Ainhoa Cantalapiedra

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Ainhoa
Also_known_as = Ainhoa


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Ainhoa Cantalapiedra
Alias =
Born = 25th September 1980 (age 27)
Died =
Origin = Biscay, Spain
Genre = Rock
pop
Years_active = 2002–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Lorena, David Bisbal
URL = [http://www.ainhoa.info Ainhoa.info ]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Ainhoa Cantalapiedra is a popular Spanish singer/songwriter, most commonly known as simply Ainhoa (born 25 September 1980 in Galdakao, Spain).

She is the winner of the second series of Operacion Triunfo (Spanish Fame Academy).

Early life

Born in her hometown of Galdakao, since 1998 formed different groups of different styles, given the nickname of 'la Céline' (galdakao's reference to their very own Celine Dion).

Operacion Triunfo - Present

In 2002, she became a contestant in the second series of Spanish Fame Academy, Operación Triunfo. Within a week, she ended up in line for eviction, but managed to survive against Mai Meneses, who is now one of Europe's leading singers in the group Nena Daconte. Ainhoa came up for eviction 2 more times while being on the show. The public obviously loved her (as they kept her in). She ended up winning the show with over 34% of the vote between the remaining 6 finalists, as well as receiving 1 million Euros and a record deal with Vale Music.

In 2003, Ainhoa released her debut album, 'Escencia Natural' (Natural Essence). It was produced by Emilio Estefan, and was very successful in Spain, selling 80,000 copies on its first week of release, selling over 150,000 copies later on (although 1 million voted for her to win Operación Triunfo). The first single was Acéptame Así, the second was El Amor Me Está Llamando (a version of LeAnn Rimes's 'Love Must Be Telling Me Something'), and the third was Decídete. Also in this year, Ainhoa recorded the theme tune for the Spanish animation series 'Glup', noticeably in both Spanish and her native Basque.

A year later, Ainhoa released her second album, 'Mi Tiempo Roto' (My Broken Time). Her image became a lot more rock (compared to Avril Lavigne), and wasn't well appreciated by fans. It only had one single (Seguiré Estando Yo), which received limited radio play. The album was considered a failure in the charts. However, to date the album has sold over 50,000 copies.

In 2005, Ainhoa stayed out of the public view. However, in December 2005, Ainhoa sang Can't Help Falling In Love live with Soraya Arnelas on an Operación Triunfo Christmas special (this duet was originally recorded by Ainhoa and Marey on the 2003 Operacion Triunfo Season 2 compilation "Fuerza de la Vida"). On this same show, Ainhoa revealed that she was working on a brand new album to be released in 2007.

In 2006, She parted ways with her management and signed a new deal with another agency.

After much delay of the release of her third studio album, it was finally released on January 31st 2008 under the name, 'Imperfecta' (Imperfect). Her new album, Imperfecta, is made up of original compositions, with all of its 11 tracks written and composed by Ainhoa herself, it consists of 10 Spanish songs and an English one. The album was put online as a free legal download, which can now be downloaded off her website (www.ainhoa.info).

As of 19 May 2008, Imperfecta has had around 12,000 downloads.

Discography

2003 Esencia Natural Tracklisting

*1. Inquilino
*2. Aceptame Asi - 1st single
*3. No Hieras Mas
*4. El Amor Me Esta Llamando - 2nd single
*5. Buscando Senales Divinas
*6. Cuando Tu No Estas
*7. Decidete - 3rd single
*8. Le Digo Adios Al Ayer
*9. Resignacion
*10. Emotional Rescue - rumoured 4th single
*11. Lo Bueno Queda
*12. El Camaleon

2004 Mi Tiempo Roto Tracklisting

*1. Seguire Estando Yo - 1st single
*2. Tengo Que Aprender
*3. Mi Oportunidad
*4. Siempre Amanece
*5. Cuando Existe El Amor
*6. Es Mi Juego
*7. Dame Una Razon
*8. A Veces
*9. Salir Corriendo - rumoured 2nd single
*10. Buscando Quien Eres
*11. Cristales Rotos
*12. En Silencio

2008 Imperfecta Tracklisting

*1. Suerte
*2. Crece - 3rd single
*3. Estas Aqui - 4th single
*4. Mi Hogar
*5. Recuerdame - 5th single
*6. Tu Mejor Animal
*7. No Hay Lugar
*8. Hasta El Final - 2nd single
*9. Entre Tanto
*10. Las Calles De Madrid
*11. My Prisoner - 1st single

References

* [http://www.ainhoa.info Official Website]
* [http://www.representarte.es Her management's official website "Representarte"]