iiO

iiO (pronounced "eye-oh") was a New York City-based dance music act composed of singer and songwriter Nadia Ali and record producer Markus Moser. The group gained prominence for its 2001 single, "Rapture", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Following the success of "Rapture", iiO released several singles and the studio album, Poetica in 2005. The album reached number 17 on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart.

iiO
Background information
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Dance, house, trance
Years active	2001 (2001)–2011 (2011)
Labels	Made
Past members	Markus Moser Nadia Ali (2001–05)

The same year, Ali left iiO to pursue a solo career. Meanwhile, Moser continued to release material, featuring her on vocals, which included the 2006 single, "Is It Love?" that reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2011, he released the studio album, Exit 110, which again, featured Ali on vocals and was announced as the final project of the act.

History

Nadia Ali was working in the New York offices of Versace, when a co-worker introduced her to record producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his productions for a girl group.[1] The two teamed up and started a group that was originally named "Vaiio", named after the Sony Vaio laptop Ali used to write lyrics on.[2] They later dropped the "va", on the advice of their label, to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony.[3] Working with Moser, she wrote the lyrics and the vocals for the songs. Their first release was the 2001 single, "Rapture", a song Ali wrote in 30 minutes based on a relationship with an Australian man she met in a nightclub.[4] The song was a hit, charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[5][6] The song was remixed by prominent DJs and record producers including Avicii, Paul van Dyk, John Creamer & Stephane K, Armin van Buuren and Deep Dish.

"Rapture" was followed by "At the End" in 2002. The duo subsequently released "Smooth" in 2003, "Runaway" in 2004 and "Kiss You" in 2005. Their first studio album, Poetica, was released in 2005 by Made Records.[7] The release of the album was timed with the dissolution of iiO with Ali leaving to pursue a solo career.[8] Meanwhile, Moser continued to release material, featuring her on the vocals. These included the 2006 number one Billboard Hot Dance Club Play single, "Is It Love?", the 2007 remix album, Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed, and the 2008 compilation album, Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition.[6][7]

In 2010, iiO re-emerged from hiatus when Moser released new remixes of "At the End". In April 2011, iiO's second studio album and final project, Exit 110, was released, featuring Ali on vocals.[9] Speaking of the album, Ali explained that she had no involvement in it except her vocals and lyrics from nearly ten years ago being used for the project.[10] She described it as "interesting" that there was new work featuring her being released by iiO when she had neither worked with or been in contact with Moser since she left iiO and was completely focused on her solo career.[1][11] When asked further if the dissolution of the duo was amicable, she refused to comment further.[11] Moser, on the other hand, said he decided to use material Ali had recorded before she left iiO to release a new album due to a demand by fans.[12]

Discography

Studio albums

• 2005 Poetica – Top Electronic Albums number 17[7]
• 2011 Exit 110

Remix albums

• 2007 Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed
• 2011 American Ambient

Compilations

• 2008 Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition
• 2011 Frank Bailey vs iiO Remastered

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions						Album
		US [6]	US Dance [6]	AUS [13]	DEN [14]	FIN [15]	UK [5]
2001	"Rapture"	46	2	3	10	12	2	Poetica
2002	"At the End"	—	41	53	16	13	20
2003	"Smooth"	—	—	—	—	2	—
2004	"Runaway"	—	—	—	—	4	—
2005	"Kiss You"	—	3	—	—	5	—
2006	"Is It Love?"	—	1	—	—	20	—
2007	"Rapture 2007"	—	3	—	—	—	—	Reconstruction Time
2010	"At the End (Metropolitan Mix)"	—	—	—	—	—	—	non-album single
2011	"It'll Be Like"	—	—	—	—	—	—	Exit 110

References

1. "Behind the Voice: Nadia Ali". Armada Music. July 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
2. "iiO Biography & Awards". Billboard.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
3. Ali, Nadia (Oct 4, 2007). "About Nadia – Nadia Ali's Blog". Myspace. Myspace Inc. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
4. Ali, Nadia (November 12, 2009). "The Rapturous Voice of iiO - Nadia Ali". Hump Day Crew (Interview). Interviewed by Adz. Melbourne, Australia: Joy94.9.
5. "UK Charts > iiO". The Official UK Charts Company. The British Recorded Music Industry and Entertainment Retailers Association. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
6. "iiO- singles". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
7. "iiO - Albums". Billboard charts. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
8. "Poetica- iiO - Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
9. Allen, Jim (April 12, 2011). "iiO Bows out with Exit 110". BigShot. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
10. Nihal, Mariam (October 5, 2011). "Living a Fantasy with Nadia Ali". Arab News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
11. Ali, Nadia (November 12, 2011). "Nadia Ali Interview". Sat Night House Party (Interview). Tampa, Florida: 93.3 FLZ Tampa. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
12. "Grammy Nominated Nadia Ali Follows Up with Own New iiO Album Exit 110" (PDF) (Press release). Rock 'n' Retail. April 22, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
13. Chart Positions in Australia
    • "iiO in Australian charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
    • "ARIA Report 666" (PDF). Retrieved April 5, 2012.
14. "iiO in Danish charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
15. "iiO in Finnish charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2011.

External links

• Interview with Markus Moser, HitQuarters, May 15, 2003