ESCplus has had the chance to talk to TAYANNA, runner-up of the last year’s Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision. The singer is back in the race to represent the country in Lisbon with her brand new single ‘Lelya’.
ESC+Plus: You have participated in Vidbir last year and came in the second place. But now you are making another bid for Eurovision. What made you decide to come back so fast?
I took the result of the last year’s participation as my own victory. This gave me strength and motivation to work further: even more, even better! Most of all I was inspired by the fact that I received the maximum response of the audience to my work. And this, I think, is the most important thing! Today I feel like a flower that has opened even more. By the way, I am encouraged to participate due to the success of my album “Trimai Mene”, which was highly appreciated not only by fans but also by critics.
E+: What did you learn from participating in last year’s Vidbir?
Last year’s participation gave me a colossal experience! And this is very important. One of the main conclusions: nerves and excessive feelings harm the performance. You just need to go on stage and enjoy what you do! Only in such a way you can transfer energy to the audience as much as possible and get much more in return.
E+: Do you think your experience last year will give you an extra advantage? Because you have known the drill already.
I think so, I will have an additional advantage. I will not be so worried. And I’ll sleep more (smiles). After all, last year due to the lack of sleep, I undermined my health and on the day of the performance, I lost my voice. The doctors managed to revive it, but only partly.
E+: Can you tell us about the songwriting process of “Леля”? What was your involvement in the process? How long did the production take?
The fans chose the song “Kvitka” by voting, but due to of the rules of the contest I would not be able to take part in the National selection with it – the song was released before September 1, 2017. Therefore, we had the question of an urgent replacement of the song! It was extreme: to write a song in such a short period. But, I think that in the end everything was resolved in the best way. I am the author of lyrics and music. Sound producer Vitaliy Telesin brought a special sound to “Lelya”, with him we worked on some compositions of my album “Trimai Mene”. “Lelya” is not like any song I wrote before. Yes, it’s about love, but positive, driving. I hope that it will charge everyone with energy and that the whole Ukraine and all Europe will dance to her.
E+: Will there be a music video for “Леля”? Please say yes, because this song is begging to have one.
I can not disclose all the secrets. I can only say one thing: ahead of us with the team there is a lot of hard work and sharp turns in creativity!
E+: Do you know already how is your staging going to be?
Driving and energetic! Same as the composition with which I will participate.
E+: We are in love with the work of Alan Badoev on your music videos, especially Шкода, which was a huge hit in Ukraine last autumn. How did this collaboration happen? How long have you guys known each other?
I know Alan Badoev for a long time. But our meeting happened by chance. It happened at the recording studio. I came to record backing vocals for the song of the Latvian artist Marcus Riva, and there was Alan. He watched me for a while and then said that he could not watch my work going unnoticed. So there was an idea to make a video. And behind it our first collaboration – video work “9 lives.”
E+: You have always been Badoev’s favorite muse 🙂 How was it like to work with him?
Terrific! Alan, like no other, felt me аnd revealed exactly as I really am! The style of his work and attitude towards creativity are fundamentally different from those producers with whom I had to work. He feels the music perfectly and very delicately! His approach is a belief in success, love to people and an endless stream of ideas! He is the inspiration.
E+: Alan Badoev is famous for his abstract artistry. He has a lot of varieties in his videos and it’s not always presented in a straightforward narrative. When you collaborate with him, who came up with the idea first?
I completely trust Alan’s opinion and rely on his experience and feelings. It happened that I did not know what to expect from the shooting process. But everything was very comfortable! With Alan Badoev, and therefore with yourself, works more a team of more than professionals and it means that you will get an excellent result from work.
E+: What are your plans after Vidbir 2018? Any follow up materials after the competition? (single, album, collaboration with other artists, writing movie soundtrack, etc.)
There are a lot of plans. We will please and surprise the fans. But for now, all my efforts have been concentrated on preparation for the National Selection.
E+: Will you release music in English? Because you have many fans outside Ukraine as well, and they are wanting more from you.
I write songs from the heart, I just write down on paper what comes from inside. I do not exclude that there will be songs in English. I have changed very much over the past year, so I feel a rush of energy to create and experiment.
E+: Your musical style has evolved over time, ranging from electro dance pop in the “Портреты” era, jazz-pop influenced in “Шкода”, and to a more retro sound like in “Леля”. What kind of musical genre you really want to pursue? How would you describe your musical artistry?
I write music based on emotions and experiences. I think that style is not that important. The main thing is, to be honest with yourself, and therefore with a listener. Only in this way you can create something beautiful, whole and something that will touch the soul of another person. Only sincere feelings find a response.
E+: Which song out of four, presented to the listeners, from the album “Trimai mene” (“Kvitka”, “Mliyu”, “Sila”, “Trimai Mene”) personally impressed you most?
All these songs are about me. They are about the various facets of those feelings that I experienced personally. All the songs are my personal stories, so I can not single out any of them.
E+: Do you have any message for your international fans? They love you.
Thank you! And these feelings are mutual! I wish you to love and to be loved! Stay on the positive wave. No matter what happens in your life, male conclusions, learn from lessons and take the maximum of the positive!