ElektroFolk: “We want people to hear our message, so the performance will be quite simple” (Latvian candidates – Exclusive Interview)

ESC+Plus has talked to ElektroFolk, candidates of this year’s Latvian national selection for Eurovision, “Supernova 2016”. ElektroFolk will perform “Miracle Drums” in the first heat to take place today.

ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Latvian national selection for Eurovision 2016!

E+: Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?

This band is just 2 years old, and we can already surprise people with the broad spectre of music styles and emotions we bring. Step by step we are discovering the genre of the world music. At the ”Music recordings of the Year Award 2015”, ElektroFolk received Golden microphone for the best folk and world music album ” Electro ” . ElektroFolk won the third place at ”Supernova 2015”. On February 15, a new album ” Spotted Cow ” (Raiba Govs), will be released by ElektroFolk.

E+: What impelled you to take part in “Supernova 2016”?

Successful results at the last year’s competition, and a song that was written just in the right moment. It has the right message about peace and love that we want to sing to people all around the world .

E+: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the live shows? Did you expect it?

We are very ambitious and we worked hard for the first round, so we were quiet confident about qualifying.

E+: What it would mean for you to represent Latvia?

It would be something special for us. Just a few Latvian people representing our country, with the whole Europe watching us.

E+: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?

The rhythm of the War Drums goes stronger every beat. All the other sounds are almost drowned out, we barely hear our heartbeat. If people are no longer able to hear anything other than the sound of War drums, we have to drum up as well. We will play drums calling all the fighters back home to return to humanity in love. We will play the Miracle drums.

E+: Why do you think your song has to be selected for Stockholm? What are you strengths to reach the top in the competition?

We have an important message to say to the world, and we think it can unite all the people in Europe, cause nobody want to be at war right now.

E+: Have you started to prepare your stage performance for “Supernova 2016”?

Of course, we rehearse every day. We don’t want to make a circus on stage. We want people to hear our message, so the performance will be quite simple and straight forward, but very powerful and beautiful too.

E+: How do you remember your participation in “Supernova 2015”?

We remember our participation at Supernova 2015 as an adventure, which was filled with emotional highs and lows as a result of the huge work we invested to develop the performance everyday. During that time, we got to know each other better and discovered the potential of the group, we also realized that we are a strong team. The whole process gave us good results and satisfaction.

E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What are your favourite songs in the history of the competition?

Not every year, but we follow it and we know what happens there. We like the performance of Belgium last year.

E+: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?

Maybe Alexander Rybak or Ruslana, they would fit ElektroFolk quiet easily.

E+: Besides Eurovision, what are your plans for this year?

In October we recorded a new LP in that magical place called ”Šlokenbeka”, it’s an old and beautiful manor. It has its own sounds that we managed to capture. It’s a very colourful LP that will be released on February 15.

E+: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?

It’s an old one, but stays relevant even today ”Make Love not war”

E+: Thanks for your time and good luck!