Ahead of the final of Etapa Națională 2024 taking place on February 17th, Rory spoke to Victor Gulik about his experience in this year’s competition. During the national final, Victor will be singing his song “Fever”.
Hi Victor! How are you doing today?
Hello! I’m doing great! Looking forward to the final of the contest!
You’re entering Moldova’s selection with your track called “Fever”. What was the process like in making the song and entering it into the selection?
Initially, my song, just like “Let’s Dance,” with which I also made it to the final last year, wasn’t intended for the contest. It was just a single that was written last summer. The arrangement and final mix were completed only by autumn. The song was released in December on one of the Moldovan TV channels. There, I was asked if I planned to apply for Eurovision, and I answered that I had no such plans. When I got home, I thought about it for a long time. And eventually, I decided to submit an application, especially since there was a new song. And here I am, in the final again.
You have competed to represent Moldova a few times already. What brings you back to the Contest and what do you love about it so much?
I can’t say exactly what prompted me to decide to participate in the contest again. I think it’s because I wasn’t entirely satisfied with my performance last year. Although, to be honest, I’m rarely satisfied with the results. It always seems like I could do much better than I do. As for the contest itself, I like it because it’s a great opportunity to once again share my creativity and make a statement about myself.
Are you a big Eurovision fan? How do you celebrate the show?
I can’t say that I was or am a big fan of Eurovision. But after participating, I can say that it’s a very cool event!
What’s your favourite Eurovision entry of all time?
To be honest, I have several favourites! Here are a couple of examples: Abba – “Waterloo”, Helena Paparizou – “My Number One” and Måneskin – “Zitti E Buoni”.
And of course, I also like most of the songs by Moldovan artists who have participated in the contest before.
With the show on Saturday, you’re making your final preparations for the show. Are there any secrets you could share with us about your staging, or is it being kept as a secret?
I’ll say that more emphasis will be placed on me rather than on the show itself, but let’s wait until Saturday, and you’ll all see for yourselves!
What would it mean to you to represent Moldova at Eurovision this year?
It would be a significant event for me and a huge leap in my musical career!
If someone listened to “Fever” and wanted to check out some other songs, what is one song you have previously released that you would recommend?
Before “Fever,” I released quite a few songs, but I would like to highlight one earlier track. The song is called “Stranger in the Night.” It was featured on my debut EP from 2021, “Mad Illusions.” It’s quite different stylistically from what I’m doing now, but despite that, it’s probably the only track that I’m truly proud of. It might not appeal to everyone, but I believe it’s one of my best songs.
Finally, what is your message to the readers at ‘That Eurovision Site’?
Always follow your heart! And, hear my “Fever”!
Who is Victor Gulik?
Victor Gulik is a singer-songwriter who lives in the Moldovan capital, Chișinău. He currently works as both a solo artist, but also fronts another band called Aglet. The band is known for their covers of hit tracks and have performed all over the country. Victor already has Eurovision, as he qualified to the national final last year with his song “Let’s Dance” – which finished in 9th place. His song for Eurovision this year – “Fever” – was written by Victor himself.
Moldova’s Eurovision journey
Moldova is relatively new to the Eurovision Song Contest, joining in 2005. Their debut entry, Zdob și Zdub, finished in 6th place, which had remained their highest scoring entry up until 2017. This was thanks to the Sunstroke Project performing ‘Hey Mamma’, finishing in 3rd place. At the close of voting, Moldova received 374 points.
In 2023, Pasha came back to the Eurovision stage to represent Moldova at the Contest in Liverpool. Performing his song “Soarele și luna”, Moldova qualified for the final, finishing in 5th place. Following the jury and televote points in the final, Moldova received 96 points, finishing in 18th place. Of the 96 points, 20 were given by the jury, while the remaining 76 is given by the televote.
What do you think of our interview with Victor Gulik? Will you be watching Etapa Națională? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow That Eurovision Site on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we prepare for Eurovision 2024!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Victor Gulik
That Eurovision Site