RTVSLO has confirmed what has been strongly rumored in recent days: Raiven will be Slovenia’s representative at Eurovision 2024. The artist has been internally chosen by the Slovenian broadcaster to head to Malmö. The announcement was made at an event organized by the broadcaster in Ljubljana, the country’s capital, held at the renowned SNG Opera Ballet.
During the event, details of the candidacy were confirmed: Slovenia’s entry this year will once again be entirely in the national language, Slovenian. It will be the second consecutive year they showcase their language on the Eurovision stage. To hear the song, we’ll have to wait a little longer as it won’t be available until mid-next month. The artist will present the entry on January 20th in a live broadcast by RTVSLO, following the pattern set by the previous representatives, the group Joker Out.
Who is Raiven? Getting to know Slovenia’s representative at Eurovision 2024
Sara Briški Cirman is the real name of the artist better known as Raiven, born on April 26, 1996, in Slovenia. She received vocal training at Konservatorij Maribor and later, in 2014, adopted the stage name she’s known by today. That same year, she released her first single, “Jadra.”
Raiven’s popularity in Slovenia soared due to her appearances in EMA (Slovenia’s former Eurovision national selection) and her striking stage performances that captivated audiences. Her musical career took a significant step in 2017 with the release of her debut album, “Magenta,” which won the Golden Flute award for the best album of the year.
As mentioned, the artist is known for her previous unsuccessful attempts to represent the country at Eurovision. She participated in EMA on four occasions, but she didn’t secure the spot. Here’s a recap of her participations:
- In 2016, Raiven debuted in the national selection EMA with the song “Črno bel” and finished in a strong second position, narrowly missing out to ManuElla’s winning entry, “Blue and Red.”
- The following year, she returned with “Zazarim” but landed in third place.
- In 2019, she came back with “KAOS,” a song well-received by Eurovision fans but ultimately fell short against Zala & Gašper’s “Sebi.”
- In 2020, she appeared in EMA Freš as a guest artist during the final.
Slovenia’s Road to Malmö
RTVSLO abandoned Misija Malmö, Slovenia’s selection for Eurovision 2024, due to undisclosed reasons. Instead, a committee of international jurors internally selected the artist and song for Malmö.
Slovenia in Eurovision
Slovenia debuted in Eurovision in 1993 and has competed 26 times. Their best results were 7th place in 1995 and 2001. Since the introduction of semifinals, Slovenia has reached the final only six times, facing several eliminations in semifinals.
In 2022, LPS finished 17th in the semifinals, while Joker Out represented the country in 2023, finishing 21st in the final.