Karafizi Elena

About

Elena Karafizi, a performer, was born on May 19, 1994, in Chișinău, where she began her musical journey at the age of eight, studying vocals and piano at the "Alexei Starcea" School of Arts and the "Ștefan Neaga" College of Music. Her career received a major boost in 2019 when she became the lead singer of the Austrian electro swing band Parov Stelar, founded by Marcus Füreder, celebrated for thousands of live concerts at festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury, or Sziget, and for seven Amadeus awards. Under this umbrella, Elena toured extensively in Europe, Armenia, Australia, and New Zealand, contributing to the band's innovative sound and releasing collaborations like "Grandpa's Groove" or the song "In Between" with Stelartronic, with which Austria was represented at Eurovision 2021. In parallel with her work with Parov Stelar, where she replaced Cleo Panther and brought a special chemistry to the band, Karafizi collaborated with projects such as Island Chain by the Romanian band Golan, releasing the single "Rocket Love" in 2018, and explored artistic covers, including with Therr Maitz. Her eclectic style blends alternative pop, electro swing, soul, jazz, and influences from artists like Beyoncé, Sarah Vaughan, or Björk, positioning her within the vibrant Austrian music scene, based in Vienna. In 2024, she was nominated for an Austrian Music Video Award, marking international recognition. Launching her solo career in 2020 with the single "Acid Love," produced by Andy Oncea, Elena Karafizi continued with the EP "Remember," the album "RIGHT ON TIME" (2024), singles such as "OASIS," "Focused on Myself," "Higher," and most recently "gotta be scared" (2026) or "ANGEL SUPERMODEL" (2025). Although details about her personal life remain discreet, her energetic presence on stage and in studios in Austria highlights her dedication to musical innovation, transforming her Moldovan roots into a captivating global sound.