Ukraine’s GO_A have confirmed that work on songs for Eurovision 2021 commenced earlier this summer. Speaking to Ukrainian media, the band have revealed that they took part in a songwriting camp last month, featuring a number of well known songwriters. They also revealed that the band had been working on material in English.
As we previously reported, GO_A are looking to present 5 possible entries to the public next year. Although the details of the selection haven’t been fully confirmed, the band are well into the process of creating these songs.
According to UA:PBC, the band participated in an international songwriting camp in early July. Although not all of the songs will be revealed in the planned selection, it is highly likely that some will be presented to the public next year. Further, it was revealed that some of the material was specifically written in English, whereas the band’s work tends to be in Ukrainian. The camp was organised by Unified Songs and featured a number of well-known songwriters with Eurovision experience, including:
- Mikolaj Trybulec – Composer of “Friend of a Friend” (Lake Malawi, Czech Republic 2019)
- Ashley Hicklin – Composer of “Me and My Guitar” (Tom Dice, Belgium 2010)
- Unified Songs also includes the team behind “Répondez-moi” (Gjon’s Tears, Switzerland 2020)
In a recent radio interview, band member Taras Shevchenko said the following:
We worked from morning til night with Polish producer Mikolaj Trybulec and British songwriters Ashley Hicklin and Ryan Laurie. And every day, you guessed it, we did one song every day. Well, of course, it’s not that there are fully processed and ready tracks for playing, but we wrote the main melody, the lyrics, the structure, we worked very productively and met wonderful and cool people, I think the experience of working with other musicians is always interesting, and here we wrote with world-class professionals. Maybe one of the few songs that we will present to participate in Eurovision 2021 was created during these days
GO_A’s Taras Shevchenko
About GO_A
GO_A are a Ukrainian electro-folk band that formed in Kiev in 2012. The band comprises of Kateryna Pavlenko, Ihor Didenchuk, Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Hryhoriak.
The band’s big break came in 2015, when their single “Vesnianka” (Веснянка) reached number one Kiss FM 10Dance chart for six weeks. The song was also awarded ‘The Best Song In Ukraine’ 2015 and ‘the Discovery of the Year’ by Kiss FM. The following year, they released their debut album dy na zvuk (Іди на звук).
Earlier this year, it was revealed that GO_A would be making their Vidbir debut in 2020. The band qualified from the first semi-final in second place, and went on to win the final with top points from both the jury and the televote.
However, as ever with Ukraine, it hasn’t been plain sailing. Following their win, their participation was put into jeopardy when the Ministry of Justice has frozen all accounts and funding of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) due to historical debts. Thankfully, the parties involved are working to insure that Ukraine remain in contention this time.
Eurovision 2021 so far
Over the past few months, a number of broadcasters have confirmed whether they will be keeping their 2020 artists for next year’s contest. Whilst most have confirmed that they will be sticking with their 2020 selection, the likes of France and Cyprus will be sending different acts next year. So far, the 19 confirmed artists are:
- Australia – Montaigne
- Austria – Vincent Bueno
- Azerbaijan – Efendi
- Belgium – Hooverphonic
- Bulgaria – VICTORIA
- Czech Republic – Benny Cristó
- Georgia – Tornike Kipiani
- Greece – Stefania
- Israel – Eden Alene
- Latvia – Samanta Tīna
- Malta – Destiny
- Moldova – Natalia Gordienko
- Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy
- Romania – Roxen
- San Marino – Senhit
- Slovenia – Ana Soklič
- Spain – Blas Cantó
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears
- Ukraine – GO_A
We also know that national selections will be going ahead in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
Are you excited to hear some of these songs next year? What kind of entry would you like to see GO_A present in Rotterdam next year? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the over the coming months.1