Preparations for Junior Eurovision 2024 in Madrid are in full swing. Ahead of his participation, Tim managed to speak with Ramires Sciberras who is representing Malta in Junior Eurovision with his entry “Stilla Ċkejkna” before he went to Madrid.
We’ll start this interview by getting to know you more. Can you tell us any hobbies you have outside of signing?
My hobbies are playing piano, but right now I am putting aside, cos I am concentrating on music, I also like to draw, and I like to play video games,
Do you have a favorite video game at all?
I mostly play Roblox and Fortnite
We’re here because of Music. I wanted to ask you how you got into music and who your musical inspirations are.
I got into music 4 years ago when I was 9, and my inspiration was when I was watching Destiny (Junior Eurovision 2015 winner) and I turned to my Mom and I was like, “Wow, I wish I was there”, and then she offered me to go to music school, but then I was a little shy but then I said I want to go singing, so I started going.
How does it feel to be representing Malta at Junior Eurovision 2024?
It’s very exciting, I mean, for me, it was a dream. I’m very excited to be in Spain. If I could I would just close my eyes and be on the stage.
The first question I will ask about Junior Eurovision is your entry “Stilla Ċkejkna”, can you tell us in your own words, what the song is about, the process of creating your song, and what message you would like to send with your entry.
My song “Stilla Ċkejkna” is about my adoptive story, of where my parents, went to Cambodia in 2013, to get me and brought me here to Malta.
Your entry is a huge thing for Malta, as it is the first time that Malta will be sending an entry that is fully in Maltese. How does it feel that you are the first participant to sing fully in Maltese, and do you think it’s important for people who do want to go to Eurovision or Junior Eurovision to sing in Maltese?
I’m feeling good because next year if they send a song in Maltese. I would be like- “Oh I started this” you know, and it’s very important to send songs in your language because in Eurovision, you also have to show your culture, so I think it’s very important.
You also filmed a music video for your entry, what was the experience like to film it?
It was very exciting, we worked very hard, and we spent a lot of hours working on it, and then I remember on the first day it came out, with my entire body hurting, as it reminded me of all the hours we spent on it. It’s very special to me, because next year, there’s always a like a memory of my adoption story.
What are you looking forward to, as you head to Madrid for Junior Eurovision?
Honestly, I’m very excited for the contest, but besides the contest, I’m also very looking to seeing what Spain looks like because I have never been to Spain in person, and only through photos.
After you won Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest, you met Destiny, other than Destiny, have you met other Eurovision or Junior Eurovision participants, and if so, what advice did they give you?
I met Yulan (2023), Chanel (2020) at the contest, I also met The Busker (2023), when I sang with them, I also met Sara Bonici (2024) through video call. When I saw them, as I was like ‘Am I really meeting these stars right now’. The advice they gave me was to never give up and keep working hard.
How are the preparations going for your performance next month? Can you give us any hints as to what we can expect from your performance?
I can tell you one thing. I don’t really know how my outfit is going to be like. I only saw like the sleeve part, it’s going to be Black, with some Purple and Turquoise Diamonds or Gems. In the beginning of the performance, I will be holding a light, which is going to be the “Stilla Ċkejkna” and I will be singing and this light will be going around me, while I’m performing.
You will be closing the show this year, how does that feel?
I’m feeling very honoured that I will be closing such a huge show. During the show I will be dying, because I will be waiting patiently to go and perform.
We’re here because we love Eurovision, do you have a favorite Eurovision entry?
All of them are my favourite because they all have a different story to them, which makes them even more special, so I cannot really pick one.
Not even a few?
No (in a laughing manner)
Okay, what Eurovision song do you currently have on repeat?
Right now, I think its “Loop” (Malta 2024) and “Je Me Casse” (Malta 2021)
My last question for you, when you get on the Junior Eurovision stage next month, what message would you like to send to the viewers as they see you perform on stage.
I would like to say since my song is about an adoptive story, when the viewers see it, it doesn’t have to be about the adoptive story. My message when I’m performing would be, if there is something emotional that you are going through, it’s okay, cos you will get through.
Thank You for your time, before we go, have you got a message to the viewers who are reading this interview?
I would like to say Thank You for the support and the love and I promise that I will do my best on the stage.
Who is Ramires Sciberras?
Ramires Sciberras is a 12-year-old singer and pianist. He was adopted from Cambodia by Maltese parents. He is a longtime Junior Eurovision viewer and remembers watching Destiny win in 2015 with his family. Sciberras has been receiving music lessons since the age of eight. Last year, he traveled to Riga, Latvia to participate in the Riga Symphony’s International Young Singer contest. Outside of music, he loves singing, traveling, reading, and playing Roblox.
Ramires Sciberras beat out thirteen other performers at Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024. His song, “Stilla Ċkejkna” (“Young Star”), is sung entirely in Maltese–a departure from Malta’s usual habit in Junior Eurovision of sending songs in English. The song is about Sciberras’ experience of being adopted
Malta’s Junior Eurovision Journey
In 2003, Malta was one of the countries to participate in the inaugural edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with Sarah Harrison and the song “Like A Star”, which placed 7th. The Mediterranean nation participated until 2010, where it took a break and returned in 2013 with Gaia Cauchi and “The Start”, which was their first win in the competition. It wasn’t long until they achieved their second win in 2015, where Destiny Chukunyere won with her song “Not My Soul”. Destiny went on to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 with “Je Me Casse”, where she placed seventh.
Malta’s most recent participation was in 2023, where they were represented by Yulan performing “Stronger”. In Nice she scored a total of 94 points, finishing 10th.
Are you looking forward to seeing Malta at Junior Eurovision in Madrid? As always, let us know what you think by commenting down below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we prepare for Junior Eurovision 2024!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU
That Eurovision Site