- iiO
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iiO 
Background information Origin New York City, New York, United States Genres Dance Years active 2001–2011 Labels Made Records, Ministry of Sound Australia Website www.iiomusic.com Members Markus Moser Past members Nadia Ali (2001–2005) iiO (pronounced "eye-oh") was a New York City-based house music act composed of singer-songwriter Nadia Ali and producer Markus Moser. The group gained prominence for its 2001 single "Rapture", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Following the success of "Rapture", iiO released several singles and the studio album Poetica in 2005. The album reached number 17 on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums Chart.
The same year, Ali left iiO to pursue a solo career. Meanwhile, Moser continued to release material featuring her on vocals, which included the 2006 single Is It Love? that reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart. In 2011, he released the studio album Exit 110, which again featured Ali on vocals and was announced as the final project of the act.
Contents
History
A 17-year old Nadia Ali was working in the New York offices of Versace, when a co-worker introduced her to producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his productions for a girl group.[1] The two teamed up and started a group that was originally named "Vaiio", named after the Sony VAIO laptop Ali used to write lyrics on.[2] They later dropped the "va", on the advice of their label, to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony.[3] Working with Moser, she wrote the lyrics and the vocals for the songs. Their first release was the 2001 single "Rapture", a song Ali wrote in 30 minutes based on a relationship with an Australian man she met in a nightclub.[4] The song was a hit charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart.[5][6] The song was remixed by prominent DJs and producers including Paul Van Dyk, John Creamer & Stephane K, Armin Van Buuren and Deep Dish.
"Rapture" was followed by "At the End" in 2002. The duo subsequently released "Smooth" in 2003, "Runaway" in 2004 and "Kiss You" in 2005. Their first studio album, Poetica was released in 2005 by Made Records.[7] The release of the album was timed with the dissolution of iiO with Ali leaving to pursue a solo career.[8] Meanwhile, Moser continued to released material featuring her on the vocals. These included the 2006 number one Billboard Hot Dance Club Play single "Is It Love?", the 2007 remix album Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed, and the 2008 compilation Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition.[6][7]
In 2010, iiO re-emerged from hiatus when Moser released new remixes of "At the End". In April 2011, iiO's second studio album and final project Exit 110 was released featuring Ali on vocals.[9] Speaking of the album, Ali explained that she had no involvement in it except her vocals and lyrics from nearly ten years ago being used for the project.[10] In interviews, she said she had not been in contact with Moser since she left iiO and was completely focussed on her solo career.[1][11] When asked further if the dissolution of the duo was amicable, she refused to comment further.[11] Moser, on the other hand, said he decided to use material Ali had recorded before she left iiO to release a new album due to a demand by fans.[12]
Discography
- Studio Albums
- 2005 Poetica - Top Electronic Albums number 17[7]
- 2011 Exit 110
- Remix Albums
- 2007 Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed
- Compilations
- 2008 Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album U.S.
[6]U.S. Dance
[6]U.S. Dance Airplay AUS
[13]DEN
[14]FIN
[15]UK
[5]2002 "Rapture" 46 2 — 3 10 12 2 Poetica "At the End" — 41 — — 16 13 20 2003 "Smooth" — — 23 — — 2 — 2004 "Runaway" — — — — — 4 — 2005 "Kiss You" — 3 11 — — 5 — 2006 "Is It Love?" — 1 6 — — 20 — 2007 "Rapture 2007" — 3 — — — — — Reconstruction Time 2010 "At the End (Metropolitan Mix)" — — — — — — — non-album single 2011 "It'll Be Like" — — — — — — — Exit 110 References
- ^ a b "Behind the Voice: Nadia Ali". Armada Music. July 16, 2010. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1306860170880019. Retrieved May 26, 011.
- ^ "iiO Biography & Awards". Billboard.com. Rovi Corporation. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/iio/bio/191695. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ Ali, Nadia (Oct 4, 2007). "About Nadia – Nadia Ali’s Blog". Myspace. Myspace Inc. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1306860170879854. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ Ali, Nadia (November 12, 2009). The Rapturous Voice of iiO - Nadia Ali. Interview with Adz. Hump Day Crew. Joy94.9. Melbourne, Australia.
- ^ a b "UK Charts > iiO". The Official UK Charts Company. The British Recorded Music Industry and Entertainment Retailers Association. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1306860170879864. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "iiO- singles". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. http://www.billboard.com/artist/iio/chart-history/191695?f=359&g=Singles#/artist/iio/chart-history/191695?f=359&g=Singles. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c "iiO - Albums". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. http://www.billboard.com/artist/iio/discography/albums/191695#/artist/iio/discography/albums/191695. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Poetica- iiO - Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/poetica-r823967/review. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "iiO Bows out with Exit 110". BigShot. April 12, 2011. http://newsflash.bigshotmag.com/news/15049/. Retrieved 22 June 22, 2011.
- ^ Nihal, Mariam (October 5, 2011). "Living a Fantasy with Nadia Ali". Arab News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/62PnxNokm. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
- ^ a b Ali, Nadia (November 12, 2011). Nadia Ali Interview. Interview. Sat Night House Party. 93.3 FLZ Tampa. Tampa, Florida. http://www.933flz.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?podcast=houseparty&selected_podcast=finky_nadiaali-111211_1321286900_10654.mp3. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Nominated Nadia Ali Follows Up with Own New iiO Album Exit 110" (Press release). Rock 'n' Retail. April 22, 2011. http://www.widepr.com/pdf/press_release/11814/grammy_nominated_nadia_ali_follows_up_with_own_new_iio_album_exit_110.pdf. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "iiO in Australian charts". Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=iiO&titel=Rapture&cat=s. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "iiO in Danish charts". Hung Medien. http://danishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=iiO. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "iiO in Finnish charts". Hung Medien. http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=iiO. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
External links
Compilation albums Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed · Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum EditionSingles Related articles Nadia Ali Discography Studio albums EmbersCompilation albums Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Ruby Edition · Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Onyx Edition · Queen of Clubs Trilogy: Diamond EditionSingles Featured singles Related articles iiOCategories:- American dance music groups
- American house music groups
- Musical groups from New York
- Nadia Ali
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