X-Factor

Hovig

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameHovig Demirjian Born03 January 1989 Nationality🇨🇾 Cypriot National SelectionInternal selection 2017Eurovision Song Project 2015Eurovision 2010: Epilogi tis kypriakis symmetochis In Eurovision2017 Kyiv SongGravity (2017) Biography Hovig Demirjian, better known as Hovig, is a Cypriot singer of Armenian descent. He was born on January 3, 1989 in Nicosia, Cyprus. He studied marketing and worked in business but quickly gave it up to become a singer. He learned to play guitar and piano and studied jazz and voice. His first major achievement was second place in a music competition in Larnaca. He became more widely known in Cyprus under the nickname “The Messenger of Music”. On June 1, 2009 he released his first record “Den mou milás alithiná – i istoría échei teleiósei” under the name Hovig. In 2009, Demirjian participated in the Greek version The X Factor. He placed seventh. After The X Factor he returned to Cyprus where he developed a solo music career. He released several singles including the songs “Xaná” in 2010, “Mystiká” in 2012 and “Egó gia ména” in 2013. He also toured internationally singing in various concerts in Greece, the Middle East and Russia. After The X Factor, Demirjian competed to represent Cyprus in the European Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 2010 and 2015. In 2010 he came third with the song “Goodbye” and in 2015 he came fourth with the song “Stone in a River”. On 21 October 2016, Hovig was announced as the Cypriot entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. The song was called “Gravity” and was released on March 1, 2017. He took part in the first semi-final of the competition where he was ranked 5th and went on to the final, where he got the 21st place. After the contest, Hovig was able to perform in Saint Petersburg, Russia, twice that year. In January, 2018, Hovig released a new single: “Words are never easy”. A year later, he was able to perform in Los Angeles. On 12 October, 2020, a song in Greek was released; self composed with lyrics of George and Grigoris Vaxavanelis. The song was called “O iroas sou”. On March 7, 2021, it was followed by the song “”Lusabats | Gnórimi Skiá”, a duet with Arpi. The song was in two languages: Greek and Armenian. In July of the same year, it was followed by the song “An diliazo mi thimwneis”. In December of the same year, Hovig wrote a song for McDonalds. All proceeds from sales were going to the first Ronald McDonald House in Cyprus. Entries Gravity Country🇨🇾 Cyprus Year2017 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:son MusicThomas G:son BackingsLars SäfsundPavlos LazarouMarios Charalambous Results Semi Points: 164Position: 5Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 68Position: 21Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/ZDe9FCLgE04

Lucie Jones

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameLucie Bethan Jones Born20 March 1991 Nationality???????? British National SelectionEurovision: You decide 2017 In Eurovision2017 Kyiv SongNever give up on you (2017) Biography Lucie Jones is a Welsh singer, actor and model. She was born in Pentyrch, Cardiff in 1991. Lucie’s career started when, in 2009, she took part in The X-Factor. She headed to the live shows, but was eliminated there. After that, she started a modelling career. In 2010, Lucie appeared in an episode of the tv-series The Sarah Jane adventures. In 2013, she performed in the musical We Will Rock You and she had a role in the musical American Psycho. In the same year, she teamed up with Rhys Meirion for the single “You never walk alone”. Two years later, one could see her in an episode of Midsomer Murders. The soundtrack of this episode, “The ballad of midsomer county”, was released on single. She also played in two musicals: Like me and Ghost – The Musical. In 2016, she could be seen in the UK tour of Rent. On January 27, 2017, Lucie took part in Eurovision: You decide, the British national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song, “Never give up on you”, was co-written by former winner Emmelie de Forest. She won, and represented the UK in the Eurovision Grand Final, where she ended up in 15th place. After the Eurovision Song Contest, she had roles in musicals The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde. In 2019, she got the main role in the musical The Waitress. However, in January 2020 she had to quit due to an illness, and when she recovered, she couldn’t take the role again due to COVID19. In November, 2021, she took the role again. However, in September 2020, she recorded and released a live album, “Lucie Jones: Live at the Adelphi”. In the summer of 2021, Lucie Jones made her debut at Westend with a role in the musical Les Misérables. In February, 2022, she took one of the main roles in Wicked. Entries Never Give Up On You Country???????? United Kingdom Year2017 LanguageEnglish LyricsDaniel SalcedoEmmelie de ForestLawrie Martin MusicDaniel SalcedoEmmelie de ForestLawrie Martin Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 111Position: 15Running order: 18 https://youtu.be/Fl1GYTg4GmA

Isaiah

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameIsaiah Firebrace Born21 November 1999 Nationality???????? Australian National SelectionEurovision – Australia You Decide 2022Internal selection 2017 In Eurovision2017 Kyiv SongDon’t come easy (2017) Biography Isaiah Firebrace is an Australian singer. He was born in Portland, Victoria, Australia. Firebrace is an Aboriginal Australian. Isaiah’s musical career began when he auditioned for the X-Factor Australia in 2016. He won the final of the contest and released the song he sang there on single: “It’s gotta be you”. It became a big hit in Australia, but it also hit the charts in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and The Netherlands. On 9 December, 2016, his debut album “Isaiah” was released. Shortly after this, Isaiah was selected to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. He sang the song “Don’t come easy”. Isaiah reached the final with the song and even reached a 9th place. After this, Isaiah released a couple of non-album singles. “Know me better” was seen as a turning point for the singer, who was until then looking for the right style. He teamed up with Stan Walker and together with him, was featured in the album “Deadly hearts – walking together”. In December 2020, he released a new single, “You”. In 2021, Isaiah performed throughout Australia with his “Spirit & beyond tour”. In 2022, he participated in Eurovision – Australia You Decide, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. This time, he sang a duet with Evie Eirie, “When I’m with you”. They ended up in 10th place. Entries Don’t Come Easy Country???????? Australia Year2017 LanguageEnglish LyricsAnthony EgiziiDavid MusumeciMichael Angelo MusicAnthony EgiziiDavid MusumeciMichael Angelo BackingsAaron MaloneDaniel Adrian KelaartAaron Mendoza Results Semi Points: 160Position: 6Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: 173Position: 9Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/YTCP4S1dqwA

Chingiz Mustafayev

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameÇingiz Mustafayev Born11 March 1991 Nationality???????? Azerbaijani National SelectionInternal Selection 2019 In Eurovision2019 Tel Aviv SongTruth (2019) Biography Chingiz Mustafayev (born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani singer. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, his family moved to their homeland, Gazakh. Chingiz’ young love for Spanish music inspired him to play the guitar. Chingiz Mustafayev took part in the Eurovision national selection in 2011. In 2013, he represented Azerbaijan at the New Wave competition in Jurmala. Chingiz, who took a stage with Polina Gagarina during the competition, finished 11th. In 2016, he participated in the Ukrainian voting contest Holos Krainy. After suspending his participation in the competition, Chingiz began to perform with the group Palmas, which he founded. They mainly perform Azerbaijani national music mixed with flamenco, rock and pop music. On March 8, 2019, it was announced that Chingiz Mustafayev would represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv with the song “Truth”. He reached the final and became 8th. Chingiz did not continue singing in English however, but released a couple of singles in the Azerbaijani language. In 2021 he released the single “Gülzar istərəm (Məhəmməd Füzuli)”, an ode to the famous Azerbaijani poet and writer. Entries Truth Country???????? Azerbaijan Year2019 LanguageEnglish LyricsBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellPablo DineroHostessJoacim Persson MusicBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellPablo DineroHostessJoacim Persson BackingsSara Lauinger-LarssonPatrik Jean OlssonCedrik HammarPernille LeelooPeter Simpson Results Semi Points: 224Position: 5Running order: 18 Results Finals Points: 302Position: 8Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/D6vvuCiHwSs

Michael Rice

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameMichael Rice Born25 Oktober 1997 Nationality???????? British National SelectionEurovision: You Decide 2019 In Eurovision2019 Tel Aviv SongBigger than us (2019) Biography Michael Rice is a British singer, born in Hartlepool. He appeared in the eleventh series of The X Factor in 2014. In the X Factor series he reached the boot camp stage. Two years later, he featured in the Maison & Dragen single “I won’t stumble back”. Rice earned his money by singing in the streets. However, when a Youtube video of Rice went viral, it lead to his participation in the first series of BBC One’s singing competition All Together Now in 2018. He won the competition. In 2019, he took part in Eurovision: You Decide, the British national competition for the Eurovision Song Contest. He won and thus represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. His Eurovision song “Bigger than us” was co-written by the Swedish contestant John Lundvik. Maybe that is the reason why he did not only reach the UK Charts (#25) but also the Swedish top-10 with the song. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Rice visited several countries to perform there, like Sweden, The Netherlands and Switzerland. He released several singles in 2020 and 2021, among others a cooperation with HalfTraxx, “Falling for you”. Entries Bigger Than Us Country???????? United Kingdom Year2019 LanguageEnglish LyricsLaurell BarkerAnna-Klara FolinJohn LundvikJonas Tander MusicLaurell BarkerAnna-Klara FolinJohn LundvikJonas Tander BackingsAnna SahlinMelanie WehbeLinda PritchardDesta WilsonChin Simon Results Semi Points: – Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 11Position: 26Running order: 16 https://youtu.be/HV-eOhTS8Dw

Michela Pace

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameMichela Pace Born25 January 2001 Nationality🇲🇹 Maltese National SelectionX-Factor Malta 2019 In Eurovision2019 Tel Aviv SongChameleon (2019) Biography Michela is a Maltese singer. She was born at the island of Gozo. She studied at Bishop’s Conservatory Girls School in Victoria. Already at a young age, she started competing in song contests and talent shows. She participated in the Italian contest Voci Dal Sud and in the Baltic Song Festival in Lithuania. She submitted a song to Malta Song For Europe, the national final for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. However, her song did not make it to the final. Her final breakthrough came when she won the first season of Malta’s version of The X Factor in 2019. As a prize for her win, she represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song “Chameleon”. The song reached an 8th position. It won the Malta Music Award for best video. After the Eurovision Song Contest, she featured in the song “Cannonbal” with Ira Losco. Other songs she featured in were “Say it first” with B-OK, “One more” with The New Victorians and “Skin deep” with Maxine, Destiny and Gaia Cauchi. The songs all reached the #1 spot in the Maltese top-10. Entries Chameleon Country🇲🇹 Malta Year2019 LanguageEnglish LyricsJoacim PerssonPaula WingerBorislav MilanovJohan Alkenäs MusicJoacim PerssonPaula WingerBorislav MilanovJohan Alkenäs BackingsDestiny Chukunyere DancersAmir AshoorAmanda ArinNyat Kibreab FredrikssonAlbin Lindén Results Semi Points: 157Position: 8Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: 107Position: 14Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/H-byNyainRA?si=9LNzf2aUIX3H_mpy