{{short description|Moldovan singer, songwriter, and lyricist (born in 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = The Motans | image = The Motans in 2018.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = The Motans in 2018 | caption = The Motans in 2018, during the filming of a music video | birth_name = Denis Roabeș | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|08|02|df=yes}} | birth_place = Moldova | education = | occupation = {{Flatlist| * singer * songwriter * lyricist}} | years_active = 2015–present | works = | awards = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | genre = Alternative pop • R&B • pop • hip hop • rock | label = Global | associated_acts = Delia, Inna, Irina Rimes | website = {{URL|https://themotans.com/}} {{Infobox | child = yes | header = Logo | headerstyle = | background = #b0c4de | data1 = 250px }} }} }}
'''Denis Roabeș''', better known as '''The Motans''', is a Moldovan singer, songwriter, and lyricist.
== Life and career == === 1989–2014 === Denis Roabeș was born on 2 August 1989, in the Republic of Moldova. After graduating from high school, he moved to Moscow, where he lived and worked as a marketing and sales specialist for three years.<ref name="virgin">{{cite web|title=The Motans|trans-title=The Motans|url=https://virginradio.ro/artist/the-motans/|access-date=14 December 2021|publisher=Virgin Radio Romania|language=ro|date=14 December 2021}}</ref> In 2014, Roabeș returned to Moldova because he understood that marketing is not what he wanted to do in life.<ref>{{cite web|title="The Motans" ies la lumină. Cine este enigmaticul solist al proiectului?|trans-title="The Motans" come to light. Who is the enigmatic soloist of the project?|url=https://diez.md/2016/11/16/video-motans-ies-la-lumina-cine-este-enigmaticul-solist-al-proiectului/|access-date=16 November 2016|website=Diez.md|language=ro|date=16 November 2016}}</ref>
His stage name has its origins in the artist's dreams. Before starting his music career, Roabeș only dreamed of tomcats and cats every night for seven years. When he began singing, these dreams disappeared, which prompted him to choose the name "The Motans".<ref name="virgin"/>
=== 2015–2018 === After releasing the song "Versus" in August 2016, The Motans came to the attention of Romanian vlogger Matei Dima. He contacted the artist and helped him launch and promote himself in Romania.<ref name="ok">{{cite web|title=INTERVIU cu Denis Roabeș, artistul The Motans: "M-am străduit să-mi trăiesc viața din plin"|trans-title=Interview with Denis Roabeș, the artist The Motans: "I tried to live my life to the fullest"|url=https://okmagazine.ro/interviu-cu-denis-roabes-artistul-the-motans-m-am-straduit-sa-mi-traiesc-viata-din-plin/a19010606|access-date=22 May 2019|magazine=OK! Magazine|language=ro|author=Loredana, Sima|date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
The Motans returned with a new single in early 2017. The song "Weekend" was made in collaboration with Delia.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Motans dă lovitura cu Delia! Piesa lor are sute de mii de vizualizări în câteva ore|trans-title=The Motans hits with Delia! Their song has hundreds of thousands of views in a matter of hours|url=https://click.ro/vedete/vedete-romanesti/the-motans-da-lovitura-cu-delia-piesa-lor-are-98877.html|access-date=26 February 2017|newspaper=Click!|language=ro|date=26 February 2017}}</ref>
On 1 September 2018, The Motans gave a recital at the Gala of the Golden Stag Festival in Brașov.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cerbul de Aur/ Denis Roabeș (The Motans): Să știi ce-ți dorești de la viață - tot ce contează|trans-title=The Golden Stag/ Denis Roabeș (The Motans): Know what you want from life - all that matters|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/cultura/2018/09/01/cerbul-de-aur-denis-roabes-the-motans-sa-stii-ce-ti-doresti-de-la-viata-tot-ce-conteaza--169090|access-date=1 September 2018|website=AGERPRES|language=ro|date=1 September 2018}}</ref> left|thumb|The Motans on stage at The Artist Awards 2021
=== 2019–2021 === In 2019, The Motans won three awards at The Artist Awards (an annual music event held in Romania): YouTube Award, Best Song ("Poem" with Irina Rimes), and Best Collaboration (once again, "Poem" with Irina Rimes).<ref>{{cite web|title=Cum a fost la prima ediție The Artist Awards și cine sunt artiștii care au luat cele mai multe premii|trans-title=How it was at the first edition of The Artist Awards and who are the artists who won the most awards|url=https://www.unsitedemuzica.ro/special/Cum-a-fost-la-prima-editie-The-Artist-Awards-si-cine-sunt-artistii-care-au-luat-cele-mai-multe-premii-p8465|access-date=14 October 2019|website=Unsitedemuzica.ro|language=ro|author=Silvia, Trașcă|date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lista completă a marilor câștigători The Artist Awards. Inna și Delia au dominat serile de la Craiova|trans-title=The complete list of the big winners of The Artist Awards. Inna and Delia dominated the evenings in Craiova|url=https://click.ro/vedete/vedete-romanesti/lista-completa-a-marilor-castigatori-the-artist-38241.html|access-date=13 October 2019|newspaper=Click!|language=ro|date=13 October 2019}}</ref>
thumb|upright=0.7|The Motans on stage at West Side Christmas Market (Bucharest, 2023)|alt=Denis Roabeș singing at the 2023 edition of West Side Christmas Market (in Bucharest) The Motans' second album was ''My Rhythm & Soul''. The 12-track album was released on 13 August 2020, by Global and includes the hit song "Poem" (a collaboration with Irina Rimes) and the song "Saint Loneliness" (an atypical track featuring the band Marea Neagră).<ref name="Raluca, Chirilă">{{cite web|title=The Motans lansează albumul "My Rhythm & Soul", o colecție de piese ce "vorbesc de la sine"|trans-title=The Motans release "My Rhythm & Soul" album, a collection of "self-talk" songs|url=https://www.infomusic.ro/2020/08/the-motans-album-my-rhythm-soul-piese/|access-date=13 August 2020|website=infomusic.ro|language=ro|author=Raluca, Chirilă|date=13 August 2020}}</ref> All songs were composed by The Motans and produced by Alex Cotoi, Viky Red, Marcel Botezan & Sebastian Barac, Vlad Lucan, Vladimir Coman, and Achi Petre.<ref name="Raluca, Chirilă"/>
In October 2020, The Motans and Emaa released the song "Insula".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/ro/album/insula/1535209665?i=1535209674|title=Insula - Single by The Motans and EMAA|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref>
In 2021, The Motans won the award for Best Live Act at The Artist Awards (organized by Big Events in partnership with the Romanian Opera Craiova).<ref>{{cite web|title=Câștigătorii The Artist Awards 2021 - Lista completă|trans-title=Winners of The Artist Awards 2021 - Complete list|url=https://www.infomusic.ro/2021/09/castigatori-the-artist-awards-2021-lista-completa/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=infomusic.ro|language=ro|author=Raluca, Chirilă|date=21 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cei mai apreciați artiști români au cucerit scena The Artist Awards de la Craiova. Lista completă a câștigătorilor|trans-title=The most appreciated Romanian artists conquered the stage of The Artist Awards in Craiova. Complete list of winners|url=https://www.protv.ro/muzica/cei-mai-apreciati-artisti-romani-au-cucerit-scena-the-artist-awards-de-la-craiova-lista-completa-a-castigatorilor.html|access-date=20 September 2021|website=Pro TV|language=ro|author=Gabriela, Boerescu|date=20 September 2021}}</ref>
=== 2022 === In June 2022, he was announced as one of the four coaches of season 10 of ''Vocea României''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stamen|first=Diana|date=20 June 2022|title=Cine sunt antrenorii de la "Vocea României", sezonul 10. Nume-surpriză pentru telespectatori|trans-title=Who are the coaches from "Vocea României", season 10. Surprise names for the viewers|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/cine-sunt-antrenorii-de-la-vocea-romaniei-sezonul-10-4183241|access-date=4 January 2023|newspaper=Libertatea|language=ro}}</ref>
=== 2023 === In December 2023, The Motans was one of the singers going on stage at West Side Christmas Market, a Christmas market held in Sector 6, Bucharest.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ilicea|first=Florina|date=19 December 2023|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/bucuresti/the-motans-vunk-si-minelli-canta-la-west-side-2325425.html|title=The Motans, Vunk și Minelli cântă la West Side Christmas Market. Program special de Crăciun|language=ro|trans-title=The Motans, Vunk and Minelli perform at the West Side Christmas Market. Special Christmas program|newspaper=Adevărul|access-date=22 December 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222012432/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/bucuresti/the-motans-vunk-si-minelli-canta-la-west-side-2325425.html|archive-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>
== Discography == === Singles === *'''2017''' ** "Weekend" (with Delia) ** "Fifty-Fifty" ** "1000 RPM" ** "Versus" ** "August" ** "Nota de plată" (with Inna) ** "Friend Zone" ** "Lilith" (with Keed) *'''2018''' ** "Drama Queen" ** "Jackpot" ** "Mr. Tort" ** "Pentru Că" (with Inna) ** "Subtitre" (alt DJ featuring The Motans) ** "Cel mai bun DJ" (with Irina Rimes) ** "Înainte să ne fi născut" ** "Maraton" ** "Saint Loneliness" (with Marea Neagră) *'''2019''' ** "Poem" (with Irina Rimes) ** "Valuri Mari" ** "Bine Indispus" *'''2020''' ** "Din trecut" (with Alina Eremia) ** "Ani lumină" ** "Cel Din Oglinda" ** "Astrologic Vorbind" ** "Insula" (with Emaa) ** "Sigur" *'''2021''' ** "Povestea unui naufragiat" ** "Vara în care m-ai găsit" (with PAX) ** "Copiii care au visat greșit" ** "A mea" ** "La Nesfârșit" *'''2022''' ** "Tare" (with Inna) ** "Gata de zbor" (with Irina Rimes)
=== Albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |- ! scope="row" | ''My Gorgeous Drama Queens'' | * Released: 28 February 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-gorgeous-drama-queens/1353869704|title=My Gorgeous Drama Queens – Album by The Motans|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> * Label: Global * Format: CD, Digital download |- ! scope="row" | ''My Rhythm & Soul'' | * Released: 13 August 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-rhythm-soul/1527167276|title=My Rhythm & Soul – Album by The Motans|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=13 August 2020}}</ref> * Label: Global * Format: CD, Digital download |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{sister project links|wikt=no|b=no|q=no|s=no|commons=Category:The_Motans|n=no|v=no|species=no|d=Q34180018}} * [https://themotans.com/ TheMotans.com] – Official website * {{Discogs artist|artist=6178283-The-Motans}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Motans, The}} Category:1989 births Category:21st-century Romanian male singers Category:Global Records artists Category:Living people Category:Music of Romania