Other Highlights
There is way too much music released every month to cover in-depth, but here are some of the best and biggest new tracks from other Eurovision artists:
Konstrakta – “Zabava”
“Zabava” (Entertainment) is what Konstrakta offers up in her latest single. As always, Konstrakta offers up a heap of social criticism in her lyrics, which this time are accompanied by a strong beat and some tension building melodies.
Sanja Vučić – “Makadam” (EP)
Serving up snacks like no-one else can is Sanja Vučić with her new EP “Makadam”. This 6 track effort are all showcases of Sanja’s distinctive over-the-top-pop meets folk sound. Vučić wrote some of the tracks herself, with different (co-)writers and producers for each track. The EP also includes two collabs, “Marrakesh-Dubai” with Tea Tairovic and “Oko Oko” with Amar Gile.
Manu – “Jaz sem Ti (heya no heya)”
Manu is the current stage name of Slovenia’s 2016 Eurovision representative. “Jaz Sem Ti (Heya No Heya)” (I Am You [Heya No Heya]) is an uplifting track that was debuted at the Melodije morja in sonca festival. This self-penned track carried her to 6th place, and is a gorgeous display of her songwriting and performing abilities.
Miki Núñez – “Tiraria enrere”
Spain’s Miki Núñez wants you to know that he would “Tiraria enrere” (Turn back) time and do anything to relive the happy times of a past relationship. The music focuses decisively on the happy memories and not that those times have passed, as the infectious melodies commands the listener to move. This new music by the Eurovision 2019 contestant was penned by Àlex Pérez (Miki Núñez, Mariona Escoda, Sara Roy) and the song’s producer Genís Trani (“Zorra”, Vic Mirallas, Nativa).
Paula Seling – “Eu Mă Duc la Cununie”
Romania’s Paula Seling teams up with Moldovan violinist Nicolae Botgros and his Lăutarii orchestra. As you might expect from such a collaboration, “Eu Mă Duc la Cununie” (I’m going to the wedding) is a very folksy track that balances joyful moments with more emotional ones. The track, which is a folk composition updated by Paula Seling herself together with Eugen Mihaiescu and Alexandru Gorgos, is a slightly dark yet sweet track about marrying someone and leaving your old life behind.
Monika Liu & Teleduetas – “Atostogų duetas”
The Teleduetas are a duo put together by the Lithuanian branch of telecom provider TELE2. After multiple songs together, they’ve now recruited some outside help by getting Lithuanian president Monika Liu involved on the track “Atostogų duetas” (Holiday duet). The song is a slow and dreamy track and fits right in with the rest of Monika’s discography.
RÁN, Páll Óskar – “Gleðivíma”
Iceland’s Páll Óskar very much wrote one of the key moments of queer Eurovision history with his 1997 entry and performance. He now works with fellow Icelandic singer RÁN (perhaps better known a member of Vök and GusGus) for her new song “Gleðivíma” (Happy Hour). The inclusion of Páll is very much a full-circle moment for RÁN, as this pride banger is in part inspired by his own Icelandic Pride classics.
Red Moon – “I Run”
Back in 2015, Red Moon was one half of Norway’s Eurovision entry under the name Debrah Scarlett. Since then, she has been making a name for herself as a singer and songwriter. “I Run” is a moody but optimistic song about her running into the arms of the one person who can make the world and all her troubles fade away. Red Moon co-wrote the track with the song’s producer Andrea Rocha (Ellie Goulding, Armin van Buuren, Billy Lockett). Song of the month!
Mnlop – “Dark Light (feat. Rykka)”
Rykka (Switzerland 2016) features on this gorgeous, moody track by Vancouver based writer/producer Mnlop. “Dark Light” has Rykka asking what way the light is, and what really is the difference between the dark and the light. Their haunting vocals beautifully meld with the production, which is a gently building electronic piece that slowly builds in intensity and emotional strength.
TEYA – “To-Do List”
TEYA keeps adding releasing new music on her “To-Do List”, to the delight of many. The song touches on this, as TEYA sings about being too busy to do anything that’s not on the list, with the trumpets and continuous clapping underlining the stress and tension. Teya, as pretty much always, co-wrote this with Tom Oehler, and Elsie Bay returns to the writing booth as well.
Salena – “Vacation”
The other half of the “Who The Hell Is Edgar?” duo also released music this month. “Vacation” is a groovy little number that musically transports you to the past and a lovely sunny beach. Lyrically, the track is about being on vacation and trying to move past a relationship.
Next page: Highlights from artists from across the Extended Eurovision Universe
Giwrgos Oiko