Anna Oxa stage name of Iliriana Hoxha (28 April 1961) is an Italian singer, actress and television presenter of Albanian origin, well-known through her numerous appearances in the Italian National Sanremo Music Festival. Oxa, known as "la Voce e il Cuore" (the Voice and the Heart), debuted with a song called "Fiorellin del Prato" at the age of 15. Two years later, the promising singer came in second place after participating in the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival with "Una Emozione da Poco." In 1989 with "Ti Lascerò", a duet with Fausto Leali, she came in first place and then did the same again ten years later with "Senza pietà".In the local film industry, Anna Oxa had the opportunity to play a main role for the first time in the movie "Maschio, Femina, Fiore, Frutto" directed by Ruggero Miti.

After issuing her debut album, called Oxanna, the young Italian pop artist recorded Anna Oxa, including a successful version of Patti Smith's "Because the Night." In 1982, Anna Oxa left RCA and signed up with CBS before releasing her breakthrough album, Per Sognare, Per Cantare, Per Ballare, featuring the hit single "Senza di Me" (Without Me).