Katerine Avgoustakis

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Katerine

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristofsaelen/307766615/]
Img_capt = "Katerine"
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Katerine Avgoustakis
Born = birth date|1983|9|16|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Limburg
Genre = Pop, dance
Years_active = 2005–present
Label = Universal
URL = [http://www.katerinemusic.com Official website] nl icon/en icon

Katerine Avgoustakis (September 16, 1983) is a solo singer and was the winner of the 2005 "Star Academy" show in Belgium, similar to "American Idol" in the United States.

Biography

Avgoustakis was born on September 16, 1983, to a Greek father and a Belgian mother, who passed away in 2005, at 54 years old, after a long struggle with liver cancer. Currently, she lives in Maasmechelen. Avgoustakis used to be a beauty specialist and before that a saleswoman. During the third quarter of 2005, it was announced that Avgoustakis had been dating Pim Symoens, who was #4 in "Star Academy" and who also works for JIMtv, a popular Flemish music channel.

Katerine plays the piano and used to be in a choir. Also she was a member of her first band Indiana, with whom she participated with for Eurovision Song Contest a couple of years ago, with the song "Imitation Love".

Due the failure of Indiana, she entered "Star Academy" in Flanders. In 2005, she worked her way to the finale and won the contest and a record contract with the international record company Universal Records. Avgoustakis's debut single "New Day", released in July 2005 in Belgium, peaked at #2 in the Belgian UltraTop 50 chart. "New Day" was written and produced by Regi Penxten & Filip Vandueren, the team behind Milk Inc. Three months later, she received the TMF Flanders award for "Best New National Artist" for the song. Also the song was certified gold in Belgium. Her self-named debut album "Katerine" was released on November 14, 2005 in Belgium. The album is to be released in May in the Netherlands. Due the 'unexpected' sudden death of her mother, her second single, "Here Come All the Boys", was delayed to be released in October 2005. This is the first single she also released in the Netherlands, that peaked at #89 in the Dutch Mega Singles Top 100. The song is also featured on the hits compilation "HitBox", which was released on March 13, 2006, containing hits like Ricky Martin's "I Don't Care", Rihanna's "If It's Lovin' That You Want" and the Michael Jackson cover "Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)" by Hi_Tack.

In 2006 Katerine was nominated for 3 TMF Awards: Best pop music national, best female artist national and best music video national. She won best pop music and best female artist, the award best musicvideo national was going to Nailpin, a belgium rock band.

Katerine also won the first Belgian pre-selection for Eurosong 2006 on January 8, 2006 with the song "Watch Me Move". Because of this, she was sure to have a place in the pre-finale rounds, however the judges thought her voice wasn't powerful enough to win.

The third single from her album "Katerine", "Take Me Home", was released on April 4 2006 in Belgium, with "Watch Me Move" as B-side. The next single "Catfight" was a quick follow-up and both "Take Me Home" and "Catfight" had a very strong video.

In 2007 Katerine was asked for the Belgian TV Program "Sterren op het Ijs" (a Belgian version of Stars on Ice), an opportunity she gladly accepted. She even made it to the final, but came in second. After Dean Delannoit, the Winner of 'Idool 2007' of that year.

In May 2007, she released another single, "Live Wire", which had her first 'computer animated' video and a couple of months later she introduced "Don't put it on Me", both hits didn't reach high ends in the charts. They were both previews of her upcoming new album. After these two singles Katerine and her Record Label reached a 'hiatus' and wanted to go in different directions. They did. Katerine then agreed on a new Record Deal with 'Mostiko'. They shared the same vision, which led to her lates single: 'Shut Your Mouth', a completely different sound, that received mixed critics. Still the single was a big succes. In it's first week the single already peeked at n° 3 in the 'Ultratop 50'.

Katerine and her new Record Label have been approached by several countries over the last months, that showed their interest in her new Album. Negotiations are in progress. This could probably mean an international breakthrough for Katerine.

Discography

Albums

*Belgium has two official hit parades: :*The "UltraTop 50" is a chart which featured both Belgian as International singles and albums.:*The "Belgian Top 20" is a chart which featured albums and singles by only Belgian artists.
*The album peaked at #86 in the "Belgium UltraTop 50 Albums Year End Chart" and #27 in the "Belgian Top 50 Albums" Year End chart.

ingles

* All regularly Singles and their chart peak position: Belgium (BE), Netherlands (NED)

°Don't Put It On Me: peak #4 (ultratip only)

External links

* [http://www.katerinemusic.com Official website] (videos, Music, photos or contact) nl icon/en icon