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 performers taking part and today we speak to the lead singer of multi-Eesti Laul participants Traffic, Silver Laas.
escXtra: Hello Silver, thanks for taking some time to speak to us today! Firstly weโd like to congratulate you on your qualification to the semi-finals of Eesti Laul 2014!
Silver Laas: Thank you very much.
X: Firstly, for our readers who may be new to Eesti Laul, can you please introduce yourself and the rest of the band?
S: Hi to all, My name is Silver, Iโm 28 years old and Iโm the singer of our band Traffic. Besides me, in our band there is also Stig (Guitar/backing vocals), Robi (Guitar), Tรตnis (Bass) and Ivo (Drums)
X: How did you come together and is there a story behind the band name โTrafficโ?
S: Traffic came together in the year 2006, when me and Stig met and wanted to do same kind of music and band. We did some demos and all the other guys followed shortly. I canโt believe it was almost 8 years ago ๐
I wish there was a cool name-story for Traffic, but the truth is at some point we needed a name, and we had some options, and Traffic sounded the coolest to us.
X: Where were you both and how did you feel when you found out that you were one of the acts who had made it to the Semi-Finals of Eesti Laul? Also Who found out first?
S: I Was in my house and got a call from my manager who had some inside infoโฆ
X: You and bandmate Stig Rรคsta wrote your song โFรผr Eliseโ together. What was the inspiration behind the creation of this song, and was it always intended for Eesti Laul?
S: Stig has the most credit for the song. He had a demo made some time ago and he played it to me in the beginning of autumn. It sounded quite different but had a really catchy chorus, so it stuck right away. I donโt want to say it was written specially for Eesti Laul, but the truth is we only sent one song and we played all our cards on it.
X: Could you tell us a little about the song?
S: The story behind the song is a sad girl/woman, whose husband/lover is in the war and she has almost given up hope, but in the chorus we learn that there is always some hope left. So itโs a sad song with a hopeful twist. About love. Obviously.
X: This will be the third appearance at Eesti Laul, of which youโve had mixed results coming second in 2009 and last in the final in 2012. For you, what does it mean to participate in Eesti Laul?
S: Itโs always fun, and in the same time a rush. The second place was pretty bitter for us, even though it came as a surprise at the time. But letโs say it is a competition and it would be really great to win!
X: What are your feelings on the fact that if you win you will be representing your nation at Eurovision in Copenhagen in May?
S: Obviously I would give my absolute best. It would be a great honour and really fun to be in the center of it.
X: Are you Eurovision fans, and if so do you guys have any favourite Eurovision songs? Perhaps a favourite Estonian entry?
S: I think my personal favourite Estonian entry was 2003, Ruffus โ Eghties coming back. It did notoriously bad in the standings ๐
X: Now some questions to get to know a little better, how did you spend your Christmas and New Year?
S: Christmas I spent with my family at the country house, we had a big dinner, Christmas-tree, presents etc. New years we spent with friends just partying and having fun.
X: Where is your favourite place in Estonia and/or where would you recommend someone visiting Estonia go see?
S: My favourite place is family’s countryside. Itโs a real small village at the seaside and the best place to relax from everything.
X: What is your favourite food to cook?
S: I have been told that I make pretty great pastas ๐
X: If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what would you choose?
S: I already have a pet, itโs a 13 year old cat who is mute actually
X: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
S: Iโd rather not tell.
X: Finally, do you guys have a message for our readers?
S: If a miracle happens and we really go to the Eurovision Song Contest, then maybe you could be so sweet and vote for us!
Silver and Traffic along with 9 other hopefuls take part in Eesti Laulโs second semi-final this Friday. Listen to their song โFรผr Eliseโ below!ย On behalf of all the team at escXtra I would like to thank Silver for speaking with us and wish himย and Traffic all the best with Eesti Laul and whatever may be next!
