Conekt is a very famous, controversed, romanian music band. Not much has been written about it, instead, many have been said.



July 2005 – Conekt signs with Music Media Line Records, a label established in order to avoid the necessary compromises needed in any other Romanian record label. With Mihai Dragoianu’s help, their manager that is, they got in touch with Peter Vosseler – Music Media Line manager, and also director of IFPI Schweiz (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry). This also explains their promotion in other countries, distuinguishable from the one made in Romania – where they were only promoted on two music channels.


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== Conekt - members == :


Miruna Manescu (Icey)

Date/Place of birth: March 14th, 1989 (pisces), Petrosani.

She started taking canto lessons since she was only 8, at her mom’s advice – completely conscience of her daughter’s potential, always supporting her. Ever since, she participated in countless music festivals, winning each and every time the best voice award. She moved to Bucharest one year before she graduated primary school, in the same school M-Boy and Mikey attended.


Mihai Ristea (M-Boy)

Date/Place of birth: January 18th, 1989 (capricorn), Bucharest.

He had his first ‘show-biz’ contact in kindergarten, hardly in the 8th grade challenging his luck in music. He established a hip-hop band with his best friend, based on dancing, though they had few club appearances. Since kid, he used to imitate Michael Jackson’s moves, very well actually, and that is where his good moves come from. In his first higschool year, he was already looking for a feminine voice in order to set up a new musical projcet. As Icey’s voice was already famous, he decided to contact her, and this is Conekt’s first version.


Mihai Lungu (Mikey)

Date/Place of birth: October, 3rd, 1987 (libra), Bucharest.

Mikey started as a dancer, a simple passion, without ever imagining that he's going to build himself a carrer this way. In time, as he progressed in a streetdance crew, he seriously thought at making this hobby a lifestyle. At one of his crew battles, he accidentally met Icey and M-Boy, and they decided to colaborate for this project. They discovered together in time how hard it actually is to create yourself an image, to find the proper persons in order to success. “We worked a lot, but we did it and I just have to thank our labels’ manager, Poter Vosseler, and last - but not least, the one that made it all real, our manager, Smiley.”




Mihai Dragoianu (aka Smiley) – Conekt’s manager, the only one that entirely trusted them and was always there for them. He’s also the one that helped them get in touch with Peter Vosseler (Music Media Line label manager). We could be calling Smiley “the one behind the stage”.





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Conekt – the beginnings
It has been said that Conekt is just another ‘spoiled kids band’, whose video was sponsered by their moms and dads, that will disappear just as fast as they appeared. Otherwise, just a mean comment, without any real base. Until signing their contract with Music Media Line Label, Conekt faced many impediments. First of all, we have to mention the fact that their wanted style – crunk that is – was not even nearly “commercial” enough for the romanian musical stage. They have been instead offered the chance to sing in an etno band… Which, of course, they totally rejected. Their first songs were personally composed in Gabi Mitran’s Omega Sound Studio. Gabi Mitran brought into their attention the fact that it’s going to be very hard to make themselves known with such musical style. At his advice, they did try a lighter, more commercial style, but when passions is lost… no project has chances to survival. Though, TV appareances started, at shows like “Fresh Club” on National TV, “Atentie! Se canta” (on TVR2), freshmen’s proms and other festivals. Old songs like “Take my hand”, “Daca vrei”, “Lumea mea”, “Un gand”, “Nu vreau banii tai” have dinamic rhytms, r’n’b based mostly, in which they approached teenagers matters. Finally, after long searches, forgotten promises and way too many disappointments, they founded the first romanian crunk project, helped by the only one that had faith in them – Mihai Dragoianu (Smiley).





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R’n’B Crunk = Crunk’n’B
So, what is their style about anywayz? Crunk is a specific type of hip-hop music, based out of the southern USA culture (Atlanta especially). It doesn’t involve hip-hop’s countless lyrics, has simple rhymes and distinguishes itself through synthesized instrumentals, “hard”, “not so easy to be digested” for the ones not used to this style. Crunk artists were accused of repeated subjects and beats approaches, but the rhytms are very popular in clubs, not allowing you to refrain from dancing. By extension, crunk also involves a “chill, don’t care what others might say” attitude. It first appeared in the early 90s, but only in 2000 was truly known by Petey Pablo’s song “Freek a Leek”, from “The fast and the furious” movie soundtrack. He was also the first 100% crunk loyal artist. We also have to mention Lil Jon and his Eastside Boyz. Also called “Kings of Crunk”, in 2004 they even launched an energy drink – very popular otherwise – called “Crunk Juice”. Other artists to promote this style are Ying Yang Twins, Ciara, Missy Elliott, Ludacris, David Banner, Chris Brown, Trilville, Lil’Flip, Lil Scrappy, Pitbull, Nick Cannon, Kanye West, Akon, Usher, etc.





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“Prea Periculos” – the album
Conekt’s first radio promoted song was “Un minut”, during the “Rondul de dimineata” from ProFm contest. This song was enthusiastically received by the public, even winning the competition in the end. One remix of it is to be found on the “Prea Periculos” album, named after their first video.

This video was made in the 10-11th September weekend, directed by Bogdan Toader. They shot during those two nights in an abandoned factory (where they also had ‘small’ problems fire related…), and on Sun’s Highway. Video’s launch took place on October 22th, but because this chosen song characterizes best their approached crunk style, Conekt again had to face many problems related to the video. National channels refused to show it, saying it’s too “american-like”. The actual reason is that Conekt was not related to any romanian music label…



This album, launched on December 14th, contains 10 tracks, between an “Intro” and an “Outro”. Conekt had two featurings with hip-hop band Central Squad – at “Prea Periculos” and at “In the club”, a very “danceable” song, with could have also been successfully chosen for their promotion.

A very r’n’b based song is “E minunat”, for which Conekt shot their second video. They are currently promoting it all over the romanian mass-media.



We also find a more romantic composition on the album – “Oare ce-ar fi” – a love song, with a less hard instrumental. “That’s why I love ya” and “Pe 4 roti” (Papy) are also very “danceable” songs, which approach classic subject (such as love, and even cars). These two can also become future club hits, only through promotion.


Album List:

1. Intro 2. E minunat 3. In the Club (feat. Central Squad) 4. That’s Why I Love Ya 5. Prea periculos (feat. Central Squad) 6. Oare de ce ar fi 7. Pe 4 roti 8. Un minu 9. In the Club (feat. Central Squad) (Club Mix) 10. Outro

After their album launch, many concerts, mass-media appearances and shows followed. Conekt was highly promoted in West Europe, in countries like Switzerland, Germany or France. Icey was even contacted by a german director in order to play in a popular german tv series, after he watched the “Prea Periculos” video. She refused though, as she is already bound to many contracts here, in Romania. We just have to mention Conekt’s dancers: Johnny, B-boy and Danny. Together with Icey, Mikey and M-boy, they made a coregraphy for a show, which is theirs entirely. They even have dance practice almost daily… Future plans count a dance school, a national tour, and even establishing a non-guvernamental help organisation for the orphans. “We want to offer them kids medicine, cloths and toys. People don’t only need songs.”

On the 25th August, they are participating at the Mamaia Festival, with a song created only by them, called "Oare".

--Pyuric 20:23, 4 August 2006 (UTC)Pyuric