ESC+Plus has talked to Leander Köteles, vocalist and guitarist of Leander Kills. The band will perform “Élet” in the semi-final stage of A Dal after qualifying from the 1st heat of the Hungarian national selection.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Hungarian national selection for Eurovision 2017!
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): Thank You!
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): I started playing music when I was 5 years old, my parents took me to piano lessons. When I was a teenager I was in a band where I played the bass, and after that a second band came where I took up singing. By that time I started writing my own songs, which resulted in the creation of Leander Rising. After it split up, came the time of my current bands called Leander Kills and Amigod (it is a synthwave-poprock project).
Leander Kills was created from a couple of Hungarian bands that were split up, and it isn’t even one year old. Our first album was released in March 2016, and it instantly became number one on the Hungarian Album Charts. Our first album Tulelo (Survivor) started as my solo album, and in the meantime, as the band members joined, they formed it with their sound and playing.
I think that we tried to bring out the most in metal that we could in Hungary, and the next goal is to reach out to the surrounding countries, and after that: world domination. 🙂
ESC+Plus: What impelled you to take part in A Dal 2017?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): I don’t see the Eurovision as a contest, I want to represent myself and my thoughts and feelings. My main goal isn’t to win but to reach new people with my music.
ESC+Plus: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the next phase of the competition? Did you expect it?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): I didn’t really expect it. Because in Hungary the opinion of the music industry and the audience doesn’t always meet, but now it seems the judges are also on our side.
ESC+Plus: What would it mean to you to represent Hungary?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): I am very proud of my country and the Hungarian music and it would mean a lot! 🙂
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): The main inspiration for the song Elet (Life) was the early passing of one of my best friends. Another impact was that I saw everyone living their lives on the world wide web and virtually, and that people only want to satisfy other people, and forget that the first and most important person they should satisfy is themselves.
ESC+Plus: Why do you think your song has to be selected for Kiev? What are you strengths to reach the top in the competition?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): I believe in music that lasts, the song has much to say, it is full of deep feelings, it talks about problems regarding our generation, and I want to express that there is a life before we die.
ESC+Plus: Will you change anything from your stage performance for the semi-final?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): We are a rock band, I believe it is finished.
ESC+Plus: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What is your favorite song in the history of the competition?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): Not really, but it is my third time on it as a performer. 🙂
ESC+Plus: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): There was a girl from Sweden a couple of years ago, I can not remember her name, but she was awesome! 🙂
ESC+Plus: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Leander Köteles (Leander Kills): Life is beautiful.