Kosovo pop star Genta Ismajli has amassed more than 25 million views on You Tube, has more than 26,000 fans on her Facebook page and has performed 300-plus concerts around the globe. She is eager to repeat that success in the United States
The bilingual Ismajli, 25, recently visited her family in Plainfield before meeting with New York producers and flying back to Kosovo where she will be a part of Albania's "Dancing with the Stars." She also plans to complete three more music videos.
To meet her ambitious goal, Ismajli has already recorded four songs in English. She looks forward to scheduling more concerts in both Europe and the United States.
"I have reached the top in my parent's native country and I'm ready to take the next step and share my talent with the world," Ismajli said. "I just need a push."
Family support
One of the people giving her that push is her manager, John Goci. But she also credits her family and friends with moving her forward.
"They say fame has not changed me at all," Ismajli said. "My personality is the same, and they really appreciate that."
Ismajli's parents, Muki and Shpresa, moved to Chicago when Ismajli was only 2 months old. From there, they settled in Aurora, where the young Ismajli entertained her family and friends by singing and dancing her parents' traditional songs, taking piano lessons and singing in the choir at Waubonsee Valley High School in Aurora.
But deep inside, Ismajli harbored a dream to become a famous singer in Kosovo. "I always sing and dance what comes from my heart," she said. "This is what I wanted to bring to people."
She needed no fairy godmother to fulfill that dream. In 2004, Shpresa presented Ismajli with a song she wrote just for her, "Dridhem," and announced they were flying to Kosovo for its New Year's music festival. There, Ismajli would inaugurate her singing career.
Fan favorite
Ismajli's emotions about the opportunity ran hot and cold. Here was her chance of a lifetime and yet how dare she share the stage with some of Kosovo's well-known talent?
Then she remembered her dream and forged ahead, wondering what the public would think of her music. Much to her surprise, the fans loved her.
"I had dancers for my song and outfits tailored for us," Ismajli said. "The organizer gave me a shot and he did not regret it. I had producers fighting over me so much that I pinched myself a few times to see if I was dreaming. Then I realized it was just my dream coming true."
Her recordings to date are "Mos me shiko" ("Don't look at me," 2004), "Me e forta jam une«" ("I am the strongest, 2005), "Posesiv" ("Possessive," 2006) and "Zero," 2008.
She revels in stardom, but in an innocent way. Fans knock on her front door before she's even changed from bathrobe to street clothes. Little girls beg for a tour of her home. Mothers share how even their 2-year-olds know Ismajli's songs.
"They tell me they won't go to sleep without listening to my music," Ismajli said.
In addition to conquering the United States charts, Ismajli also hopes that one day Oprah Winfrey will invite her to be a guest on her show, less for notoriety and more to sit face to face with someone she's admired all her life.
"I love her," Ismajli said. "She has been my idol since I was a little girl. She is so independent and very strong. She has changed a lot of people's lives. She's from Chicago and I'm from Chicago. Why not start with my hometown?"