ESC+Plus has talked to Alya, semifinalist of this year’s Slovenian national selection for Eurovision. The singer will perform “Halo” in the second semi-final of EMA 2017 set to take place on February 18th.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Slovenian national selection for Eurovision 2017!
Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
Alya: I’m a slovenian pop singer. In 2002 I hit the top of Slovenian radio and TV music charts and became one of the most popular Slovenian artists. My first album was released in April 2004 which was published in gold and also in platinum edition and my videos were also very successful abroad and climbed the charts on MTV (World Chart Express) and Balkanika.
Most of my songs won the prestigious awards for the best pop songs and the most played/aired/broadcasted in Slovenia between the 2004 and 2017 (award SRF for the best song of the year 2004-Fluid, FHM award for one of the sexiest female in the world, Hit & Veseljak award for song Brazil, Modna Jana award for best fashionista , Ipf award for most rotated song of the year 2013 ( Zlaži se mi), MMS award for song “Srce za srce” winning song of the festival 2016, etc…)
I was also ‘the face’ of on of the biggest mobile providers , for which I recorded a single ‘Car’ (in colloquial language it means ‘a very cool guy). The song was presented on the big historical event called ‘Concert in the Sky’, provided by Croatia Airlines – I made a concert above the clouds, on the 4500 ft in the Airbus A319. The flight took place in Croatia-Zagreb and all the Balkan media were there, the guest was well known croatian music star Massimo Savić. I released 3 albums till now: Alya, Non stop & Car
I’m known by my energy, sex appeal, attractiveness and temperament. The media marked me as sexy and original musician .
ESC+Plus: What impelled you to take part in EMA 2017?
Alya: I already competed in EMA several times. I think that’s a great way to show your work as whole and properly present new single.
ESC+Plus: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the semi-final? Did you expect it?
Alya: Of course, I felt great.
ESC+Plus: What would it mean to you to represent Slovenia?
Alya: I felt the glimps of it in Qatar when I represented Slovenia by singing the anthem for Worlds Handball Championship, so I think I would feel absolute pride.
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?
Alya: The title is “Halo”. The chorus of it is ‘No one can hurt you when you’re full of love’.
ESC+Plus: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Alya: I think Celine Dion is awasome and I also admire Sertab and Tajči.
ESC+Plus: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Alya: Listen to my song and you’ll know it all, it’s all about love.