In the our second interview with a Eurovision participant this year we had the chance to talk to Zlata Ognevich from Ukraine. We started off by asking:
How does it feel to be representing Ukraine at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest?
I am very excited and look forward to coming to Malmo. I want to get acquainted with the participants and start the rehearsals. It’s a great experience for every participant and fantastic performance that people see on the stage is a result of hard work that stands behind this glamour. If I have free from rehearsals time, I’ll try to spend it on visiting beautiful places in Sweden and neighboring countries. I adore traveling and I get inspiration from it. I hope to visit a musical festival if I have chance. It will bring me much impressions and inspiration for creating new songs.
When did you first start your career in the music industry?
I started to practice music since my childhood. I attended music school, participated in different song contests, festivals, and theatrical performances. I have never had any doubts what occupation to have. Since my childhood I knew that I wanted to become a musician. My parents noticed that I was spending hours singing something, repeating different songs, beating the rhythm on different surfaces. So, they decided to bring me to the music school where I started to learn playing the piano and writing the music. It’s so interesting and unusual to hear something in the air and then sit down at the piano and play it. After that I left my native town of Sudak for Kyiv and entered the R. M. Glier Kyiv State Higher Music College, the department of pop singing, and simultaneously attended jazz singing classes. Here in Kyiv I understood the sense of music more deeply and got acquainted with my producer and team.
What inspired you to enter Eurovision?
All my numerous fans, their trust in me, in our team inspired us to enter Eurovision this year. Once, while working in the studio with my producer, Mikhail Nekrasov, music was born and later a song. Then we thought that we could venture on participation in the Ukrainian national selection and try our fortune among other contestants. It went out that the audience and the jury gave the most votes for my song and now I have the responsible mission of representing Ukraine in ESC-2013.
How would you describe your song “Gravity”?
The music to the song “Gravity” was written by Mikhail Nekrasov, a very gifted composer who has worked with many European singers and artists of Ukraine and Russia. He worked on the music arrangement of Ruslana’s song which brought her the victory, also with Tina Karol, a representative of Ukraine on ESC-2006. Mikhail Nekrasov is also my producer and combines successfully these two difficult jobs. The author of the lyrics of the song “Gravity” is a well-known and talented lyricist Karen Kavalerian, who collaborated with many successful singers and also with such ESC representatives as Dima Bilan, Ani Lorak, Eva Rivas and others. My song “Gravity” is about freedom, everybody wants to be free, but very often gravity prevents us from it. And only the power of spirit can help to overcome gravity and be free. I am very happy that there is an analogy with a butterfly. It is at the same time a symbol of purity and fairy-tale in my song. Very often people lack the simplicity in things and I am not an exception. My song brings this feeling.
What can we expect from your performance in Malmo?
We are preparing a surprise for our fans. It is not going to be a gorgeous dress or bright make-up. And of course the most important thing in my performance is music since Eurovision is a song contest for most fans. I can’t open all the secrets of the stage performance since our stage director and the team is working much on this issue now. The most important thing is that the dress and the performance shouldn’t distract viewers’ attention from the music and allow the audience to enjoy the song itself.
Who is your favourite Eurovision entrant of all time?
Of course there is an artist and her songs play an important and crucial role in my musical upbringing. Her name is Celine Dion. I got goosebumps while listening to her songs and hearing her fantastic voice. Last year I discovered the voice of Loreen for myself when she brought victory to Sweden. I realized that she is not an ordinary singer, her voice and emotions she conveys in her songs are really amazing and deep. Eurovision is a contest with a long history and I believe that it is very important nowadays, it’s a real festival of music, beauty and talent. I wish everybody find his/her favorite artist!
What would you like to say to your fans at Eurovoix.com?
My dear friends and fans, I wish you unforgettable concerts, perfect music, wonderful trips! Let all your dreams come true! Be happy and get the most positive and bright impressions from your life! I love you all!
Zlata Ognevich will perform 7th in the 1st Semi Final with her song “Gravity”. Her song is currently not available to purchase on iTunes or Spotify. You can watch the official video below:
You can keep up with all of our interviews here.
