Regal" | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Cleopatra" | 2025 | — | ||
| "Mi amor"[a] | — | |||
| "I Need a Minute" | — | |||
| "Shotgun" | — | |||
| "F1 Machine" | — | |||
| "Villainize Me" | — | |||
| "Time" | — | |||
| "Medusa" (with The Silver Spoons) |
2026 | — | ||
| "Why Not Bby" | — | |||
| "A Class Angel" | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
As featured artist
| Single | Year | Album / EP |
|---|---|---|
| "Why Don't You" (Ivo Blahunek featuring Aiko) |
2023 | Non-album single |
| "The Internet" (Noisy Pots featuring Aiko) |
A Trip of Being | |
| "Come Closer" (Tonya Graves and Blanka Maderová featuring Teza and Aiko) |
Non-album single |
Notes
- Both in Spanish and English versions.