Donald Najtellari (;, known professionally as Young Zerka, is an Albanian singer and songwriter. Born in Korçë and raised in London, Najtellari grew up in a Jamaican household and began singing and writing music as a teenager. He later relocated to Albania and eventually rose to significant prominence in the Albanian-speaking Balkans. His musical career is marked by fusing elements of reggae and pop as well as his distinctive vocal and writing style.
Life and career
Najtellari was born into an Albanian family in the city of Korçë, Albania. At an early age, Najtellari emigrated to England settling in the city of London. He was raised in a Jamaican household, which according to him, had a particular influence on his artistic formation. In both 2008 and 2009, Najtellari appeared on the music competition Top Fest with the songs "Sfera" and "Shpirt i plakur", respectively. In 2014, he was featured on Kosovo-Albanian singer Dhurata Dora's "Roll" and "A Bombi", as well as on Albanian singer Alban Skënderaj's "24 orë". In December 2014, he collaborated with Albanian singer Aurela Gaçe on the single "Pa kontroll", with whom they eventually won the 16th edition of the annual music competition Kënga Magjike. His success continued in May 2015 with the release of the follow-up single "Boom Boom", which reached number 11 in Albania.
Following the 2022 release of his original song, "Nafije", produced by popular artist and producer Alandy, on January 12, 2023, a remix was introduced to the public. The collaboration between Young Zerka, DJ Geek, Dafina Zeqiri, and MC Kresha peaked charts in Albania at #2 on Top Music Awards. Young Zerka, along with Alandy, appeared on Albania's top performing television show hosted by Luana Vjollca, Zemër Luana, for a debut television performance of the original "Nafije".
Artistry
Najtellari's musical style has generally been regarded as reggae and pop. His musical inspiration varies from reagge musicians such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to pop artists as for instance Michael Jackson.
Discography
Extended play High Five (2020)
Singles
As lead artist
+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions Title Year Peakchartpositions Album ALBNote: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania: For "Boom Boom": For "Like Rihanna": For "Love": For "Harem": For "Nuk ma nin": For "Lule Bore": For "Ting Ting": For "Yalla": For "Nesër": For "Money": For "Let me thru": For "Pa Gajle": For "Pishman": For "Konflikt": "Boom Boom" 2015 11 rowspan="19" "Like Rihanna" 2016 13 "Love" 2 "Syni i jemi" — "Harem" 32 "A ma fal" 2017 — "Anna" 2018 — "Nuk ma nin" 53 "Lule bore" 2019 2 "Ting Ting" 11 "Yalla" 8 "Nesër" 5 "Money" 42 "Y.O.U." — "Whine for me" — "Let me thru" 48 "Pa gajle" 2020 34 "Pishman" 27 "Konflikt" 23 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist
+ List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions Title Year Peakchartpositions Album ALBNote: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania: For "Nona": For "Deja Vu": For "Smile": For "Smile": "Pa Lule" 2013 rowspan="7" rowspan="14" "Roll" 2014 "Hotel" "24 orë" "A Bombi" "Pa kontroll" "Papalove" "Habibi" 2016 — "Uhh Baby" — "Nona" 2017 14 "Belly Dancer" 2018 — "Deja Vu" 5 "Smile" 80 "Kce sonte" 2019 32 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
References