For the sixth consecutive year Estonia is using the popular Eesti Laul format to select its entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. With only a few days until the first semi-final, we took the chance to catch up with some of the singers taking part and today we speak to Tanja.
escXtra: Hello Tanja, thanks for taking some to speak to us today! Firstly we’d like to congratulate you on your qualification to the semi-finals of Eesti Laul 2014!
Tanja: Thank you 😉
X: Where were you and how did you feel when you found out that you were one of the singers who had made it to the Semi-Finals of Eesti Laul?
T: I was actually at the hairdresser (who is my best friend as well) and her husband called to say that he saw in Ringvaade that I’m in the semi-final. I was happy (of course) and surprised.
X: You co-wrote your song “Amazing” with Timo Vendt. Can you tell us a little about how you came together for this song and was the song always intended for Eesti Laul?
T: Me and Timo, we’ve been working together for 10 years now, we wrote all the songs for my album “Gemini” which came out last year, Timo is a producer of all our tracks and he’s a great musician as well. We perform a lot together and work in a studio and have a lot of fun 😉 This year we decided to try and write a song for ESC in our favorite dance-pop style and we did 😉
X: Eesti Laul has developed in recent years to be much more than just a Eurovision preselection and in this year’s contest you will be up against many big names in the Estonian music industry as well as several strong newcomers. For you, what does it mean to participate in Eesti Laul?
T: Estonia is a very small country, so we don’t have a lot of opportunities to do something big, on a big stage with big screens behind me and big production. So for me, it’s a good chance to perform for a big audience (I love to entertain) and of course it’s a huge opportunity to go out and introduce your music and yourself.
X: What are your feelings on the fact that if you win you will be representing your nation at Eurovision in Copenhagen in May?
T: It would be an honor and a lot of fun 😉
X: Are you a Eurovision fan, and if so do you have any favourite Eurovision songs?
T: Yes, I am an ESC fan and i’ve been watching it for as long as i can remember ;0) My all time favorite is “Nocturne” by Secret Garden and of course “Euphoria” by magical Loreen. And every year I find some songs that I really, really like and listen a lot, like “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” by Gina G or “I Feed You My Love” by Margaret Berget etc.
X: Now some questions to get to know a little better, how did you spend your Christmas and New Year?
T: I went on a Christmas tour in December so I had only 1 day off on the 24 of December to eat, give/get presents and just be with my family. On New Year’s eve i had 3 concerts in Tallinn and i finished around 4.30 am, so I didn’t have a lot of time to party 😉 But I love to perform, so for me it’s like the best time ever!
X: Where is your favourite place in Estonia and/or where would you recommend someone visiting Estonia go see?
T: I can’t even begin to describe Estonia and everything our beautiful country has to offer, you just have to visit us, you won’t be disappointed 😉
X: What is your favourite food to cook?
T: There are two places I feel very comfortable with: on the stage and in the kitchen. I’m very good in salads department, but of course I can cook pretty much everything.
X: If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you choose?
T: I would love to have a husky, but I live in an apartment and my dog has to have room to run around, so … no dog for me … for now.
X: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
T: During one performance I was dancing on stage too energetically and my shoe flew into the audience and the next thing I heard was “OUCH” … oops 😉
X: Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
T: Hi, I hope you got to know me a little better and i wish to all of you an “Amazing” time 😉
Tanja, along with 9 other hopefuls take part in Eesti Laul’s first semi-final next Friday. Listen to her song ‘Amazing’ below! On behalf of all the team at escXtra I would like to thank Tanja for speaking with us and wish her all the best with whatever may be next!
