Edward Maya

Edward Maya, born Eduard Marian Ilie on 29 June 1986 in Bucharest, is a Romanian DJ, performer and electronic music producer.

Raised in an environment that valued instrumental mastery, he studied at the George Enescu Music High School in Bucharest and then at the Bucharest Conservatory. It was during this period that he began writing songs and collaborating with major Romanian producers; he notably contributed to the Akcent album “No Tears”, which generated several European hits.

His international breakthrough came in 2009 with the single Stereo Love, featuring DJ Vika Jigulina. Recognizable for its distinctive accordion, the track propelled Edward Maya onto the global stage: it reached the top 5 in many countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom) and was certified multi-platinum.

Stereo Love amassed over 115 million views on YouTube and made Edward Maya the first Romanian artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20, peaking at number 17. The single was also number one on Billboard’s Dance Airplay chart in 2010 and set a longevity record on the European Top Hot 100 with 52 consecutive weeks; it was nominated for Top Dance Song at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

In May 2010 he released the single This Is My Life, again with Vika Jigulina. The song also became an international success, charting in the Romanian Top 100 and the European Hot 100 and accumulating nearly 40 million views. It was promoted by the “This Is My Life Tour”, which took Edward Maya to countries such as Brazil, Senegal, Dubai, Albania and India.