About
Biography
Eric Papilaya, born on June 9, 1978, in Vöcklabruck, Austria, is an Austrian singer and songwriter known for his dynamic performances and contributions to pop and rock music..
Papilaya began his musical journey in his teenage years, forming the band “Milk” at the age of 15, with which he performed for 13 years. His national breakthrough came in 2003 when he participated in the third season of the Austrian talent show “Starmania,” where he reached the finals and gained significant public attention.​
In 2007, Papilaya was internally selected by the Austrian broadcaster ORF to represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki. He performed the song “Get a Life – Get Alive,” which also served as the official theme for the Life Ball, an annual AIDS charity event in Vienna. Despite a visually striking performance featuring a costume designed by Vivienne Westwood and elaborate staging, the entry did not advance to the final, placing 27th in the semi-final with four points.
Following his Eurovision appearance, Papilaya continued to pursue his music career. He released several singles, including “All I Know” in 2008, “Time to Fly” and “Ready to Move” in 2012, and “I.L.D. Ich liebe dich” in 2013. In 2013, he joined the vocal group “The Rats Are Back,” alongside Norbert Oberhauser, Volker Piesczek, and Pepe Schütz. The group released the album “One Night Only” in 2014 and “Bad Boys” in 2017, featuring original songs primarily in German. ​
Between 2010 and 2012, Papilaya hosted the music show “Music Nuggets” on the Austrian television channel ServusTV. In 2018, he created and co-produced the show “Der Glücksmoment,” which aired on the same channel. In 2022, he took on the role of Malcolm X in the German-language musical “Martin Luther King – Das Chormusical,” touring across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. ​
In 2020, Papilaya released his self-titled solo album, showcasing his versatility as a singer and songwriter. He continued to release singles, including “Butterflies” in 2023. In March 2025, he released the song “Cosmic Love Parade”.
In his personal life, Papilaya married his long-time partner Julia Leonhartmair in 2015; the couple divorced in 2018. In 2022, he married his manager, Melanie Binder, and they welcomed their first child in 2023.
