IiO
Encyclopedia
iiO was a New York City
-based house music
act composed of singer-songwriter
Nadia Ali
and producer Markus Moser. The group gained prominence for its 2001 single "Rapture
", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart
and 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 Billboard's Top Electronic Albums
Chart.
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 Billboard's 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.
was working in the New York offices of Versace
, when a co-worker introduced her to producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his productions for a girl group
. 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. They later dropped the "va", on the advice of their label, to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony. 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. The song was a hit charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
and Billboard's
Hot Dance Club Play
Chart. The song was remixed by prominent DJs and producers including 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. The release of the album was timed with the dissolution of iiO with Ali leaving to pursue a solo career. Meanwhile, Moser continued to released 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 Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition.
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. 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. In interviews, she said she had not been in contact with Moser since she left iiO and was completely focussed on her solo career. When asked further if the dissolution of the duo was amicable, she refused to comment further. 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.
Remix Albums
Compilations
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
act composed of singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Nadia Ali
Nadia Ali
Nadia Ali is a Pakistani-American singer-songwriter, born in Libya and raised in Queens, New York. She gained attention as the frontwoman and songwriter of the band iiO, after their 2001 hit "Rapture" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted across several countries in Europe...
and producer Markus Moser. The group gained prominence for its 2001 single "Rapture
Rapture (iiO song)
"Rapture" is the first single the New York-based dance music duo iiO. Released in 2001, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached the top-ten in six other countries and charted in several other countries. The song also became a dance floor hit in the United States reaching number two on...
", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. Following the success of "Rapture", iiO released several singles and the studio album Poetica
Poetica
Poetica is a 2005 album by the New York City based house music act iiO.The album was delayed a couple of times, and released in March 2005, and June 2006 worldwide. It includes six singles, of which four were released before the album . "Kiss You" was released alongside the album, and "Is it Love"...
in 2005. The album reached number 17 on Billboard's Top Electronic Albums
Top Electronic Albums
Dance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
Chart.
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?
Is It Love?
"Is It Love?" is the sixth single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on October 21, 2006.-Track listing:...
that reached number one on Billboard's 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
A 17-year old Nadia AliNadia Ali
Nadia Ali is a Pakistani-American singer-songwriter, born in Libya and raised in Queens, New York. She gained attention as the frontwoman and songwriter of the band iiO, after their 2001 hit "Rapture" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted across several countries in Europe...
was working in the New York offices of Versace
Versace
Gianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
, when a co-worker introduced her to producer Markus Moser, who was looking for a female singer to collaborate on some of his productions for a girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
. The two teamed up and started a group that was originally named "Vaiio", named after the Sony VAIO
VAIO
VAIO is a sub-brand used for many of Sony's computer products. Originally an acronym of Video Audio Integrated Operation, this was amended to Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer in 2008 to celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary...
laptop Ali used to write lyrics on. They later dropped the "va", on the advice of their label, to avoid causing problems in the future with Sony. Working with Moser, she wrote the lyrics and the vocals for the songs. Their first release was the 2001 single "Rapture
Rapture (iiO song)
"Rapture" is the first single the New York-based dance music duo iiO. Released in 2001, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached the top-ten in six other countries and charted in several other countries. The song also became a dance floor hit in the United States reaching number two on...
", a song Ali wrote in 30 minutes based on a relationship with an Australian man she met in a nightclub. The song was a hit charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
Chart. The song was remixed by prominent DJs and producers including Paul Van Dyk
Paul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
, John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K
John Creamer & Stephane K are international DJs, and as a duo, a New York City-based electronic music and house music production team. They are perhaps best known for creating original dance singles as well as dance remixes for artists such as iiO, Moby, New Order, Rosko and Sinéad O'Connor.-...
, Armin Van Buuren and Deep Dish
Deep Dish
Deep Dish is a duo of DJs and house-music producers consisting of Iranian-American members Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. Based in Washington, D.C., Shirazinia and Tayebi are well known for providing house or dance remixes of tracks of famous stars such as Madonna, Cher and Gabrielle,...
.
"Rapture" was followed by "At the End
At The End
"At the End" is the 2nd single by New York house band iiO. It was released on October 22, 2002.-Official Remixes:* At the End * At the End * At the End...
" in 2002. The duo subsequently released "Smooth
Smooth (iiO song)
"Smooth" is the third single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* at discogs...
" in 2003, "Runaway
Runaway (iiO song)
*Maxi CD 2-Charts:-External links:* at Discogs...
" in 2004 and "Kiss You
Kiss You
"Kiss You" is the fifth single by New York house band iiO. It was released in 2005 and timed with the release of the band's debut album Poetica.-Track listing:-Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed:...
" in 2005. Their first studio album, Poetica
Poetica
Poetica is a 2005 album by the New York City based house music act iiO.The album was delayed a couple of times, and released in March 2005, and June 2006 worldwide. It includes six singles, of which four were released before the album . "Kiss You" was released alongside the album, and "Is it Love"...
was released in 2005 by Made Records. The release of the album was timed with the dissolution of iiO with Ali leaving to pursue a solo career. Meanwhile, Moser continued to released material featuring her on the vocals. These included the 2006 number one Billboard Hot Dance Club Play single "Is It Love?
Is It Love?
"Is It Love?" is the sixth single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on October 21, 2006.-Track listing:...
", the 2007 remix album Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed
Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed
Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed is a 2007 release by the group iiO. As the title implies, the album is a collection of remixes of the group's singles as well as a few other songs from the album Poetica.-Track listing:...
, and the 2008 compilation Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition.
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. 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. In interviews, she said she had not been in contact with Moser since she left iiO and was completely focussed on her solo career. When asked further if the dissolution of the duo was amicable, she refused to comment further. 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.
Discography
Studio Albums- 2005 PoeticaPoeticaPoetica is a 2005 album by the New York City based house music act iiO.The album was delayed a couple of times, and released in March 2005, and June 2006 worldwide. It includes six singles, of which four were released before the album . "Kiss You" was released alongside the album, and "Is it Love"...
- Top Electronic AlbumsTop Electronic AlbumsDance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
number 17 - 2011 Exit 110
Remix Albums
- 2007 Reconstruction Time: The Best of iiO RemixedReconstruction Time: The Best of iiO RemixedReconstruction Time: The Best of iiO Remixed is a 2007 release by the group iiO. As the title implies, the album is a collection of remixes of the group's singles as well as a few other songs from the album Poetica.-Track listing:...
Compilations
- 2008 Rapture Reconstruction: Platinum Edition
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
U.S. Dance Airplay Hot Dance Airplay Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it... |
AUS |
DEN |
FIN |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 2002 | "Rapture Rapture (iiO song) "Rapture" is the first single the New York-based dance music duo iiO. Released in 2001, reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, reached the top-ten in six other countries and charted in several other countries. The song also became a dance floor hit in the United States reaching number two on... " |
46 | 2 | — | 3 | 10 | 12 | 2 | Poetica |
| "At the End At The End "At the End" is the 2nd single by New York house band iiO. It was released on October 22, 2002.-Official Remixes:* At the End * At the End * At the End... " |
— | 41 | — | — | 16 | 13 | 20 | ||
| 2003 | "Smooth Smooth (iiO song) "Smooth" is the third single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica.-Track listing:-Charts:-External links:* at discogs... " |
— | — | 23 | — | — | 2 | — | |
| 2004 | "Runaway Runaway (iiO song) *Maxi CD 2-Charts:-External links:* at Discogs... " |
— | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | |
| 2005 | "Kiss You Kiss You "Kiss You" is the fifth single by New York house band iiO. It was released in 2005 and timed with the release of the band's debut album Poetica.-Track listing:-Queen of Clubs Trilogy: The Best of Nadia Ali Remixed:... " |
— | 3 | 11 | — | — | 5 | — | |
| 2006 | "Is It Love? Is It Love? "Is It Love?" is the sixth single released from iiO's debut album, Poetica. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart on October 21, 2006.-Track listing:... " |
— | 1 | 6 | — | — | 20 | — | |
| 2007 | "Rapture 2007" | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | Reconstruction Time |
| 2010 | "At the End (Metropolitan Mix)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | non-album single |
| 2011 | "It'll Be Like" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Exit 110 |