🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Meet the TES Team: Emma

What better time than the off-season (what off-season?) to add to the team. The latest to join as a staff writer is Emma who is classical singer and producer from Glasgow, Scotland.

Name: Emma Walton

Age: 37

Pronouns: She/They

Socials: @Operazzi on basically everything, but particularly: Instagram and BlueSky

How did I get into the Eurovision Song Contest?

We almost always watched Eurovision as a family, with my dad and I offering what we considered to be very astute critiques from the sofa. But the point where it became more of an obsession was when I started travelling.

Before every trip, I’d make a playlist of my favourite Eurovision songs from the country I was about to visit. Eurovision is such a cultural force across mainland Europe, and being able to connect with other countries through music has always felt very me, and definitely part of the reason I ended up studying music and languages.

During Covid, that interest only grew. With so many Eurovision-related shows suddenly becoming accessible online, I started watching every national final religiously, sometimes with as many as six screens on the go. That eventually developed into attending contests and national finals in person.

Eurovision has completely changed the way I travel. It’s led me onto sleeper trains between Kyiv and Odesa, and to having a favourite bakery in Copenhagen after so many visits. I feel very lucky to have experienced so much because of a ‘silly little music contest’.

What point did I consider myself as a “Eurofan”?

Probably when I realised I was planning my schedule around the national final calendar. I’m not saying I turn down freelance work because of Vidbir… but I’ve considered it.

Since attending a few Eurovision weeks, I truly feel like I’ve found my people. The whole community is so warm and welcoming, and nobody throws a party quite liike Eurofans.

How has Eurovision changed my life?

In more ways than I expected!

Professionally, I work as a freelance producer in the arts, so I love seeing how huge live events come together behind the scenes. Eurovision is one of the best produced television events in the world, and I find myself watching as much for the logistics, camera direction and storytelling as I do for the songs.

It’s also introduced me to friends across Europe and given me a much broader appreciation of different musical traditions. I love when countries embrace their own musical identity rather than chasing whatever happens to be fashionable.

Favourite Eurovision songs and countries

This changes constantly, but I’m almost always drawn towards entries that blend traditional music with something contemporary.

Some favourites include:

• 🇺🇦 Go_A – “Shum” (Ukraine 2021)
• 🇳🇴 KEiiNO – “Spirit in the Sky” (Norway 2019)
• 🇪🇪 5MIINUST x Puuluup – “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi” (Estonia 2024)
• 🇩🇪 Abor & Tynna – “Baller” (Germany 2025)
• 🇨🇭 Nemo – “The Code” (Switzerland 2024)

Countries I’m always excited to hear from include Finland, Ukraine, Moldova and increasingly Denmark.

Favourite national final songs

This is definitely harder, but a few that I simply need to sing along to whilst driving are:

• 🇺🇦 Jerry Heil – “When God Shut the Door” (Vidbir 2023)
• 🇲🇹 Kelsie Borg – “Let a Girl Breathe” (Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026)
• 🇱🇻 The Ludvig – “Līgo” (Supernova 2025)
• 🇺🇦 Fiinka – “Довбуш” (Vidbir 2023)
• 🇵🇱 Sw@da x Niczos – “Lusterka” (Finał krajowych kwalifikacji 2025)

What are you looking forward to next season?

I’m excited to see Bulgaria host the Contest for the first time – and hopefully getting to experience it all in person again, but I’m equally looking forward to discovering even more music and artists I’ve never heard of.

I’d love to see more countries embracing their own musical traditions. Some of my favourite Eurovision entries are the ones that couldn’t have come from anywhere else.

Do you agree with Emma’s opinions? Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, Bluesky, and Zoop for more information about Eurovision 2027!