Preparations for Junior Eurovision 2024 are in full swing. Shiloh had the opportunity to ask Ukraine’s representative Artem Kotenko ahead of his participation this Saturday in Madrid. Artem Kotenko will represent Ukraine in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with “HEAR ME NOW”.
Watch our interview with Artem Kotenko here:
During the interview, Artem talked about how why he became a singer, his experience during the national selection, what his entry “HEAR ME NOW” is about, as well as what we can expect from his performance on Saturday.
Who is Artem Kotenko?
Artem Kotenko grew up in Khotyrka, a frontline city in Ukraine. Since watching Junior Eurovision for the first time in 2019, he’s become a huge fan, watching it yearly with his family and attempting now twice to represent Ukraine at the contest! He made it to the longlist of participants in 2023. Outside of singing, he also loves playing the piano, theatre, and dancing.
Artem beat out fourteen other longlisted artists and five live competitors at Natsvidbir na Dytiache Yevrobachennia 2024. At the end of the show, which was held on 22nd September, he was tied with Zlata Ivaniv; however, as Kotenko received a higher public vote, he was declared the winner.
His song, originally titled “Dim”, is sung mostly in Ukrainian, but has been retitled to “Hear Me Now” ahead of Junior Eurovision.
Ukraine’s Junior Eurovision Journey
In 2006, Ukraine made their debut to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, with Nazar Slyusarchuk and the song “Khlopchyk Rock ‘n’ Roll” (ะฅะปะพะฟัะธะบ ัะพะบ ‘ะฝ’ ัะพะปะป), which placed 9th. Since their debut, the Eastern European nation has participated 17 times, and even won once in 2012 with Anastasiya Petryk and her song “Nebo” (ะะตะฑะพ).
In 2023, Ukraine selected its representative through a national final, which Anastasia Dymyd won with “Kvitka”. She placed 5th, receiving 128 points from the jury and online vote.
Are you looking forward to seeing Ukraine at Junior Eurovision in Madrid? As always, let us know what you think by commenting down below. Also, be sure to follow โThat Eurovision Siteโ 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