Soulful pop singer and pianist Albert Stanaj was born in Albania and raised in New York City. As a child, he starred in Albanian music videos and performed at festivals in both the U.S. and in Europe. In high school, he started singing in English, inspired by Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Maxwell, and Whitney Houston. After he moved to California, he worked the scene and was noticed by Drake, who helped increase his social media presence. Stanaj signed with Lava Records in 2016 and headed to England to record with Fraser T. Smith and others. The Preview EP showcased four of his songs. In 2017, Stanaj further expanded his audience by landing an opening slot on a tour with JoJo. ~ Neil Z. Yeung