Iru Khechanovi

(Redirected from Irina Khechanovi)

Irina "Iru" Khechanovi (Georgian: ირინა "ირუ" ხეჩანოვი; IPA: [iɾu χetʃʰanovi]; born 3 December 2000), known professionally as Iru (stylised in all caps), is a Georgian singer and songwriter. As a member of the girl group Candy, she won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "Candy Music".[1] In 2023, she won the fifth season of The Voice Georgia, and went onto represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[1]

Iru Khechanovi
ირუ ხეჩანოვი
Khechanovi in 2023
Khechanovi in 2023
Background information
Birth nameIrina Khechanovi
Also known asIru
Born (2000-12-03) 3 December 2000 (age 24)
Tbilisi, Georgia
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • Giga Production
Formerly ofCandy

Biography

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Khechanovi (centre) after winning the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Irina Khechanovi was born on 3 December 2000 in Tbilisi.[2][3] She is of Armenian descent.[4] As a child, she took part in various singing competitions.[3] In 2011, on her eleventh birthday, she represented Georgia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Yerevan, Armenia as a member of the girl group Candy.[1][2] The group won the competition with 108 points.[5]

In 2019, Khechanovi was a participant in Georgian Idol.[6] In 2021, she released her debut solo single "No Jerk Around Me".

In 2022, Khechanovi performed at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 as part of a previous winners' medley.[1] She had also co-written the song "I Believe" by Mariam Bigvava, the Georgian entry for that year's contest.[3] The entry finished in third place.

Later that year, Khechanovi was a participant in the fifth season of The Voice Georgia. She went on to win the competition on 2 February 2023, thereby winning the right to represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[1] Her entry "Echo" was released on 16 March 2023. She performed in the second semi-final on 11 May 2023, but finished in 12th place and therefore did not qualify to the grand final.

The Voice Georgia performances and results
Round Song Original artist Result
Blind Auditions "Never Enough" Loren Allred Joined Team Dato Porchkhidze
The Battles "Leave the Door Open" Silk Sonic Advanced
Quarter-finals "Smells Like Teen Spirit" / "Around The World" Nirvana / Daft Punk Advanced
Semi-final "Rise Like a Phoenix" Conchita Wurst Advanced
Final "Euphoria" Loreen Winner

Discography

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Singles

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  • 2021 – "No Jerk Around Me"
  • 2022 – "Not Like Today"
  • 2022 – "Tu mama"
  • 2023 – "Idea"
  • 2023 – "Echo"
  • 2023 – "Seen"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Georgia: Iru Khechanovi wins ticket to Liverpool 2023". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "CANDY". Junioreurovision.tv. EBU. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Junior-ESC-Siegerin Iru Khechanovi singt für Georgien beim ESC". Eurovision.de (in German). NDR. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Georgian-Armenian Iru Khechanovi to represent Georgia at Eurovision Song Contest 2023". Armenpress. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  5. ^ Adams, Oliver (2 February 2023). "Iru Khechanovi wins The Voice Georgia and will sing at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. ^ Granger, Anthony (13 January 2019). "Georgia: Eleven Singers Receive Golden Ticket in Georgian Idol Show Two". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by The Voice Georgia winner
2022–2023
Succeeded by
TBD
Preceded by Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest
2023
Succeeded by