Airi Vipulkumar: “Saatuse Laul” is very touching, beautiful and with a good message” (Estonian participant – Interview)

ESC+Plus has talked to Airi Vipulkumar, participant of the Estonian national competition for Eurovision 2015 “Eesti Laul”. Airi will sing “Saatuse laul” at first semifinal set the 7^th of February.

ESC+Plus: Hello Airi! Firstly we would like to know more about you. Can you tell us about you, musical evolution and important achievements?

I was born on the 08.11.1977 in Tallinn, Estonia (located in the Northern Europe). I had a great interest in music already in the kindergarten, where I also self-confidentially announced to my friends that when I will grow up, I will become a singer.  My interest in music was also developed by my music lover dad`s (Alar Viil) valuable LP vinyl records collection, which he kept purchasing from England, as he was a sailor.

I was singing in every possible moment. In the bath, in the bus, at the street and so on…. When I was studying in the first grade, I was invited to sing in the popular girls`choir “Ellerhein”, where I was singing for 4 years.

My first official band was called – “V8” (as they played American style country-rock music, so they named the band according to the powerful V8-engine American cars). There were 4 persons playing in the “V8”- Me (lead vocals), Alar Ojamets (drums), Tamur Marjasoo (electrical guitar) and Jüri Roosa (bass guitar).

Also I have done other projects like Airi & Snake ( „The Serpent Year“), Airi & “The In-Mail”,  „Chicken`Band“, “The Tritones“(The  50-ies style- Rockabilly music), different solo songs and duets recordings , as duets with Ivo Linna, Koit Toome, Erich Krieger, Kaidi Feldmann.

In the year 2004, I participated in the Estonian Eurovision Contest, for the first time as the solo-artist, with the song “I Wanna Stay” (author – Raid Liiver).

In the year 2005, I participated again in the Estonian Eurovision Contest, with the song, called “Dream In A Dream” ( Ivar Männik- music, Mario Kivistik- lyrics). The song gained lots of popularity and so we decided to create also Estonian language lyrics for the song. Ivi Lepasson created the lyrics- “Lõunamaa Öö”, which means “The Southern Night” (directly translated from Estonian into English). For six weeks, “Lõunamaa Öö”  was in the first place, in the “Elmari Raadio” Billboard ( Estonian popular radio channel- Radio Elmar).

 

 

E+: Why did you decide to enter “Eesti Laul” 2015? 

Eesti Laul song contest is probably the biggest music event that takes place in Estonia and it is a great opportunity for musicians and song-writers to get lots of publicity and work. I was offered a beautiful song and I would have been a real fool, if said NO. So, I said YES! 🙂  And also, it is a great adventure!!!

E+: What would it mean for you to represent Estonia in Vienna?

It would be a great honor, a wonderful challenge, full of joy and excitement! 🙂

E+: Your song is called “Saatuse laul”. How was the composition procedure? Can you tell us about the song and the story behind the lyrics?

“Saatuse Laul” means The Song Of Destiny.  The music was made by Urmas Kõiv and lyrics by his wife-Anneli Kõiv.  About the exact procedure of that song, only the authors can tell you, but i can tell you, how this song found me. I had already made one song in two languages (one in Estonian and other in English) for this contest “Eesti Laul 2015” and I was preparing show and plans for that one. Two weeks before the deadline, when the songs had to be given to the contest jury, an author of the “Saatuse laul” contacted me and offered this song. I listened to it and found it really beautiful, so I said yes, i will sing it. Next day, my dear grandmother had left her physical  body  and a little time after that I realized that this was the last good deed  from her, to connect me and this song`s authors, because the message is exactly what she would have told me: The world is wide and there is so much beautiful in there. Enjoy as much as you can….every moment. We don`t know, what will the destiny bring us tomorrow, but the heart knows the right path.  Everything that must happen will happen.  Life is just a moment…..a beautiful moment.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sggniKeJlMM

 

E+: How are you preparing your performance?

Preparing is done as usually, visiting tailors, making photo shoots, answering questions, giving interviews, rehearsals. 🙂

E+: Can you reveal us anything about it?

The song will sound even more beautiful, as there will be a real band and interesting amazing instruments. 🙂

E+: What are your main strengths so as to get the support of the juries and televote to reach Eurovision?

I am doing the thing i love to do most-singing! I feel confident, happy and extremely enjoying it. Plus the song itself is very touching beautiful and carries a good message.  🙂

E+: Imagine you win the Estonian competition, what would you do at that moment?

I guess, I would cry for a couple of minutes…..out of the great joy! 🙂

 

 

E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? Do you have any favorite song in the history of the contest?

I haven`t followed the Eurovision each year, but there have been some songs, that have conquered my heart for sure. Through all the years. Eurovision 1992 Ireland – Linda Martin – Why me,  Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah (Finland) 2006 Eurovision Song Contest Winner,  Loreen – Euphoria (Sweden) Winner of Eurovision 2012

E+: Finally, would you like to send a message for our readers? 

I would send the same message as my grandmother sent to me, through my song “Saatuse laul”:  The world is wide and there is so much beautiful in there. Enjoy as much as you can….every moment. We don`t know, what will the destiny bring us tomorrow, but the heart knows the right path.  Everything that must happen will happen.  Life is just a moment…..a beautiful moment.

Thank You so much! 🙂

You can follow Airi Vipulkumar on her Official Facebook Page.