Episode 21: JJ & Tautumeitas

Get ready to serve and run with Malta's Miriana Conte and Azerbaijan's Mamagama! First up, Miriana tells us about her journey to Basel, the pride in representing her country with Serving, and how she's exhausted her country's supply of exercise balls! Next, singing for Azerbaijan with Run with U, it's Mamagama. Asaf, Hasan and Arif tell us about their roots in Baku and all the advice former Eurovision winner Eldar has been giving them. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to get the know the hosts of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Basel! TV host and singer Sandra Studer and comedian Hazel Brugger are presenting the live finals together. The pair sit down with Steve to talk about hosting the best show on earth, some secrets behind the production and whether they've heard anything from Celine Dion. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The representatives from France and Georgia speak about their Eurovision journeys. French singer Louane tells us about her poignant ballad Maman, which features her daughter, as well as that huge reveal at the Stade de France in Paris.  Next, Georgia’s Mariam Shengelia tells us about her song Freedom, representing her country, and the love of her life… her five-month old puppy.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the biggest creative brains at the Eurovision Song Contest join a special episode of the podcast, recorded in front of a live audience at the Novartis Pavilion in Basel. Joining Steve is Teya, Ralf Mackenbach, Ace Bowerman, Jorge Antonio Fujizaki and Melanie Wehbe.  Teya represented Austria in 2023 with Who The Hell Is Edgar? and is now the creative director and co-writer for JJ’s entry Wasted Love.  Ralf Mackenbach won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, but switched his career to his other passion… and is now a leading physicist! Creative director Ace Bowerman and choreographer Jorge Antonio Fujizaki are the brains behind the staging for this year’s United Kingdom and Azerbaijan entries. Melanie Wehbe has worked on four Eurovision Song Contest entries, including Sissal’s Hallucination, where she’s also a backing vocalist.  Also joining Steve are two ‘Novartists’ - Gustavo Prack & Anisah Alyahya - who talk about balancing their careers at Novartis, with their passion for music.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Steve speaks to German representatives Abor & Tynna, as well as Israeli singer Yuval Raphael. First up, brother and sister duo Abor & Tynna chat about their energetic song, Baller, which is the first German entry in the German language for nearly 20 years.  Next, it’s Yuval Raphael, representing Israel with the stirring ballad New Day Will Rise. She talks about her childhood in Switzerland and her favourite karaoke tracks… and there's a cameo appearance from her mum! The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's finally sauna time as Swedish representatives join the podcast, along with Ukraine's Ziferblat. KAJ (Kevin, Axel and Jakob) talk about their sauna anthem Bara Bada Bastu, their thoughts on being one of the favourites this year, and why Finland's Lordi left a lasting impression (literally) on the band. Next up, twin brothers Daniil & Valentyn from Ukraine discuss Bird of Pray, their love of Kate Bush, and why they'll be channeling Roger Federer in the semi-final. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The artists from Austria and Latvia drop by for the latest episode of the podcast! Austrian opera star JJ is ready to bring drama to his Wasted Love performance. He talks about bonding with Conchita, working with 2023 contestant Teya, and his ‘choatic’ friendship with Denmark’s Sissal. Then, all six members of Latvian folk-pop group Tatumeitas tell us about their song Bur Man Laimi and their love of Eurovision ethno-divas.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s podcast, we say a big hello to Claude from the Netherlands and Montenegro’s Nina Žižić. Claude is bringing his feelgood anthem C’est La Vie to the stage. He tells us about his road to Basel, his musical heroes, and why everyone’s going to be hearing his mother at the Contest.  Nina Žižić first represented Montenegro back in 2013 as the singer with rap duo Who See. She;s now flying solo and brings her country back to the contest after a three-year absence with her dramatic ballad Dobrodošli.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a triple threat as Croatia’s Marko Bosnjak, Albania’s Shkodra Elektronike and Theo Evan from Cyprus visit the podcast. First up, Marko Bošnjak has been baking his Poison Cake for the Eurovision stage. Albanian powerhouse duo Shkodra Elektronike tell Steve all about the famous legend inspiring their song Zjerm. And finally, please be quiet as Cyprus’ Theo Evan tells us all about his entry Shh, a performance which channels Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Estonia’s Coffee King Tommy Cash and Slovenia’s TV presenter-turned-Eurovision star Klemen join Steve on today’s episode of the podcast. First up, Tommy Cash takes part in his first EVER podcast to discuss the creation of Espresso Macchiato, his friendship with Charli XCX and the famous names backing him for Eurovision victory. Next, Klemen brings his personal story to the stage in Basel with his ballad How Much Time Do We Have Left?. He tells Steve about the heartfelt ode to his wife, and his background as one of Slovenia’s best known impressionists.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices