Andrei Velcu (born 2 December 1990), known by the stage name Tzanca Uraganul or Țancă de la Ploiești, is a Romanian manele singer of romani origin.
Early life
Andrei Velcu was born on 2 December 1990 in Ploiești, Romania, where he lived and studied as a child.[1] He attended high school until the 10th grade, later wanting to pursue a career in football. Influenced by his brother, Velcu gave up his ambition to become a footballer and chose a career in music. After several years in the band of Florin Salam, Velcu achieves an initial success as a solo artist with the song "Dale Dale" in 2012. The nickname "Țancă" was given to him by his mother.[2]
Career
Andrei Velcu made his debut in music under the stage name "Tzanca de la Ploiești". He changed his stage name to "Tzancă Uraganul" after Nicolae Guță called him "the hurricane of music" (in Romanian "uraganul muzicii") in the video for the song "Through water and fire I passed" ("Prin apă și foc am trecut") in 2014.[3]
However, Tzancă's success came later, after associating with the producer Nek Music, his songs garnering millions of views on YouTube and other music streaming platforms. Tzancă's musical style was influenced by fiddle, manele of the 1990s and 2000s, but also by trap music.[4] Tzancă reached the first place in the Billboard chart for Romanian music in March 2022 with the song "Take me off the block."[5]
Personal life
Velcu's brother is also a singer, performing under the name "Miraj Tzunami". He has two children: Anaisa, born 2018, and Andreas, born 2022.[6] Anaisa Velcu was baptized by Florin Salam and his partner.
Tzanca confirmed that he had problems with drug use, but that he gave up substance use after 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic he experienced episodes of anxiety, which he overcame with the help of psychotherapy services. Velcu also mentioned that the pandemic period meant more time spent with his daughter, Anaisa.[7]