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Malik Harris is the guy who is going to represent Germany this year. The 24-year old son of the US ex-showmaster Ricky Harris grew up in Issing near Vilgertshofen near Landsberg am Lech. His paternal grandfather was an opera singer, his maternal grandmother was a pianist, and his father played numerous musical instruments. His first singles “Say the Name” (2018) and “Welcome to the Rumble” (2019) became hits in the airplay charts and on streaming platforms such as Spotify. Malik Harris was the first German artist to be seen on a Times Square billboard in New York City for a week when his single “When We’ve Arrived” was released in October 2020. Our reporter Kal managed to elicit statements from Malik about the staging. “The setting is going to be intimate, very close, very raw”. Why? Watch the video and you’ll know it!

Emma Muscat will perform for Malta in the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2016 she released her first single “Alone” on her YouTube channel and later in 2017 she released her second single “Without You”. In 2018 she released her first EP. A year later, her first official single was released, “Avec moi”, featuring singer Biondo. In 2020 followed the hit “Sangria”, a duet with the Italian rapper Astol. Our reporter Kal spoke to Emma; of course he asked her why she traded in the winning song from the Maltese final. Many people can relate to “I am what I am,” she explains, making more comparisons between the two songs in the meantime. Which of the two does she like best? That’s what she tells in this video… or not?

The UK is back! Sam Ryder is the favorite of many people. Although he started as a session musician in 2009, his real breakthrough came thanks to Corona: during the first lockdown he started posting songs on TikTok. He quickly became the most watched singer on the platform. Our reporter Kal Engels talks to him about his childhood, about the song (I wrote it in about ten minutes) and about his and others’ expectations for the UK. So watch!  

LPS betekent Last Pizza Slice. Het is de band die dit jaar Slovenië vertegenwoordigt op het Eurovisie Songfestival. De band zal in de eerste halve finale optreden. LPS was een schoolband, opgericht in 2018. De doorbraak kwam voor de leden Filip, Gašper, Mark, Zala en Žiga pas heel recent: ze namen deel aan EMA Freš, de voorselectie voor de Sloveense nationale finale, uitsluitend met jong aanstormend talent. Onze reporter Kal sprak daarover met ze. “We didn’t expect it. Every time we went through, we thought: this is it.”, aldus de leden van de band. Die vertelden hoe ze aan de naam Last Pizza Slice gekomen waren, maar ook hoe ze in de muziek terecht gekomen zijn. Alle reden dus om snel te kijken!

S10 is the participant from the Netherlands. She will be featured in the first semifinal. S10 is actually called Stien Den Hollander. She made her first EPs in 2017 (Antipsychotica) and 2018 (Lithium). The titles say it all: she wrote lyrics about her own mental illness. The lyrics are therefore very personal. In the meantime she made two albums and scored a big hit, the song “Adem je in”. S10 is the first candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2010 to sing in Dutch. Our reporter Kal spoke to her. She told her about the lyrics of the song, gave her fans some advice (Party with your own identity! Who are you, what kind of clothes do I wanna wear, how do I wanna smell, you have to make a party in your own head!). But she has a lot more to say. Take a quick look at the video!

In the 2nd semifinal we will see and hear Ochman. He will represent Poland with “River”. His full name is Krystian Ochman, but he only uses his last name in Turin. Ochman was born in Melrose, Massachusetts. His parents were of Polish descent. After graduating from high school, Ochman moved to Katowice in Poland. Two years ago he won The Voice of Poland. His first single “Światłocienie” became an instant hit. Our reporter Kal spoke to him. The conversation was mainly about the preparties, what he will be doing in Turin (I’ll get a tan and if I get the change I want to see a football match of Juventus). In addition, Kal tries to elicit something from him about the staging. If he succeeds? See for yourself…

“Being an artist is not like a regular job. It’s really like you put your heart in it. It’s a little bit like living at the risk all the time,” says Lauri Ylönen, lead singer of The Rasmus. And you probably know that band. Because they are probably the most famous candidates in Turin. They have been around since 1994, but it took almost ten years before they had their international breakthrough. Their first and biggest international hit was “In the shadows” from their also successful album “Dead letters”. Our reporter Kal spoke to the foursome. They tell him that they are different from all the others and want to show that on stage. They also tell you what “Jezebel” is about and that the riff of the song has been on the shelf for a while. Kal also pays special attention to Emilia Suhonen: she is new to the band. Oh yes, and they also talked about… well, see for yourself.

The Moldovan group Zdob și Zdub already represents their country in the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time. In 2005 they finished in sixth place, and also reached the final in 2011. However, Zdob și Zdub has been around for much longer, since 1994. In the beginning they sang in Russian, but in the late 90s they started singing in Romanian. Frații Advahov are two brothers; one plays the violin and the other accordion. They accompany Zdob și Zdub. We spoke to them last Saturday before Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam. “Eurovision is not a competition, it’s like the biggest festival of music, of friendship,” says singer Roman Yagupov. He tells our reporter why the group is participating for a third time. He also explains what the song is about. And, oh yes, what about a possible entry for Romania? So watch the interview!

Andrei-Ionuț Ursu, better known as WRS, will represent Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest. He will perform during the second semifinal. WRS was initially primarily a dancer. In 2015 he started his musical career in the boy band Shot. After two years he left the group to move to London, where he started composing music. WRS’ debut single Why was released in January 2020. WRS performed at Eurovision In Concert last Saturday. That was a great opportunity for our raging reporter Kal to ask him some questions. “My body is my instrument”, he explains about his dancing skills. But he also reveals something special about his tattoos. And why does he sing in Spanish? Take a quick look at the interview, and you’ll find out all about it.