ESC+Plus has talked to Windy Beach, semifinalist of this year’s Estonian national selection for Eurovision. Windy Beach will perform “Salty Wounds” in the first Eesti Laul 2016 semi-final to take place tomorrow.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Estonian national selection for Eurovision 2016!
Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
I was born in Estonia, on an island called Saaremaa. My mom is a music teacher and my father is a construction site manager. I have one older brother, called Taavi. That was a thing in Estonia in 90’s to put similar names to siblings. I started singing when I was 3 and still going. I also danced hip-hop in Semiir Dance Company and we got many medals in Hip-Hop MM’s all over the world. After high school in Kuressaare Gümnaasium I tried out to Georg Otsa Music School, where I got in to pop-jazz singingcourse. There were 45 of us and only 3 got in, and I was one of them! I graduated in 2012 and since then I have been a freelancer. Have been doing all the crazy projects I have been asked to, musicals and shows, I have been singing in multiple bands, like Söörömöö, Vöörad, Funkifize and this year I started my own solo career under the name of WINDY BEACH.
E+: What impelled you to take part in “Eesti Laul 2016”?
Well, I have been in Eesti Laul before couple of times. With Vöörad, and with Teele/Tuuli/Ula and I like the caroussel of the competition. I started WINDY BEACH this year, so I’m like a newborn right now and that opportunity, to be on Eesti Laul is a big deal for me! Can’t wait to be on that stage. 🙂
E+: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the semi-finals? Did you expect it?
I was in my rehearsing room when my phone rang. You guessed it, it was Mart Normet who started talking regular stuff like:”So yeah, the weather is nice today. How are you? What are you doing? Oh you’re working, that’s awesome. Me too.” I started laughing at some point and then he told me that “Congratulations, You have been chosen to Eesti Laul!” I started jumping around the room but then I remembered, I had sent 5 songs to the competition, 3 of my own and two from my funk band Funkifize. I asked Mart: “Which song?” And he told me: “Salty wounds”. Then I knew I had done the right thing by sending that song. Ula didn’t have the time to cut the song into 3 minute limit.
Something in me told me that I have to send that song, so I cut it myself and put it in the box the next day. So no, I didn’t excpect that, because to be picked out of 238 is an amazing feeling!
E+: What it would mean for you to represent Estonia?
Wow. That would be such a pressure actually! All people are counting on you and you have to represent your country, so it would be hard, but I’m ready for this.
E+: Can you tell us about your song “Salty Wounds”? What is the story behind the lyrics?
My song is called “Salty wounds”. It’s co-written with Priit Uustulnd aka ULA and Mari Tamm, who is the author of the lyrics. Mari’s word’s are beautiful, they’re music to my ears and I start hearing melodies to Mari’s words. I think everybody should make their own “story” behind the song. Because I put my own feeling into the song, when I’m singing and I know Mari put totally other feeling’s behind it, when she was writing this song. But yeah, I would like people to make they’re own little movie behind “Salty wounds” Just try. Try for me. It would make me happy! 🙂
E+: Why do you think your song has to be selected for Stockholm? What are you strengths to reach the top in the competition?
I think everyone has they’re own taste and I like my song a lot. I think it’s catchy, but still flowy, beachy and make’s you wanna move your body. Everybody can relate in someway to these lyrics. I think my strengths are that I’m an Scandinavian Unicorn.
E+: How do you remember your participation in previous editions of Eesti Laul?
I remember it differently. Every time has been a new energy and feeling to it. This year’s, I think is the craziest, cause I’m on my own, but I’m building my own team, so they can help me. But alone in that meaning, that every decision is mine to make, so there’s a lot of thinking on singing, planning, visual etc. and to get all the details the way I want them. I’m a maximalist, but I think that’s a good thing.
E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What are your favorite songs in the history of the competition?
I haven’t been like a crazy fan, but I have watched it every year. That was the main event in my childhood, when it was Eurovision day. My favourite Eurovision song is actually Lisa Andreas – Stronger every minute and I have also sang it, when I was 15-16 in a singing competition in Saaremaa. And I even won with that song, so I really-really like it. I still think that it is a beautiful song and every time I listen to it, it takes me back to that moment, when I was on the stage with that song. I have even uploaded it to YouTube.
E+: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Lisa Andreas. Oh, but actually, why not with Stig Rästa. His voice is awesome and I like him as a musician. I think that would be pretty awesome!
E+: Besides Eurovision, what are your plans for this year?
I’m planning to release my first EP on february and gonna release the video for this song also. Then I’m gonna see, how it’s gonna go in Eesti Laul and after that whatever life brings. I’m opened for everything. And I’m planning a full album in the fall/winter also, so gonna get back to writing after Eesti Laul. 🙂
E+: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Hate less, love more! And don’t forget to do what makes you happy.
E+: Thanks for your time and good luck!