Ahead of Benidorm Fest 2025, Shiloh interviewed Henry Semler, who will be competing with his song “No lo ves”.
Tell us about yourself! What has your music career been like so far?
I’ve been playing and making music for 7 years now and I’m currently based in Madrid. I put out my first single “mira atrás” in 2022 and since then I’ve been working hard to make the best music I possibly can. I always try to frame my creative process as making the music that I would love to hear myself, and fitting it in to a void in the current industry around me.
Why did you decide to participate in Benidorm Fest this year?
I was approached by a friend of mine who produces a lot of music in Madrid, he told me there was a songwriting camp being held with the purpose of writing songs for Benidorm Fest. He said I should stop by for a couple days and write some songs, so I did, and “No lo ves” was the first one I wrote when I got there. Now, here we are, fully in the swing of things thanks to that phone call and that song.
What is your song “No lo ves” about?
“No lo ves” is a song about being in the final chapter of a decaying relationship, where the narrator is trying all sorts of things to revert the inevitable. The main message the narrator conveys is that they’re not being truly seen by their counterpart anymore, no matter what they do, everything goes unappreciated and unaccounted for.
What was the writing process for the song like?
Fast! It was one of those songs that just spilled out. I think I had been wanting to write that song subconsciously for quite some time.
Can you give us a hint for what we’ll see in the live performance?
I can’t reveal much unfortunately. What I will say is we’re aiming for something really intimate, immersive and raw, something more reminiscent of an indie film than a grandiose live performance.
Have you listened to the other competing songs? Do you have a favorite?
Yes! I think Lachispa, similarly to the rest of Spain, blew me away the most when I heard her song for the first time.
Do you have a favorite Eurovision song or memory?
I’ve been a huge MARO fan for quite some time, and seeing her perform for Portugal at Eurovision was so inspiring.
Finally, what would you like to say to anyone discovering your music for the first time through Benidorm Fest 2025?
I hope they embrace it, enjoy it, I hope it resonates with them, and I hope they’re ready for more because 2025 is gonna be a big year for me musically speaking. I’m currently working on the best music I’ve ever made and I can’t wait to share more of it. For now, just give “No lo ves” a lot of love.
About Henry Semler
Born in the United States and raised in Barcelona, Henry Semler draws his musical inspirations from James Taylor and John Mayer and has been songwriting since he was fourteen. In 2019, he auditioned for that year’s edition of Operación Triunfo, but failed to make the shortlist. He spent the first two years of his performing career in Barcelona, performing in bars and music clubs, before moving to Madrid in late 2020. He has released five singles and an EP, and his first album LOVERBOY is upcoming. This past year, he performed throughout Europe while supporting singer-songwriter Iñigo Quintero on tour.
Spain’s Eurovision journey
Spain debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 with Conchita Bautista’s “Estando Contigo”. The country earned its first win in 1968 with Massiel’s “La La La”, and won again in 1969 with Salome’s “Vivo Cantando” in an infamous four-way tie. Although they have yet to win again, Spain earned several 2nd place finishes, most famously with Mocedades’ “Eres tu” in 1973 and Anabel Conde’s “Vuelve conmigo” in 1996.
In 2024, Spain selected Nebulossa. As part of the Big 5, Nebulossa did not need to qualify to the Grand Final from the semi-finals. At the close of voting, their song “ZORRA” finished 22nd, with a total of 30 points. Of these, 19 points came from the jury, whilst 11 came from the televote.
RTVE revived the Benidorm International Song Festival four years ago to serve as Spain’s selection for Eurovision. This year’s Benidorm Fest will be held from 28th January to 1st February, and features a new 50-50 voting split between public and jury voting.
Will Henry Semler come out on top as Spain’s Eurovision representative? What do you think of his song “No lo ves”? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we prepare for Eurovision 2025!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: RTVE
Giwrgos Oiko 
Samantha