2018

Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersBidzina MurguliaLevan AbshilavaShalva GelekvaGeorge AbashidzeMikheil Javakhishvili Founded2013 Nationality???????? Georgian National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongFor you (2018) Biography Iriao is a jazz and ethnic folk music group from Georgia. The band is named after the “Maskulinum” (Iriao-uruao), which is used as onomatopoeia for the Krimanchuli, the Georgian yodel. The group of seven (David Malazonia, Nuzgar Kavtaradze and David Japaridze were not on stage in Eurovision) was founded in 2013 by David Malazonia. It is considered the first group to combine jazz with Georgian ethnic folk. Founder David Malazonia lives in Germany, where he writes music for TV, theater and other projects. The band first appeared internationally at the Borneo Jazz Festival in Malaysia in 2014. The group was selected as the representative of Georgia for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon with the song “For you”. In October 2018, they were able to perform in Moscow. A month later, David Malazonia got very seriously indured by an accident in Beijing. Iriao organized a benefit concert in order to collect money for his treatment. In 2019, Iriao performed at the Baku Summer Jazz Days in Azerbaijan and at the Days Of Georgian Culture in Minsk, Belarus. In November of the same year, they performed at the Münsterland Festival in Germany. Entries For You Country???????? Georgia Year2018 LanguageGeorgian LyricsIrina Sanikidze MusicDavid MalazoniaMikheil Mdinaradze Backings– Results Semi Points: 24Position: 18Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/FvVx5-mzmm0

Julia Samoylova

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameYuliya Olegovna Samoylova Born07 April 1989 Nationality???????? Russian National SelectionInternal selection 2018Internal selection 2017 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongI won’t break (2018) Biography Yuliya Samoylova is a Russian singer and songwriter. She was born in Ukhta, Russia, Soviet Union. At age 13, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She moves in a wheelchair.From an early age, Samoilova participated in various competitions. At the age of fourteen, she won the music festival Na kryl’yakh mechty. In 2005, she participated in the Schlager competition in Yekaterinburg, where she took the 2nd place. In 2008, she founded the group TerraNova, which existed until 2010. In November 2012, she participated in the third season of Factor A, a casting show. On February 7, 2014, in Sochi, at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games, she performed the song “Vmeste”. In the same year, she was able to release three singles, one of which was a duet with Gosha Kutsenko. At the end of 2016, she participated in the recording of the song and the video “#ZHIT’” along with such performers as Polina Gagarina, Grigory Leps, Timati and Mot. Also in December 2016, another duet with Gosha Kutsenko was recorded – “Ne smotri nazad”. In 2017 she was chosen to represent Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Flame is burning”. However, she performed in Crimea in 2015, which made the Ukrainian authorities decide she was not allowed to enter the country, not making an exception for Eurovision. She did go to Eurovision in the end, but she had to wait a year. In 2018, she represented Russia with the song “I won’t break”. In the same year, she won a Russian Music Box Award. On April 27, 2021, the EP “Belaya liliya” was released in Russian and Ukrainian, followed in October of the same year by the single “Storm”. Entries I Won’t Break Country???????? Russia Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsLeonid GutkinNetta NimrodiArie Burshtein MusicLeonid GutkinNetta NimrodiArie Burshtein BackingsArie BurshteinKsenia KorobkovaNetta NimrodiIldar GainutdinovAnastasiya Dzhurkina Results Semi Points: 65Position: 15Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/KujGHwyfMWM

Jessika

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameJessica Muscat Born27 February 1989 Nationality???????? Maltese National SelectionMalta Song For Europe 2008Malta Eurosong 2009Malta Eurosong 2010Malta Eurosong 2011Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2012Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2013Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2014Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2015Malta Eurovision Song Contest 20161 in 360 2018 (San Marino)Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongWho we are (2018, with Jenifer Brening) Biography Jessica Muscat, better known as Jessika, is a Maltese singer, songwriter and actress. She was born in Mosta. In 2004, she participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Four years later, she took part in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. She did so continuously every year until 2016. Jseeika toured throughout the United Kingdom in 2009 and took singing lessons in the United States. She took part in the International Discovery Festival in Varna, Bulgaria. Her debut single “Golden ways” was released in 2012, followed in 2016 by “Can’t let go”. Meanwhile, she plays in a soap opera called Ħbieb u Għedewwa on a daily basis. In 2018, she took part in the Sammarinese national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. She sang “Out of the twilight” solo and “Who we are” originally in a duet with Sammarinese rapper Irol. When he withdrew, he was replaced by Jenifer Brening. Jessika and Jenifer won the contest and represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. A new single, “No la conoces”, was released a year after the Eurovision adventure. With the song “Kaleidoscope”, Jessika returned to Malta Eurovision Song Contest, the Maltese national final, in 2022. Entries Who We Are (with Jenifer Brening) Country???????? San Marino Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsMathias StrasserZoë StraubChristof StraubStefan MoessleJenifer Brening MusicMathias StrasserZoë StraubChristof StraubStefan MoessleJenifer Brening BackingsLeni SommerBasti SchmidtCarlota de Bastos CarreiraJoana de Lima Results Semi Points: 28Position: 17Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/66D0pKVdA-4

The Humans

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersCristina CaramarcuAlexandru CismaruAlexandru MateiAlin NeagoeCorina MateiAdi Tetrade Founded2017 Nationality???????? Romanian National SelectionSelecția Națională 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongGoodbye (2018) Biography Alin Neagoe, Alex Matei, Cristina Caramarcu and Adi Tetrade played in a band called Jukebox when they wanted to start a new musical project. Alexandru Cismaru and Adrian Tanase joined them and The Humans were born. Their debut single was released in 2017 and was called “Îndură inima”. The band from Bucharest managed to win Selecția Națională 2018, the national selection for Eurovision 2018, and thus represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Goodbye”. However, the group kept on singing in Romanian; the follow up of their Eurovision song was “Binele meu”. They also released a christmas song, “Despre zâmbete”. In 2019 they released a single titled “N-are rost”. After this song, it took a year before the song “Aminitirea” was released. The latest song “Mai stai” was released in 2021. Entries Goodbye Country???????? Romania Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsCristina Caramarcu MusicAlexandru MateiAlin Neagoe Backings– Results Semi Points: 107Position: 11Running order: 2 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/DGR4S3y7qcw

ZiBBZ

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersCorinne ‘Co’ GfellerStefan ‘Stee’ Gfeller Founded2008 Nationality???????? Swiss National SelectionDie Entscheidungsshow 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongStones (2018) Biography Co and Stee are brother and sister, born in Zürich but currently living partially in Switzerland, partially in Los Angeles.Corinne ‘Co’ Gfeller (born June 6, 1985) is a Swiss singer / songwriter. She lives in Los Angeles and Switzerland. She completed her training as a musical actress at the Laine Theater Arts School in London. She can be heard on albums by other musicians and in several radio jingles. She has been part of the Gölä Band for over 10 years. In 2021, she released a song in cooperation with rapper Raboose, “1 Narbe meh”. Stefan ‘Stee’ Gfeller (born November 3, 1987) is a Swiss musician / songwriter / producer. He plays rhythm and keyboard instruments and guitar and lives in Los Angeles and Switzerland. From 2003 to 2007 he studied music in Winterthur. Stee works as a drummer / music producer (studio / live) for various other musicians such as Gölä and Bastian Baker. Stee is a member of the punk drum collective ‘street drum corps’.ZiBBZ was founded in 2008. From 2011 to 2015, the band had it’s own weekly reality TV program by the TV station Joiz. Their first album “Ready? Go!” was released in 2013 and reached number 14 in the official Swiss charts. This was followed in 2017 by a second album “It Takes A Village” and reached number 11 in the Swiss charts.In between there followed several single releases, including the song “Children of the Digital”, the video of which was played on MTV USA. In 2018, ZiBBZ represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Stones”. The follow up for this song was the song “RICH” and another single, “Citylights” in 2019. During the first COVID19 lockdown, they participated in the Eurovision Home Concerts. Entries Stones Country???????? Switzerland Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsLaurell BarkerCorinne Gfeller MusicLaurell BarkerCorinne GfellerStefan Gfeller BackingsSabrina KernLaurell BarkerNita Fernandes Results Semi Points: 16Position: 13Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/wJGTVsluHkw

Sevak Khanagyan

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameSevak Khanagyan Born28 Juli 1987 Nationality???????? Armenian National SelectionDepi Evratesil 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongQami (2018) Biography Sevak Khanagyan is an Armenian singer, born in Metsavan, Armenia but he also lived in Kursk, Russia. By the time he was seven, Sevak was already playing a synthesizer, and was later admitted to a music school where he had been attending accordion classes for a long time. In Kursk, he entered a music college. Sevak studied pop and jazz more in-depth, and in and in 2014 received a diploma from the Faculty of World Music. Sevak began his career singing in corporate evenings, clubs and surroundings. He wrote his own songs, both in Russian and in Armenian. His songs include “Mi’ irrir”, “Milion hambuyr”, “Hayrenik”, as well as “Veradardzir tun”. In early 2015, Sevak took part in his first television project, Glkhavor bemin, a casting show. Sevak reached the quarter finals. At the end of the year, he participated in another casting show, The Voice of Russia. In 2016 he participated in the 7th season of the X-Factor Ukraine, which he won. After the victory, Sevak had his first solo concert in Armenia on January 13, 2017 at the Havana Restaurant Complex, after which he announced his concert tours both in Armenia and in various cities in Russia.In 2018, Sevak was chosen to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Kami”, the first ever Eurovision song sung in Armenian. Also in 2018 he released a song called “Pustota”, a soundtrack for the movie “Neproshchoniy”. In 2019, Sevak released his debut album “Okean vnutri tebya”. A lot of singles in Russian were released in 2020 and 2021, but sometimes Sevak sings in Armenian. In 2020 he released the single “Siro Hetq” and in 2021 the songs “Artsakh” and “Du Es Im Hogin”. Entries Qami Country???????? Armenia Yearyear LanguageArmenian LyricsAnna DanielyanVictoria Maloyan MusicSevak Khanagyan BackingsArevik GrigoryanJulietta GrigoryanMnats KhanagyanMonica ManucharovaSevak Musakhanyan Results Semi Points: 79Position: 15Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYlWiHjUK0c

Yianna Terzi

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameYianna Terzi Born01 December 1980 Nationality???????? Greek National SelectionGreek national final (canceled) In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongOniro mou (2018) Biography Yianna Terzi is a Greek singer and songwriter. She was born in Thessaloniki as a daughter of the famous Greek singer Paschallis Terzis. At the age of 20, she moved to Athens to start her music career, beginning with the release of her first album, “Gýrna to Kleidí” in 2006. She then signed a contract with Minos EMI and released the album “Áse me na Taxidépso” in 2008, which contained the single of the same name. Terzi then moved to the United States and worked as a talent finder for Interscope Records. In 2018, Yianna was supposed to be one of five contestants in the Greek national selection for Eurovision. However, for several reasons, 4 out of 5 entries withdrew, so it was up to Yianna to represent Greece. She sang the song “Oniro mou”. Later in 2018, her single “Karma” was released and hit the Greek charts, followed by “Logia Omorfa (Stanga)” in 2019. On September 28, 2021, “Yia sena mono” was, a song in which also Terzi’s father Paschallis featured. The song became a top-10 hit. Entries Oniro Mou Country???????? Greece Year2018 LanguageGreek LyricsYianna TerziAris KalimerisMichalis PapathanasiouDimitris Stamatiou MusicYianna TerziAris KalimerisMichalis PapathanasiouDimitris Stamatiou BackingsGiannis LavisEvgenia BalafaVictoria HalkitiIrini Psyhrami Results Semi Points: 81Position: 14Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/-XOR1DhtDC0

Franka

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameFranka Batelić Born07 June 1992 Nationality???????? Croatian National SelectionInternal selection 2018Dora 2010Dora 2009 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongCrazy (2018) Biography Franka Batelić is a Croatian singer, born in Rijeka. She has been singing since she was 3 years old, first as a soloist of the choir Minicantanti, with which she has performed at numerous festivals and events in Croatia and abroad. She won the award at the children’s festival Voci nostre twice, as well as at the Dorica festival in Osijek. In elementary school she was a member of the Parish Choir of St. Andrew in Rabac. Franka graduated from the elementary music school for piano, and in addition to the piano, she plays the guitar. The beginning of her serious music career is marked by the victories on the television talent show Showtime in December 2007. She was now able to sign a record contract. With the winning song “Ovaj dan”, she had a couple of mini shows. With the song “Ruža u kamenu” she participated in the festival of Opatija in 2008. A year later, she participated in Dora, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “Pjesmom za kraj”. It became third and also reached the #2 spot in the HR Top 20. In the same year, she won the festival of Opatija with the song “Možda volim te”. In 2010, Franka participated in Dora again, now with the song “Na tvojim rukama” and finished 7th. The debut album, “Franka”, was due out in the first half of 2010, but was not released for unclear reasons. In May 2011, Franka released a new song “Crna duga”, one of Franka’s greatest successes. Franka performed as the opening act in Beyoncé’s show in 2013. After 2013 she took a break but came back in december 2017 with a new song, “S tobom”. She also participated in a Russian-Ukrainian-American production of “The Great Gatsby “ ballet in 2017. She was chosen to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song “Crazy”. In 2019, she reached the #1 spot in the Croatian charts with the song “Ljubav, nista više”, again with “Sve dok sanjaš” and “Samo s tobom meni Božić je”, the latter with Igor Geržina. In July 2020, he released a new single, “Prvi Osjećaj”, which once again conquered the music charts. This song was awarded “Song of the Year”. In December 2020, her new song and video “Plan B” came out. In March 2021, the new video “Bolji ludi” came out. The song reached the #1 spot in the Croatian charts. She released two more songs in the same year. In December, she teamed up with Sara Jo for the song “On”. Entries Crazy Country???????? Croatia Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsFranka Batelić MusicBranimir Mihaljević BackingsMartina IvankovićĐorđia Palić Results Semi Points: 63Position: 17Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/YxBLFbW5BqE

Eye Cue

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersMarija IvanovskaBojan Tajkovski Founded2008 Nationality???????? North Macedonian National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongLost and found (2018) Biography Bojan Trajkovski and Marija Ivanovska formed the duo Eye Cue in 2008. They started working together in 2007. Their first single “Magija” was released in May 2008, and became a major success. Five months later, their second single “Superstar Wannabe” was released, followed by an album with the same name. In june 2009, they had a promotion tour for this album, and a new single: “Glowing lips”. In 2010 they topped the charts with the song “Not this time”, which even reached the top 20 of most popular videos in 2010 on MTV Adria. They have been a part of major festivals in North Macedonia and the region. In December 2011, the song “Ne zaboravaj”, was released. “Ista pateka” reached the chart’s number 2. 2013 was a big success for the band as they had two major hits with the songs “Son” and “Bobi bas mi e gajle”. “Son” climbed no. 4 and “Bobi bas mi e gajle” no.9 on the MTV Chart.In 2014, the duo won SkopjeFest with the song “Ubava”. Normally, this was the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest but not that year. In 2018, the band represented North Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Lost and found”. Unfortunately, they didn’t manage to reach the final. In December 2018, the band released their third album “Sepak mie za bavno”. In 2019, they released no less than five new singles. In the same year, they performed at Eurovision Parties in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Australia. In 2020, they released a new single in Macedonian, called “Kolku dobro te znam”. In November of the same year, they released a music video for the song “Trepet”, together with Sarah Mejs. Entries Lost and found Country???????? North Macedonia Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsBojan Trajkovski MusicBojan TrajkovskiDarko Dimitrov BackingsValery DimovskaAntonia GigovskaDina JashariIvo Mitkovski Results Semi Points: 24Position: 18Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/MV_cR_Qb2Cg

Alekseev

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameNikita Vladimirovich Alekseev Born18 May 1993 Nationality???????? Ukraine National SelectionBelarusian national final 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongForever (2018) Biography Nikita Alekseev is a ukrainian singer, born in Kiev. He rose to fame after the final of the show Holos krayiny. The first successful song for Alekseev was “ya plyvu” from the repertoire of Irina Bilyk. It was number one in the Russian charts for several weeks. In addition, the song was released remixed by the group Mozgi. Irina Bilyk herself praised Alekseev’s performance, inviting him to sing at her concert tour Bylik. Leto. Tantsuem. In October 2015, Alekseev presented a new song called “Pʹyanoe solntse”. In May of that year, the song received an award from the Russian TV channel RU.TV as “Best Song of the Year”, becoming the first Russian-language song to be included in the TOP-100 Shazam rating. He also received the YUNA Award in the Opening of the Year category. In 2016, Alekseev’s first album “Pʹyanoe solntse” was released. The new video, shot for the song “Snov Oskolky” was highly regarded by viewers, receiving more than 100,000 views on YouTube the first day. The follow up was called “Okeanamy staly”. In 2017, the singer presented a new video for “Chuvstvuyu dushoy” based on Oscar Wilde’s portrait of Dorian Gray.In 2018, Alekseev represented Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Forever”. Unfortunately, he did not reach the final. Right after the contest, he released a Russian version of “Forever” and a new song called “Sberegu”, followed by “Kak ty tam?” and “Ne mod”. In 2019, it Alekseev released a second album, “Moya zvezda”. . It received the double platinum status in Ukraine. In september of the same year, the video “Kamen’ i voda” was released, followed by the “Moya zvezda” tour. He performed both in Russia and Ukraine. The song “Revnost”, released in 2020, won an Music Platform Award for “best song”. In November 2020, he teamed up with the band Kazka to release the song “Poruch”. The song won a Top Hit Music Award.In February 2021, the song “Skvov son” was released. At 1 June 2022, childrens day, a song called “Mama” was released. Alekseev gave charity concerts in June and July in Prague, London and Vilnius. Entries Forever Country???????? Belarus Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsYevgeny Matyushenko MusicKirill Pavlov BackingsAnna KilchenkoVilen KilchenkoValeriya KhomenkoAnyanya UdongwoYulia Zima Results Semi Points: 65Position: 16Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/ywy_y24v_ao