ESC+Plus has talked with Tasha Odi, one of the fifteen participants at Belarusian national final for Eurovision 2015. The singer will perform “Giving Up Your Love” the 26th of December.
ESC+Plus: Hi Tasha! Firstly congratulations on having qualified for the Belarusian final. How did you feel when you were told you were one of the fifteen finalists?
This year the competition is fierce — more than 100 songs were entered! But! The song by Swedish authors that I entered with this year is exceptional, and so I am happy and grateful, but I expected nothing less!
E+: How are you preparing your performance for the final?
I try to sleep, more, talk on the phone less, and spend no more than one hour a day in on-line social networks…. Joking! There is a lot of work to be done and so little time left. I am fortunate to be working with a great team of professionals – stylist, make up artist, director, back up singers, dancers, sound mastering, camera man, etc. We are employing our creativity to put together a performance that will bring joy to the audience. That is the only reason we, performers, do what we do. That is practically what we live for!
E+: This is your second time in the Belarusian selection after your last year’s debut. Why did you decide taking part at this contest once again?
Last year I took part in Eurovision because our Belarussian authors Leonid Shirin and Yuriy Vaschuk (a.k.a. TEO) offered me a wonderful song. For one reason or another, we did not win the final contest. But! We were heard by Ylva and Linda. They approached me because they liked my voice and thought we could really make something great together. And that is exactly what we did! They wrote the song, I recorded it, and we decided to participate again this year! We are doing it again! Why not?!
E+: The official running order for the final has been announced and you will perform last. Do you like this position? Would have you preferred a different one?
The order is determined by chance, and for the second time I am lucky to be the closing performance! Where I am from, the most important and well-known performers and guests of the events usually perform last, so I am very happy to be in the same position!
E+: Ylva & Linda Persson are the composers of your song “Giving up your love”. How have you experienced working with them?
It has been a great experience and pleasure to work with them. They wrote the song for me worthy to represent Belarus at Eurovision 2015. It is easy to work with them for me, I feel very comfortable – we get along on a personal level, and our visions and the way we feel music are very similar. They are very talented and experienced authors, and I am very happy we had the opportunity to create something wonderful together.
E+: Can you tell us about your song, the story behind the lyrics…?
To quickly summarize the meaning of the song, I would describe it as “I am moving on. I am not angry. I am letting you go, and life goes on as well. Thank you for the experience and the lesson. The best is yet ahead of me!” The lyrics are very relatable and are easily understood by all. Ylva and Linda Persson wrote this song in such a way, that people in any country in the world could understand it. As artists, we have an opportunity to reach so many people and deliver a message of strength and hope. I find the message empowering, it touches my heart, and that is what I sang it about.
E+: You sang alone during the semi-final audition. Will you bring a different stage performance at final? Can you give us any hint?
Perhaps. At first, we were going to do what everybody else does – pretty costumes, dancers in the background, choreographed performance, wind blowers, light, glitter, etc. But some things just take away from the magic of true art, the music, the power of voice. Amazingly, the authors of the song will be on stage with me and will back my voice with theirs! This year, we will show Europe a great song without a freak-show! 🙂 But we still have some decisions to make, and would rather not spoil the surprise!
E+: What are your main strengths so as to get the support of juries and televote?
Very simple, and yet nothing else is needed: Lyrics. Melody. My voice. These are all strengths,that we will present to the judges and the audience. If you have these as strengths, you don’t need anything else. And if you don’t have all three – no amount of glitter and props is going to make a difference. Sincere, raw talent and hard work is what creates the magic of a stage performance and determines its success, in my opinion.
E+: What do you think this competition can contribute to your professional career?
It is a great opportunity to be seen and heard, and to touch the hearts of so many people.
E+: Finally, would you like to send a message for our readers?
I would like to invite you all to come visit our beautiful country – Belarus! Come and enjoy our nature, our culture, national cuisine, history and our hospitable people. Make new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime!
Much love and many thanks.
You can follow Tasha Odi on her Official Facebook Page.