refugees

Jala Brat

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameJasmin Fazlić Born16 October 1986 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography Jasmin Fazlić, better known as Jala Brat, is a Bosnian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer. Jasmin Fazlić was born in Sarajevo. He took his first steps in the music career in early 2000 by recording his first demo songs. He soon realized that rap was the genre he wanted to pursue. He created his first original songs in his home studio, which he shared with a close group of friends, and adopted his nickname “Jala” as his stage name. Initially, Jala worked alone, but in 2011, he formed a group called Blunt Blyon, with whom he worked more seriously and released his first album “Replay.” After the album’s release, his music career as a rapper started to flourish. In 2012, Jala met Sarajevo rapper Amar Hodžić. That same year, Jala and Amar started collaborating together, not only in music but also in live performances. Jala began releasing his songs on the YouTube channel Imperia, which they jointly managed. After the release of the album “Replay”, Jala worked on new material and collaborated with rappers such as Frenkie, Sajfer, Mayer, Klijent, and Buba Corelli. He recorded a total of 10 songs and released an album called “Riječ na riječ”, which came out on June 12, 2012. At the end of 2012, together with Buba and Kontro, he featured on the song “RMX” released on the album “Troyanac” by Tuzla rapper Frenkie, for which they also made a music video. The song received positive reviews, further launching Jala into the music scene. In the period from 2012 to 2013, he released two EP albums named “SA Sin City” in collaboration with Buba, and “Mahala” with rapper Shtela. In the same year, he met singer and producer Almir Ajanović, who decided to produce his music in his Tempo studio. Jala and Buba worked on new songs between 2013 and 2014, and together they recorded a studio album called “Pakt s đavolom” (Devil’s Pact). The album featured collaborations with various rappers and singers, including Rasta, Juice, MCN, and Sedžida Matoruga. “Pakt s đavolom” was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from the audience. The album was released by Tempo Digital, in cooperation with the record label RedEye Vision. In early 2015, Jala decided to change his stage name to Jala Brat, citing the fact that the nickname “Brat” (Brother) had started to appear frequently alongside his old name, Jala. He adopted it as his own and first introduced it in the music video for the song “Dom” (Home). Soon after, he recorded another joint album with Buba, titled “Stari radio” (Old Radio). The most popular songs from the album were “Skandal” and “Casino.” However, their collaboration with Buba was interrupted due to Buba being arrested. A significant turning point in Jala Brat’s career was his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where he co-wrote the song “Ljubav je” and performed it with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Deen, and cellist Ana Rucner from Croatia. The Bosnian delegation did not qualify for the final of the competition after performing the song in the semi-final evening. The song was also recorded in English under the title “Love is all.” In November 2016, Jala Brat and Buba Corelli recorded an album titled “Kruna” (Crown). This was the first album released under the label of the Imperia publishing and media house. During the commercial success of the album “Kruna,” Jala Brat established contacts with mainstream singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. He recorded the song “Zvezde plaču za nama” (Stars Cry for Us, 2015) with rapper Vuk Mob, and the song “Dominantna” (Dominant, 2016) with folk singer Dado Polumenta. He collaborated with Elena Kitić again, this time on the song “Folira” (She’s Pretending, 2016), which he recorded in collaboration with Buba. Afterward, he continued to release singles collaborating with folk singer Maya Berović on the song “To me radi” (What She Does to Me, 2016), which he recorded together with Buba Corelli. In early 2017, he collaborated with Croatian pop singer Severina on the song “Otrove” (Poison), and with Serbian pop-folk singer Milan Stanković on the song “Ego.” In 2016, Jala decided to become politically involved and ran for the Municipal Council in the Local Elections in the Municipality of Vogošća as a candidate of the Party of Democratic Action. He faced criticism, mainly from the public and audience, for his candidacy, but he remained on the list due to the insufficient number of votes. Afterward, he withdrew from the political scene. The album “Alfa i Omega” (2016) was recorded in the Imperia studio and represents a continuation of Jala Brat’s collaboration with Buba Corelli. The highlight of the album was a concert tour, culminating in a sold-out concert at the Tašmajdan Arena in Belgrade, with an audience of over 15,000 people. Album “99” (2019) After seven years since the release of Jala’s first album, “Riječ na riječ,” his second solo album, titled “99,” was released on September 9, 2019. Jala Brat announced the album on July 4 via his Instagram profile. The album features collaborations with Buba Corelli, Coby, and Raf Camora. Music videos were made for all the songs. After launching the Imperia YouTube channel, Jala decided to produce songs for prominent artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, together with Buba Corelli. He wrote lyrics and music for Milan Stanković, Dado Polumenta, Severina, Katarina Grujić, Aca Pejović, Dara Bubamara, and Selma Bajrami. However, his most significant collaboration was with pop-folk singer Maya Berović, for whom he and Buba produced several studio albums and most of the songs from 2017 onwards. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Ana Rucner) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Ana Rucner

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameAna Rucner Born12 February 1983 Nationality🇭🇷 Croatian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography She was born into a musically talented family. Her mother, Snježana, is a cellist and soloist at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, while her father, Dragan, is a violinist and soloist in the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. She received her primary and secondary music education at the Elly Bašić Music Institute in Zagreb, and during her high school years and studies (from 1993 to 2003), she was constantly engaged with the Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006, she married singer Vlado Kalember, from whom she divorced eight years later. She became particularly famous after the release of the “Ode to Joy” music video, which promotes Croatian tourism. The video was created based on her idea, and besides her, it featured the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ivan Goran Kovačić Academic Choir. The video won the tourism Oscar (“Das goldene Stadttor”) at the 11th International Tourism Film and Multimedia Festival in Berlin, competing against 180 countries. On April 9, 2013, the video was awarded a bronze medal at the New York Festivals, along with 11 other awards. In 2016, Ana performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden, together with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić and Fuad Backović, also known as “Deen,” and rapper Jasmin Fazlić Jala, with the song “Ljubav je,” representing Bosnia and Herzegovina. The song was performed in the first semi-final on May 10 but did not qualify for the final on May 14. This was the first time that representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Dalal

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameDalal Midhat-Talakić Born05 August 1981 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Biography Dalal Midhat-Talakić (born August 5, 1981) is a Bosnian singer. She was born in Sarajevo, where she also attended school. Her first original song was performed in 1995 at a choir competition in Zagreb’s Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. In 1999, Dalal formed the group Erato with singer Aida Jašarević, where she co-wrote most of the songs they released together. They released two studio albums, “Backstage” (2003) and “Make Up” (2005), and performed numerous concerts and shows throughout the region. The albums were released by the JRTV record label. Erato disbanded in 2009, after which Dalal started her solo music career. As a singer and vocal soloist, she collaborated with many songwriters, musicians, and performers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. She has released several singles, such as “Bonbon” (2015). Dalal represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 together with singers Deen, Ana Rucner, and Jala Brat. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is) written and produced by Almir Ajanović. The song did not qualify for the Eurovision final. After the Eurovision Song Contest she released the singles “Never Give Up” (2017), “Gdje sam ja” (Where Am I, 2017), and “Instant” (2019). Entries Ljubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Deen

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameFuad Backović Born12 April 1982 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016BH Eurosong 2004BH Eurosong 2003BH Eurosong 2001Vaš šlager sezone 1999 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm2004 Istanbul SongLjubav je (2016)In the disco (2004) Biography Fuad Backović (born April 14, 1982, in Sarajevo), known by his stage name Deen, is a Bosnian singer. At the age of 12, Fuad Backović Deen took his first musical steps by recording his first song. The song was recorded at a music studio called Studio Number 1, owned by Bosnian broadcaster BHRT. In 1997, Backović became the frontman of the Bosnian boy band “Seven Up”. The group released two albums, “Otvori oči” and “Seven,” and enjoyed great success in Bosnia and surrounding countries (Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro). They took part in the Bosnian national selection for the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Daj spusti se”. The song reached a 3rd place. In 1998, Deen received an offer to perform for the opera choir. His vocal abilities were noticed by the National Theater of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he accepted the role of the opera choir’s frontman during the production of Carmina Burana. Backović recorded a duet, “Poljubi me,” with Croatian singer Vlatka Pokos. Deen started a solo career after leaving Seven Up. In 2001, he took part in the Bosnian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. With his song “Deset miliona ljubavi”, he reaced a 7th place. A year later, his debut album “Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni” was released. With the song “Taxi”, he took part in the 2003 national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and became the runner up. In 2004, Deen was chosen by BHRT to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with the song “In the Disco.” Deen finished in 9th place. Shortly after the contest, Deen’s second album “In the disco” was released, followed in 2005 by a third album, “Anđeo sa greškom”. Towards the end of the 2000s, Fuad withdrew from the music scene to enroll in a fashion business faculty at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. During that time, in early 2009, he released the song “Bez trunke srama” (Without a Trace of Shame), which achieved great success in the local music scene. After some time, he released a song with the singer from the talent show Zvezda možeš biti ti, Verena Cerovina, titled “Voli me hitno” (Love Me Urgently) at the end of 2012, and already in 2013, he released the song “Rane manje bole” (Less Wounds Hurt). After completing his fashion studies, Deen is preparing his fourth studio album, which will see the light of day in the near future. Deen represented Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second time, this time in the Swedish capital Stockholm, together with Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner, and Jala. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is), but they did not qualify for the final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY In The Disco Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2004 LanguageEnglish LyricsVesna Pisarović MusicVesna Pisarović BackingsMaja Sarihodžić1 other singer, name unknown Dancers3 dancers, names unkown Results Semi Points: 133Position: 7Running order: 21 Results Finals Points: 91Position: 9Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/B1USil8eOsE

Madame Monsieur

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersÉmilie SattJean-Karl Lucas Founded2013 Nationality???????? French National SelectionDestination Eurovision 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongMercy (2018) Biography Émilie Satt (real name Sattonnet, 23 october 1984) and Jean-Karl Lucas (22 june 1982) met in 2008. They collaborated for the first time on the first EP of Émilie Satt in which they co-wrote three songs. It was a promo single for the Fort Mondeo in 2009. In 2013, the two created the group Madame Monsieur. A first EP was released in June of that year, including the single “Malibu”. In 2015, they composed the song “Smile” for the rapper Youssoupha. The song was one of the biggest hits of the year.In February 2016, Madame Monsieur released a first single from their EP called “Tandem”. In March, the group released a second extract, “See Ya”, on which they invited rapper S. Pri Noir. In parallel, they continued collaborations with rap artists, including La Fouine, Kery James, Georgio.In 2016, the two singers got married in Saint-Maurice-Crillat in the Jura.In November 2016, Madame Monsieur released the EP “Tandem”. Their first album “Vu d’Ici” was released on April 20, 2018. One month later, they represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Mercy”. After this, they released two singles, “Comme une reine” and “Les lois d’attraction”. In 2019, they wrote the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest again, this time “Roi”, performed by Bilal Hassani. In 2020, they teamed up with Jérémy Frérot for the single “Comme un voleur”. Their second album “Tandem” came out in the same year. Also in 2020, In 2020, they published a children’s book called “Je m’appelle Mercy”, illustrated by Saskia Halfmouw, in reference to their Eurovision song “Mercy” and whose profits went to the young child named Mercy, as well as to her family. In April 2022, their song “Des nouvelles de Tania” was released, a song about the situation in Ukraine. Entries Mercy Country???????? France Year2018 LanguageFrench LyricsÉmilie SattJean-Karl Lukas MusicÉmilie SattJean-Karl Lukas BackingsAllyson EzellNoée Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 173Position: 13Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/vjLuTtUv0Ns

Naviband

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersKsenia ZhukArtem Lukyanenko Founded2013 Nationality???????? Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2017Belarusian National Final 2016 In Eurovision2017 Kyiv SongHistoryja majho žyccia (2017) Biography Naviband is a Belarusian duo, currently living in Poland. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Artem Lukyanenko and vocalist and keyboardist Ksenia Zhuk. The duo also collaborates with bassist Uladzislaŭ Čaščavik, guitarist Aliaksandr Taboĺski and drummer Uladzimir Biehier. Lukyanenko was born in Glubokoye, graduated in journalism from the Belarusian State University and worked in the radio station Stalica. He was also the guitarist of the band Tim Erna. Zhuk was born in Minsk. She has been dealing with music since childhood, and her vocal talent was noticed when she was 11 years old. She herself teached children to sing in a music school. She was also the vocalist of the band Sonika. They both actively promote the Belarusian language. The two met in 2013 and married on September 5, 2014 in Minsk. In 2014, the Naviband released two studio albums: “Lovi” in January and “Soncam sahretyja in December”. Their song “Abdymi myane” received the Lira award for “the best Belarusian-language song of 2014”. In 2015, they won a competition for young Belarusian-speaking performers. In 2016, they took part in the national qualifiers for the 61st Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Heta ziamlya”. The duo took 4th place. In August of that year, they created the official song of the Belarusian football team. In 2017, they took part in the national Eurovision final again, this time with the song “Historyja majho žyccia”. They won and thus became the representatives of Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest. It was the first piece in the history of the competition performed in Belarusian. On the day of the Belarusian national final of the Belarusian qualifiers, i.e. January 20, 2017, they released another studio album, entitled “Illuminaciya”, which included, among others, the Eurovision song. At the Eurovision Song Contest, the duo reached the final and became 17th there. In June 2017, they became the ambassadors of the Coca-Cola advertising campaign in Belarus. They created the Belarusian-language text of the song “Taste the Feeling” (used in the company’s advertisements around the world) and their own arrangement of this song. In October 2017, they announced the release of another album by the end of the year, “Adnoj darohaj”, which was released on December 8, 2017. On December 4, they presented a music video for the song “A dzie žyvieš ty?”, in which they announced that they are expecting a child . Their son, Maciej, was born on May 1, 2018. In March 2018, they became ambassadors of the Easter advertising campaign of the Jewroopt chain of stores. In September 2018 they published a song in Ukrainian, “Sumne more” . On December 5, 2019, the band released their fifth album, “Naviband”. In 2020, during protests in Belarus, the duo released two songs to support the protesters, “Inshymi” and “Diewoczka w biełom”, which is dedicated to the protesting women. The first one was sung live during one of the protests. In November of that year, they released another song dedicated to the protesters, “Milyon smutku”. In 2021, on the occasion of Freedom Day, they released the song “Volnyja sny”.together with the band Val . Entries Historya majho žyccia Country???????? Belarus Year2017 LanguageBelarusian LyricsArtem Lukyanenko MusicArtem Lukyanenko BackingsOlga Rozaleon-SashalskayaAnna ChetAlena VerbitskayaMichael Soul Results Semi Points: 110Position: 9Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: 83Position: 17Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/coFfFZvPmRY