Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu known professionally as Inna (stylized in all caps), is a Romanian singer. She was Born in Mangalia, Romania, on the 16th of October 1986. She was raised in Neptun, where her father worked as a sea rescuer and her mother as a dancer and singer. As a child, Inna competed as a swimmer and became interested in football and basketball as well as music. She listened to a variety of musical styles as a teenager, including electro house and europop, and to artists such as Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston. she studied political science at Ovidius University before meeting the Romanian trio Play & Win and pursuing a music career. She adopted the stage name “Alessandra” and a pop-rock style in 2008; later that year, she changed her stage name to “Inna” and began releasing EDM, house and popcorn music.
Four: Up
“Up” is a dancehall-influenced pop song by Romanian singer Inna, released on October 22, 2021. The track was written by Inna alongside Minelli, Sebastian Barac, Marcel Botezan, and Alex Cotoi, with production handled by the latter three. An alternative version featuring Jamaican rapper Sean Paul was released on December 17, 2021. It has garnered over 98M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. The song’s lyrics describe a healing love, and it has been praised for its catchy composition. “Up” achieved significant commercial success, becoming Inna’s fifth number-one hit in Romania. It also topped the charts in Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Ukraine. In Poland, the track received a Platinum certification from the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) for selling 50,000 units. The accompanying music video, directed by Bogdan Păun, was released on December 17, 2021. To further promote the song, Inna performed “Up” live on the Romanian reality show SuperStar România.
FYI
- Inna is a human rights activist, participating in campaigns against domestic violence and in support of children’s rights.
Three: Queen of My Castle
“Queen of My Castle” is a collaborative single by Dutch DJ trio Kris Kross Amsterdam and Romanian singer Inna, released on April 26, 2024. The track showcases a dance-pop sound with empowering lyrics, where Inna asserts her independence and control, singing, “I’m gonna show you I’m the queen of my castle.” The official music video, directed by Jimachez, complements the song’s energetic vibe and has garnered significant attention online. It gained over 38M streams on spotify and over 11M views on its official music video on YouTube. The song has been well-received, with over 483,000 Shazam recognitions, indicating its popularity among listeners. “Queen of My Castle” is available for streaming and download on various platforms. This collaboration highlights the synergy between Kris Kross Amsterdam’s dynamic production and Inna’s powerful vocals, resulting in a track that resonates with fans of dance and pop music alike.
Two: Let It Talk to Me
Serving as INNA’s most recent release, “Let It Talk to Me” is a vibrant dancehall-infused track released on February 28, 2025, by Jamaican artist Sean Paul and Romanian singer Inna. The lyrics emphasize non-verbal communication and connection, with lines like “Just slow it down, let your body speak.” It hss garnered over 1.1M streams on spotify and over 333K views on its official audio on YouTube. Upon its release, “Let It Talk to Me” garnered attention on various music platforms. The track also made an appearance on the Official UK Charts, reflecting its growing popularity. “Let It Talk to Me” marks the second collaboration between Sean Paul and Inna, following their previous joint effort on the track “Up.” This new release further solidifies their musical synergy, blending dancehall and pop elements to create an infectious tune that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Awards/Nominations
- INNA has received a number of awards and nominations, including five Balkan Music Awards, a European Border Breakers Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Romanian Act and thirteen Romanian Music Awards.
- By March 2016, Inna had sold four million copies of her first three studio albums. In 2015, Antena 3 reported that Inna was Romania’s best-selling artist abroad.
Discography
- Hot (2009)
- I Am the Club Rocker (2011)
- Party Never Ends (2013)
- Inna (2015)
- Nirvana (2017)
- Yo (2019)
- Heartbreaker (2020)
- Champagne Problems (2022)
- Just Dance (2023)
- Everything Or Nothing (2024)
- El Pasado (2024)
One: Rock My Body
“Rock My Body” is a collaborative single by Dutch-Moroccan DJ R3hab, Romanian singer Inna, and German electronic music group Sash!, released on April 28, 2023. The track is a modern reimagining of Sash!’s 1997 hit “Ecuador”. The song achieved significant chart success, reaching number two in Romania, number 12 in Belgium (Wallonia), and number 32 in France. It has garnered over 230M streams on spotify and over 46M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. The accompanying music video, directed by Jimachez and filmed by Paul Tatcu, was released simultaneously with the single. In addition to its weekly chart performance, “Rock My Body” secured year-end chart positions in several countries for 2023, including number 65 in Belgium (Wallonia), number 30 in Belarus, number 122 in Kazakhstan, number 88 in Moldova, and number 44 in Russia. A remixes EP was subsequently released on September 8, 2023.
