Maléna (singer)

{{Other uses|Malena (disambiguation){{!}}Malena}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Maléna

| background = solo_singer

| image = Malena am jesc2021 (cropped 01).jpg

| alt = Maléna performing with four dancers and a colourful background behind her

| caption = Maléna performing at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021

| birth_name = Arpine Martoyan

| birth_place = Yerevan, Armenia

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2007|1|10|df=y}}

| origin =

| genre =

| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|cello}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}

| years_active = 2018–present

| label = TKN

}}

Arpine Martoyan ({{langx|hy|Արփինե Մարտոյան}}; born 10 January 2007), known professionally as Maléna ({{langx|hy|Մալենա}}), is an Armenian singer and songwriter.{{Cite web|last=López|first=José David|date=2021-11-17|title=Maléna Fox will represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision 2021!|url=https://www.esc-plus.com/malena-fox-will-represent-armenia-at-junior-eurovision-2021/|access-date=2021-11-27|work=ESCplus}} She represented Armenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "{{lang|hy-Latn|Qami Qami|i=unset}}", and went on to win the competition, becoming the second Armenian entrant to win the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Early life and education

Born in Yerevan on 10 January 2007, Maléna was raised by her mother Anna Manucharyan, an actress.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-20|title=«Մանկական Եվրատեսիլ 2021»-ին Հայաստանի ներկայացուցիչ Մալենան դերասանուհի Աննա Մանուչարյանի դուստրն է|url=https://bavnews.am/մանկական-եվրատեսիլ-2021-ին-հայաստանի-ն/|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Bavnews․am|language=hy-AM}} Together with her mother, she has appeared in several episodes of television comedy series Stone Cage.{{cite web|title=Իսկ Դուք Մալենային հիշում եք, երբ նա մայրիկի հետ նկարահանվում էր "Քարե դարդ"-ում|url=https://a1news.am/hy/page/isj-duq-hishum-eq-malenayin-ern-xaxum-er-qare-dard-um|work=a1news.am|date=20 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021}} Maléna studies at the Sayat-Nova music school, where she learned to play the cello.{{cite web|title=Հայտնի է, թե ով կներկայացնի Հայաստանը «Մանկական Եվրատեսիլ 2021» մրցույթին|url=https://lurer.com/?p=441520&l=am|work=lurer.com|date=18 November 2021|access-date=21 December 2021}}

Career

=2018–2022: Junior Eurovision Song Contest=

Maléna first attempted to represent Armenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018, taking part in the national selection Depi Mankakan Evratesil with the song "Par" under the name Arpi, placing 8th in the semi-final.

Since 2020, Maléna has been collaborating with TKN Entertainment, a Yerevan-based record label owned by Tokionine.{{Cite web|last=López|first=José David|date=2021-11-17|title=Maléna Fox will represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision 2021!|url=https://www.esc-plus.com/malena-fox-will-represent-armenia-at-junior-eurovision-2021/|access-date=2021-11-27|work=ESCplus}} She was set to represent Armenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Why", but the country withdrew from the contest due to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.{{Cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/armenia-withdraws-from-junior-eurovision-2020|title=Armenia withdraws from Junior Eurovision 2020|publisher=EBU|website=junioreurovision.tv|date=5 November 2020|access-date=31 October 2021}}

She was again selected the following year to represent Armenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Paris, France with the song "Qami Qami" ("Wind, Wind" in Armenian).{{Cite web|url=https://hraparak.am/post/4aeaf6cb3d9bb02c99b70978db4dac0a|title=ՈՎ ԿՆԵՐԿԱՅԱՑՆԻ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԸ "ՄԱՆԿԱԿԱՆ ԵՎՐԱՏԵՍԻԼ"-ՈՒՄ|date=15 October 2021|website=hraparak.am|access-date=31 October 2021|language=hy}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurovision.am/en/junior/news/2021/11/17/Maléna-will-represent-Armenia-at-the-Junior-Eurovision-2021/1115|title=MALÉNA WILL REPRESENT ARMENIA AT THE JUNIOR EUROVISION 2021!|date=17 November 2021|website=eurovision.am|access-date=17 November 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/11/19/armenia-qami-qami-junior-eurovision/|title=Armenia: "Qami Qami" Revealed For Junior Eurovision|last=Granger|first=Anthony|work=Eurovoix|date=19 November 2021}} The song, described as "space-pop", was composed by Tokionine and was written by Vahram Petrosyan, Tokionine, David Tserunyan and Maléna herself.{{Cite web|title=Junior Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 2021 - Collection|url=https://lyricstranslate.com/en/collection/junior-eurovision-song-contest-paris-2021|access-date=2021-11-27|website=lyricstranslate.com|language=en}} While talking about co-writing the song and the message of it, Maléna said: "I’d never think that I’d be writing lyrics that one day would be shared with such a big audience. It’s such a huge honor. The song is about finding yourself and finding a way to keep going. Don’t you ever think of falling down again…always be true to who you are". Maléna won the contest with 224 points, becoming the second Armenian entrant to win the competition, first being in {{Escyr|2010|Junior}}.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-19|title=Junior Eurovision 2021 winner: Armenia's Malena with "Qami Qami"|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/12/19/junior-eurovision-2021-winner-armenia-with-qami-qami/267945/|access-date=2021-12-19|website=wiwibloggs|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Carter|first=William|title=Junior Eurovision: Maléna Wins it for Armenia!|date=19 December 2021 |url=https://www.escunited.com/junior-eurovision-malena-wins-it-for-armenia/|access-date=2021-12-19|language=en-US}}{{YouTube|IEqRlYCxPHw|Maléna - Qami Qami - WINNER - LIVE - Armenia 🇦🇲 - Junior Eurovision 2021}} As a result of her win, Armenia earned the right to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-21|title=Armenia to host 20th Junior Eurovision in 2022 🇦🇲|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/armenia-to-host-20th-junior-eurovision-in-2022|access-date=23 December 2021|website=junioreurovision.tv|publisher=EBU|language=en-gb}} In May 2022, Maléna made an appearance during the first semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, announcing Yerevan as the host city for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022.{{cite web|title=Maléna a special guest at Eurovision 2022, Armenia presented as host country of Junior Song Contest|url=https://en.armradio.am/2022/05/11/malena-a-special-guest-at-eurovision-2022-armenia-presented-as-host-country-of-junior-song-contest/|work=Public Radio of Armenia|date=11 May 2022|access-date=14 May 2022}}

Following her win, she received the Armenian Scholarship for a summer program at the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, she performed her winning song at the Armenian Heritage Park in Boston, on 31 July 2022.{{Cite web |title=Junior Eurovision Winner Maléna Receives Armenian Scholarship to Berklee Summer Program {{!}} Berklee |url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/junior-eurovision-winner-malena-receives-armenian-scholarship-to-berklee-summer-program |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=www.berklee.edu |language=en}}

=2022–present=

On 23 October 2022, Maléna released a cover of the song "Cheri Cheri Lady" by German band Modern Talking.{{Cite web |last=Mancheño |first=José Miguel |date=2022-10-23 |title=Escucha «Cheri Cheri Lady» la nueva cover de Maléna, ganadora de Eurovisión Junior 2021 |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2022/escucha-cheri-cheri-lady-la-nueva-cover-de-malena-ganadora-de-eurovision-junior-2021/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}} In February 2023, the song went viral on TikTok in Indonesia{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=Viral, Malena dengan Lagu 'Cheri Cheri Lady', Remixnya Jadi Soundtrack Banyak Video TikTok! |url=https://sumedang.suara.com/read/2023/02/28/133719/viral-malena-dengan-lagu-cheri-cheri-lady-remixnya-jadi-soundtrack-banyak-video-tiktok |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=suara.com |language=id}} and Vietnam,{{Cite web |last= |title=Ca khúc 'Cheri Cheri Lady' gây sốt trở lại |url=https://vnexpress.net/ca-khuc-cheri-cheri-lady-gay-sot-tro-lai-4573179.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=VnExpress |language=vi}} reaching the top of the iTunes{{Cite web |title=Soundcharts – Maléna Streaming Chart History |url=https://app.soundcharts.com/app/artist/malena-10/charts?country=ALL&platform=itunes&sortdir=desc&sorton=peakDate |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=app.soundcharts.com}} and Top 50 Viral on Spotify{{Cite web |title=Daily Viral Songs Vietnam – February 24, 2023 – Spotify Charts |url=https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/viral-vn-daily/2023-02-24 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Spotify Charts |language=en |publication-date=2023-02-24}} in Vietnam. On 26 February, the song reached the general Top 50 songs in Vietnam on Spotify.{{Cite web |title=Daily Top Songs Vietnam – February 26, 2023 – Spotify Charts |url=https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-vn-daily/2023-02-26 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Spotify Charts |language=en |publication-date=2023-02-26}} The song debuted at number 72 on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 list published on 2 March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Thảo |date=2023-03-02 |title=Bài hát mới debut trên BXH Billboard Vietnam tuần này: Ít nhưng "chất"! |url=https://billboardvn.vn/bai-hat-moi-debut-tren-bxh-billboard-vietnam-tuan-nay-it-nhung-chat/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302183802/https://billboardvn.vn/bai-hat-moi-debut-tren-bxh-billboard-vietnam-tuan-nay-it-nhung-chat/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2023 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Billboard Việt Nam |language=vi}}

In 2022, she was appointed the UNICEF Armenia Goodwill Ambassador.{{cite web|title=Maléna - Appointed as a UNICEF Armenia Ambassador in December 2022|url=https://www.unicef.org/armenia/en/mal%C3%A9na|publisher=UNICEF}}

During the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022, held on 11 December 2022, she premiered her new single "Can't Feel Anything".{{Cite web |date=2022-11-24 |title=Maléna and Rosa Linn will perform at Junior Eurovision |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/malena-and-rosa-linn-will-perform-junior-eurovision |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=junioreurovision.tv |language=en}}

In May 2023, she was selected as Armenia's spokesperson to announce Armenian jury results in the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-13 |title=Eurovision 2023 Spokespersons – Who will announce the points? |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2023-spokespersons-who-will-announce-the-points |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-05-13 |title=🇦🇲 Armenia: Junior Eurovision Winner Maléna Spokesperson for Eurovision 2023 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/05/13/armenia-malena-spokesperson-for-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}} In October 2023, she was revealed as one of the co-writers for the Armenia's Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 entry, "Do It My Way" by Yan Girls. At the contest, held in Nice, France, the song reached 3rd place.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=25 October 2023 |title=🇦🇲 Armenia: Yan Girls With "Do It My Way" to Junior Eurovision 2023 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/10/25/armenia-yan-girls-junior-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=Eurovoix}} In October 2024, it was revealed that she also co-wrote Armenian Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 entry, "Cosmic Friend" by Leo.[https://junioreurovision.tv/story/armenia-releases-cosmic-friend Armenia 2024: Leo releases 'Cosmic Friend']

On the 8th of December Malena performed a cover of Ervum etn by Komitas and won an award at the Armenian Music Videos Awards 2024.

On the 16th of February Malena performed her song Flashing Lights at the Armenian Selection for Eurovision 2025.

Artistry

= Influences =

Maléna is inspired by pop and R&B music. She pointed out Jaden Smith and Rosalía as her favourites, for their musical creations and visual style.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-19|title=Maléna: 'I'm obsessed with Eurovision - this win is a dream' 🇦🇲|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/lets-meet-malena-from-armenia|access-date=2021-12-21|website=junioreurovision.tv|language=en-gb}}

Discography

= Singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;" \| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" \| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Album
style="width:3em;font-size:90%" \|LAT Air. {{cite web\|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lv/weekly/20231006-20231012\|title=Top Radio Hits Latvia Weekly Chart: Oct 12, 2023\|publisher=TopHit\|access-date=1 October 2024}} ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%" \|VIE {{Cite web \|title=Billboard Vietnam Hot 100: Chart date 2023-03-09 \|url=https://billboardvn.vn/billboard-vietnam-hot-100/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309063110/https://billboardvn.vn/billboard-vietnam-hot-100/ \|archive-date=9 March 2023 \|access-date=9 March 2023 \|website=Billboard Việt Nam \|language=vi}}
scope="row" \| "Par" {{small\|(Պար)}} {{small\|(as Arpi)}} \| 2018 \| — \|\| rowspan="5" {{n/a\|*}} \| rowspan="9" {{n/a\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row" \| "{{ill\|Why (Maléna song)\|lt=Why\|pl\|Why (singel Malény)}}" \| 2020 \| —
scope="row" \| "My Life Is Going On" \| rowspan="3" \|2021 \| —
scope="row" \| "Qami Qami" {{small\|(Քամի Քամի)}} \| —
scope="row" \| "Chem Haskanum" {{small\|(Չեմ հասկանում)}} {{small\|(with Kristina Si)}} \| —
scope="row" \| "Cheri Cheri Lady" (with Tokionine) \| rowspan="2" \|2022 \| — \|\| 26
scope="row" \| "{{Ill\|Can't Feel Anything\|pl\|Can’t Feel Anything}}" \| — \|\| —
scope="row" \| "Flashing Lights" \| 2023 \| 8 \|\| —
scope="row" \| "Never Have I Ever" {{small\|(with Monomuse)}} \| 2024 \| — \|\| {{n/a\|*}}
colspan="5" style="font-size:90%" \| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. "*" denotes the chart did not exist at that time.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;" | Year

! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album

style="width:3em;font-size:90%" |LAT
Air.
{{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lv/weekly/20231006-20231012|title=Top Radio Hits Latvia Weekly Chart: Oct 12, 2023|publisher=TopHit|access-date=1 October 2024}}

! style="width:3em;font-size:90%" |VIE
{{Cite web |title=Billboard Vietnam Hot 100: Chart date 2023-03-09 |url=https://billboardvn.vn/billboard-vietnam-hot-100/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309063110/https://billboardvn.vn/billboard-vietnam-hot-100/ |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Billboard Việt Nam |language=vi}}

scope="row" | "Par" {{small|(Պար)}}
{{small|(as Arpi)}}

| 2018

| — || rowspan="5" {{n/a|*}}

| rowspan="9" {{n/a|Non-album singles}}

scope="row" | "{{ill|Why (Maléna song)|lt=Why|pl|Why (singel Malény)}}"

| 2020

| —

scope="row" | "My Life Is Going On"

| rowspan="3" |2021

| —

scope="row" | "Qami Qami" {{small|(Քամի Քամի)}}

| —

scope="row" | "Chem Haskanum" {{small|(Չեմ հասկանում)}}
{{small|(with Kristina Si)}}

| —

scope="row" | "Cheri Cheri Lady"
(with Tokionine)

| rowspan="2" |2022

| — || 26

scope="row" | "{{Ill|Can't Feel Anything|pl|Can’t Feel Anything}}"

| — || —

scope="row" | "Flashing Lights"

| 2023

| 8 || —

scope="row" | "Never Have I Ever"
{{small|(with Monomuse)}}

| 2024

| — || {{n/a|*}}

colspan="5" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
"*" denotes the chart did not exist at that time.