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Sam Ryder

© EBU About Quick Facts NameSam Ryder Robinson Born25 june 1989 Nationality British National SelectionInternal selection In Eurovision2022 SongSpaceman (2022) Biography Sam Ryder is an English singer, songwriter and social media personality. Ryder was born in Essex, England. He made his debut as a singer in the band The Morning After, which he co-founded. In 2010, he became a member, and later the leadsinger, of the band Blessed By A Broken Heart. The band split up in 2013. With the American rock band Close Your Eyes he released an album. In 2016, Ryder decided to start a solo career. He recorded an album in Nashville with producer Bryan Wilson. However, the album was never released. Ryder went to Hawaii, running a vegan café there. His real breakthrough came when, due to COVID-19, there was a lockdown. In this first lockdown Ryder started to post covers of songs on TikTok. That cought the attention of artists like Justin Bieber, Sia, Elton John and Alicia Keys. He became the most-followed artist from the UK on TikTok. It resulted in a record contract. An EP, “The sun’s gonna Rise” was released, followed by a tour. “The sun’s gonna rise” was streamed no less than a 100 million times. Sam Ryder was chosen by the BBC to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest of 2022. He became 2nd in the contest. Entries Spaceman Country United Kingdom Year2022 LanguageEnglish LyricsSam RyderAmy WadgeMax Wolfgang MusicSam RyderAmy WadgeMax Wolfgang BackingsJay VermaAdam WadeLewie Allan Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 466Position: 2Running order: 22 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ0hqX_92zI

IVAN

© EBU/Yhomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameAlexander Ivanov Born29 October 1994 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongHelp You Fly (2016) Biography Alexander Viktorovich Ivanov, also known by his stage name IVAN, is a Belarusian singer. He was born on October 29, 1994, in Homel, Belarus. At the age of eight, he began studying guitar at a music school. When he was fifteen, he formed a rock band called Brown Velvet where he served as the vocalist and guitarist. He initially enrolled in a linguistic institute but dropped out after two years. In 2009, Ivanov auditioned for the Mass Medium Fest and subsequently moved to St. Petersburg with his band Ivanov. They recorded several songs and he also played the lead role in the musical Romeo and Juliet. In 2013, Ivanov participated in the Russian TV show Bitva Chorov and achieved second place with the St. Petersburg choir conducted by Viktor Drobysh. To avoid confusion with another artist named Alexander Ivanov, he adopted the stage name IVAN, which also symbolizes the Slavic hero Ivan. Ivanov won the Pyat’ zvyozd contest in Yalta in 2014, granting him the opportunity to participate in the Intervision Song Contest 2015, which ultimately did not take place. In 2015, he competed on the Russian TV show Glavnaya stsenа (X-Factor) and secured second place. Following the show, he was mentored by Viktor Drobysh, who became his producer. Their collaboration resulted in Ivanov’s first song, “Krest i ladon’.” In 2016, Ivanov represented Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite initially planning to include live wolves in his performance and appearing naked, these ideas were rejected by the contest organizers. He modified his performance, featuring holographic wolves instead. He did not advance to the final. In the years following Eurovision, Ivanov participated in various concerts, including Viktor Drobysh’s anniversary events, and released new songs with his band IVAN. In 2023, he appeared as a contestant on the TV show Mask as the character Caterpillar. Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ivanov was included in Ukraine’s sanctions list on January 7, 2023. This resulted in asset freezing, suspension of economic and financial obligations, termination of cultural exchanges and cooperation, and the revocation of Ukrainian state awards. Entries Help You Fly Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsAlexander IvanovTimofei LeontievMary Susan Applegate MusicVictor Drobysh BackingsJimmy ClaesonHerman GardarfveAnna IsbäckMelanie My RosasKsenia Pavroz Results Semi Points: 84Position: 12Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/pM07r57QqGg

Michał Szpak

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameMichał Szpak Born26 November 1990 Nationality🇵🇱 Polish National SelectionKrajowe Eliminiacje 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongColor Of My Life (2016) Biography Michał Szpak is a Polish singer. He was born into a family with musical traditions: his father sang in a choir, and his mother sang and played the guitar. At the age of nine, he made his debut on stage at the Culture House in Jasło during a competition for Christmas carols, where he won an award. He then joined the local choir. During his middle school years, he took a three-year break from singing due to voice mutation. During his high school years, he was the vocalist of a heavy metal band called Whiplash, where he performed with his friend Kamil Czapla. He unsuccessfully tried to enter the Vocal Department of the Fryderyk Chopin State Music School in Warsaw. He was rejected due to his appearance and makeup, which was, according to the examiners, it was considered shocking. In the spring of 2011, he auditioned for the first season of the talent show X Factor. His androgynous appearance sparked disapproval and dismissive reactions from the audience during his performance in front of the judges. However, after singing, he received a standing ovation from the audience. In the end, he became the overall runner up in the X Factor. In July of the same year, he opened for Suzanne Vega’s concert in Poland. In the autumn, he participated in the thirteenth edition Taniec z gwiazdami (Dancing with the Stars). At the end of the year, he released his debut studio mini-album titled “XI”. On August 17, 2013, thanks to his performance of the song “Oczy czarne,” he won the Russian Song Festival in Zielona Góra, receiving the Golden Samovar and a check for 50,000 Polish złoty. In April 2015, Michał released the single “Real Hero,” which heralded his debut full-length studio album. On June 12, he released the Polish version of “Real Hero” – “Jesteś bohaterem” (You Are a Hero), with which he won the “SuperPremiery” competition during the 52nd National Festival of Polish Song in Opole on June 13. On October 23, he released the music video for the song “Byle być sobą” (Just to Be Myself), and on November 13, his album titled “Byle być sobą” was released, dedicated to his late mother. The album reached the top position on the official sales chart and achieved double platinum status, selling over 60,000 copies. In December, Michał released the music video for the song “Such Is Life,” which was supposed to be his Eurovision entry sent to Telewizja Polska. Eventually, he entered the national selection with the song “Color of Your Life”and won the national selection, becoming the representative of Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest. He finished in eighth place in the Eurovision Song Contest, getting especially high votes from th televote. In June, he performed at the 53rd National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, where he received the title “SuperArtist of the Year” for the single “Byle być sobą” and won the Grand Prix of Opole for his performance of the song “Jesteś bohaterem”. In the same year he provided the voice for one of the characters in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. In the summer, he embarked on a multi-week concert tour in Baltic cities. In the autumn, he performed at the Eurovision Live Concert in Setúbal, and in October, he gave a concert in Aarhus. In November, he performed at the Rock & Chanson Festival in Cologne, and at a concert in Dublin. From the beginning of 2017, he performed concerts incessantly. In April of that, he gave a concert in Brussels. In addition to outdoor concerts, such as during the Lato z Radiem tour, he embarked on a coastal tour called Color of Your Life. In June, he released the music video for the single “Tic Tac Clock” and was announced as one of the coaches for the eighth season of the TVP2 program The Voice of Poland. On November 25, during the finale of The Voice of Poland, he premiered the song “Don’t Poison Your Heart” in a duet with his protégée, Marta Gałuszewska, who ultimately won the public vote. In 2018, Michał went on a concert tour called Classica Tour, featuring his sister, soprano Marlena Szpak. He also became a coach on the ninth season of The Voice of Poland. On May 14, he released the music video for the single “Dreamer,” the title track from his second studio album. The album was released on May 25 and achieved gold status in Poland. In June, he performed at the Orange Warsaw Festival and the 55th National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, where he received the title “SuperArtist of the Year” for the album “Dreamer”. In the autumn, he went on the Dreamer Tour, performing concerts in Poland and abroad. In February 2020, he participated in the charity event “Siepomaga” in Zielona Góra. In April 2021, he released the single “Soldier of Love”. On May 22, he performed at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, where he received the “MediaTory” award. On November 5, he released the album “NIE” with the singles “Puk Puk” and “Mój Wiatr”. In February 2022, he released the single “Halo Waterfall” , to which a music video was published in April. In the spring, he took part in an advertising campaign for Pantene shampoo. In June, his single “24na7” premiered. In august, he published the single “(dark) Warszawianka”. In 2023, he took part in Prime Video LOL: Who Laughs Last. Entries Color Of My Life Country🇵🇱 Poland Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsKamil Varen MusicAndy Palmer BackingsAdrian AdamskiWeronika JanikOliwia KędzioraEwa LeszczyńskaEwelina Osowska Results Semi Points: 151Position: 6Running order: 2 Results Finals Points: 229Position: 8Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/87BBmxm7IJU

Eyþor Ingi

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameEyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson Born29 May 1989 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppnin 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongÉg Á Lif (2013) Biography Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson (born 29 May 1989 in Dalvik, Iceland) is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and musician. Eyþór Ingi has had a distinguished journey in the world of music and entertainment. His early inclination towards music was evident when, at just 15, he starred in the Icelandic rendition of the musical ‘Oliver!’. A few years later, in 2007, he triumphed in a high school song contest with his rendition of Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers”. 2008 marked another significant win for him on the TV talent show Bandið hans Bubba. He had already started making a mark in the Icelandic music scene as the founder of the band Eldberg. In 2009, he became a pivotal member of Todmobile, an Icelandic 80’s progressive rock band initially formed as a trio in the early 1990s by Þorvaldur Bjarni Þorvaldsson, a celebrated Icelandic vocalist, guitarist, and record producer. The band, which underwent various lineup changes and revivals, released the album ‘7’ in 2010 with Eyþór’s contributions. Eyþór took over as one of two lead singers. Eyþór’s theatrical talents shone when, in 2011, he received a Gríman theatrical Award nomination for his portrayal of Riff Raff in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. This was followed by his appearance in ‘Les Misérables’ in 2012. The subsequent year, 2013, was monumental for him as he won Söngvakeppnin 2013. Representing Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, he performed “Ég á líf”, securing the 17th spot in the final. That same year, collaborating with Atómskáldin, they launched the album ‘Eyþór Ingi og Atómskáldin’. Beyond music, Eyþór showcased his voice talent in the Icelandic version of the DreamWorks movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ in 2014. His collaborations are globally diverse, having teamed up with renowned musicians like Steve Hackett from Genesis and Jon Anderson from Yes. Notably, he was featured on Steve Hackett’s solo album. In the sphere of contemporary music, Eyþór Ingi founded Rock Paper Sisters, serving as its lead vocalist, guitarist, and chief songwriter. Their inception is unique, being one of the rare bands originating from a party that actually followed through with meetings, rehearsals, recordings, and live performances. Their debut live performance was as the opening act for Billy Idol at Laugardalshöll stadium. They’ve released several singles since, including the 2018 hit “Howling Fool” and a Christmas song “Það á að gefa börnum brauð”, inspired by a traditional Icelandic Christmas melody. He teamed up with Eirikur Hauksson to sing tributes of Freddy Mercury in 2019. A year later, he teamed up with Lay Low for the song “Aftur heim ti þin”, which became a no. 1 in the Icelandic charts. In 2022, Eyþór Ingi played a role in the Icelandic movie Abbababb. In April 2023, Rock Paper Sisters released their debut album “One in a Million”. Eyþór also hosted his own show Kvöldstundinni. Entries Ég Á Lif Country🇮🇸 Icelandic Year2013 LanguageIcelandic LyricsÖrlygur SmáriPétur Örn Guðmundsson MusicÖrlygur SmáriPétur Örn Guðmundsson BackingsBergþór Smári JakobssonEinar Þór JóhanssonHannes Heimir FriðbjarnarssonKristján Gíslason Results Semi Points: 72Position: 6Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: 47Position: 17Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/GzE88IYzXLI

Eduard Romanyuta

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameEduard Eduardovych Romanyuta Born23 October 1992 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionO Melodie Pentro Europa 2015Evrobachennya 2013 – Natsionalyni vidbirEvrobachennya 2012 – Natsionalyni vidbirEvrobachennya 2011 – Natsionalyni vidbirEvrobachennya 2009 – Natsionalyni vidbir In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongI Want Your Love (2015) Biography Eduard Eduardovich Romanyuta (born October 23, 1992, in Ternopil) is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and TV presenter. Eduard Romanyuta was born in Ternopil. By the age of five, he was already performing at the National Palace of Arts in Kyiv, where he received personal recognition from President L. Kuchma for his remarkable achievements. From 1999 to 2002, he participated in the renowned Presidential Christmas Trees event held in Kyiv, delivering over 170 performances. At a young age, Eduard established himself as a winner of prestigious international song contests, including “Pearl of the South” (Ukraine) and “Italian Magic” (Italy). He was honored with the first prize at the international competitions “Song Magic” (Bulgaria) and “Slavic Bazaar” (Ukraine). He also achieved victory in all-Ukrainian contests. His accomplishments include three international Grand Prix awards and victories in seven international and eighteen all-Ukrainian song contests. In 2000, Eduard Romanuta served as a jury member representing Ukraine at the international children’s song contest “Slavic Bazaar” in Vitebsk, Belarus, where he also performed as a special guest. In 2003, he released his debut album titled “Colors of the Homeland” and held an impressive concert in its support. Eduard has curated four concert programs, comprising a repertoire of over 50 songs. In 2004, Eduard Romanuta was recognized by the Prime Minister of Ukraine for his significant contributions to the development of musical culture in the country, receiving a certificate and medal. He has been honored with national titles such as “Child of the Year” and “Young Talent.” Eduard caught the attention of international publishers, resulting in collaborations that propelled his career to new heights. In 2012, he released the single “I’ll never let go” in partnership with Swedish publishers including “Cosmos Music Group,” “Famous Music,” and “19 songs.” This track propelled him to the finals of the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision 2012 and its music video garnered millions of views on YouTube. The song earned Eduard Romanuta the “Best Foreign Language Song” and “Video of the Year” awards at the “OE Music Awards” ceremony. Continuing his collaboration with Swedish publishers, Eduard released three additional tracks in 2012: “Betray”,” “Conspiracy” and the single “Get real with my heart”. With the latter song, he secured a place in the finals and claimed the third position in the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision 2013. The music video for “Get real with my heart” was filmed by “Hollywood World Studios” in Los Angeles, California, USA, and achieved significant viewership on YouTube and Vevo. In 2012, Eduard participated in the show “10 + 10” on the First National Ukrainian Channel, where he performed duets with Sopho Gelovani, who later represented Georgia at Eurovision 2013. Throughout 2013, he released notable tracks including “Universal Music Publisher” the songs “Nightmare” and “Reckless.” Additionally, he released the composition “No regrets,” written by British authors. Recently, Eduard Romanuta released an audio-visual album titled “Conspiracy,” which features thirteen tracks and seven videos. In 2014, the Swedish publishers The Kennel created the song “I Want Your Love” specifically for the Ukrainian selection for Eurovision 2015. However, as Ukraine decided not to participate in the competition, Eduard Romanuta chose to present the song at the Moldovan selection instead. In 2015, he emerged as the winner of the national selection in the Republic of Moldova, granting him the opportunity to represent Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite his performance as the opening act in the first semi-final, Eduard did not qualify for the final round. In October 2016, Eduard performed at the 50th anniversary of the Ternopil National Economic University, where he did his own studies too. On 2 February 2017, his new single “Bad thing” was released. He performed in the show Muzichna Vesna along with participant Anna Nikonovaa. On 1 May he released a new single, “Million”. Parallel to his artistic endeavors, Eduard pursued higher education and excelled, earning two Master’s degrees with honors. He received a Ph.D. at TNEU in 2018. After he did this, he went back to making music. In September 2018 his song “Golddigger” was released. Entries I Want Your Love Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsErik LewanderHayley AitkenTom Andrews MusicErik LewanderHayley AitkenTom Andrews BackingsAleksandr UshakovEvgeni KotNataliya SlisarenkoMaryana NestaykoNatalia Redchuk Results Semi Points: 41Position: 11Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/px1MoZ0k7qY