User:Monsterofain/Fantazia (band)

Fantazia
OriginArad, Romania
GenresAlternative metal
Years active2014–2023
Past members
  • Arthur Horeanu
  • Andrei Jipa
  • Radu Ungur
  • Robert Urban
  • Sergiu Nădăban
  • Eric Ștesco
  • Richard Tóth
  • Florina Olar
  • Camelia Todor
  • Anda Gheorghiță
  • Codrin Drăgoi

Fantazia was a Romanian alternative metal band from Arad. Formed in February 2014 at the local "Children's Palace", it started as the youngest band in the country at the time. The original line-up consisted of 9-year-old lead vocalist and keyboardist Arthur Horeanu, alongside 11-year-olds guitarist Andrei Jipa, bassist Robert Urban, and drummer Radu Ungur.

The band rose to national prominence after participating in the television show Next Star, being dubbed "Romania's marvellous youngsters". Fantazia achieved further recognition by performing at established music festivals such as Artmania in 2016 and Revolution in 2017, while the music video for their promotional single "Labirint" ("Labyrinth") won the Metalhead Award for Best Romanian Metal Video of 2016. Despite teasing a ten-track album, the project never materialized.

Following line-up changes, the late 2017 departure of Horeanu (who went on to establish Arthur in Neverland in 2018), Jipa joining Dragoș Moldovan's backing band in 2020, and drummer Eric Ștesco forming Ribozom in 2021, the group struggled to maintain its prior level of popularity. Their 2023 swan song performance featured Jipa as the last remaining original member. Fantazia's enduring legacy lies in their role as pioneers of Romanian (pre)-teen rock and metal, paving the way for similar acts to achieve greater visibility beyond school events and small town underground circuits.

Members

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