Ukraine: Maria Yaremchuk – Interview

This year Ukraine will be represented by Maria Yaremchuk with the song “Tick Tock”, she was selected back in December to fly their flag in Copenhagen. We got the chance to talk to Maria asking her questions from ourselves as well as our readers. So here is our interview with Maria;

I’d like to say congratulations on representing Ukraine at Eurovision 2014, how does it feel to be representing your country in Copenhagen?

I find myself in a special occasion. I am a young girl like thousands of those people in Ukraine, who live in the atmosphere of the latest political events in Ukraine. I think that this historic time is considered to be a key moment in the history of Ukraine for the last 20 years of its Independence. And in this complicated time every citizen of Ukraine is devoted body and soul to the events of their native country. Therefore, I will not represent myself, I will not represent the Ukrainian show business, I will represent a young country that has taken its destiny in the hands and is standing in the doorstep of a new historic epoch.

 Now getting to know more about you, you were born in Chernvitsi in 1993, when was it that you first got involved in singing?

I was born in Chernivtsi – one of the best and the most beautiful cities of Ukraine where a great number of Ukrainian talented artists and musicians were born. There are a lot of music festivals, concerts organized throughout the year. A lot of vocal and music studios for children are situated here. Besides, my father, Nazariy Yaremchuck is considered to be a founder of the Ukrainian music tradition.

I started singing and my first vocal lessons were conducted as early as I was 2 years old. My favorite toy that time was my father’s microphone. My parents worried that I could break it. But whenever they took it back I started crying and they gave it to me again. So, my love to music instruments started since that time and it is following me through my life-time and led to the music school that I started attending at 6. 

Your music break through came in 2012 when you took part in Voice of the Country and then went on to do New Wave 2012 coming third, what was it like doing New Wave?

New Wave festival for me was a first experience in representing the country on the international level and I tried to do it on the best possible way. It was a wonderful experience and one of the happiest moments in my life. It was like a holiday camp for me and all the participants were so friendly that we didn’t feel competition at all. We were like colleagues since each of them spoke their language, each of them has their unique features of the voice, their charisma. It was really fantastic and amazing! I’ve received a great experience, I grew up professionally and like a creative personality. I didn’t have the aim for the first prize, I just enjoyed performing on stage and I am always following the principle that every event is given to us by the God. So, one should strive for the best and to fill your performance with maximum of yourself, your soul and your heart. The 3rd prize was a pleasant surprise for me. Besides, I’ve got the biggest number of other awards, including the Audience Choice Award, the video clip shooting and the “Crystal Wave”. The time I spent there and people I met there and communicated are really precious for me.

In 2013 you tried to represent Ukraine for the first time where you came fifth with the song “Imagine”, what did you take from that experience?

Any performance on stage is already a good practice and experience. Eurovision Song Contest is a very special contest and I wanted to understand what the contest was. I took into consideration all the advice, suggestions from the previous year, I looked at my performance, analyzed it and made conclusions. And what is important I understood that I really wanted to get to know Eurovision and decided to try again.

 What was it that made you submit a song into the Ukrainian selection for 2014?

Since I’ve dreamt of Eurovision all the time since my childhood I decided to try again. Therefore, next year I submitted my entry to the national selection again. I should say that one needs to make as much effort as they can in order to enter the Eurovision. Since 3 minutes of your performance is the time when you should show the best of yourself, open to the audience new music directions and show yourself as an embodiment of the Ukrainian nation. National selection as well as other festivals of such kind helps us to compare our music style with other styles, find new friends, get the experience and enter the history.

 You are now the ninth female vocalist to represent Ukraine at Eurovision, why do you think it is that female vocalists are chosen so often to represent Ukraine?

Since Ukraine is associated with a woman (lady). A woman is a face of Ukraine. Even Ukraine (Ukraina) in the Ukrainian language is of feminine gender. And it is a well-known fact that our girls are considered to be one of the prettiest in the world.

 The song you are going to Copenhagen with is called “Tick, Tock”, can you tell us more about it?

Tick-Tock – is a song about time that is flowing so fast and we should always keep it in mind not to forget to enjoy every moment, to have time to love, to care, to protect our dearest and beloved. Since the importance of time especially in modern life can’t be overestimated. So, the more beauty and kindness we fill our life with – the more precious and valuable our lifetime will be! It is something that was born in mind of a 20-year old girl who hasn’t been disappointed yet, who is falling in love, enjoying and perceiving her life, getting new experience.

 Now you performed live in Malta with the new version of your song, firstly what was it that made you rework the song and also what was it like doing the reveal of the song in front of such a Eurovision mad country?

We were pleasantly surprised by how important Eurovision for the Maltese is. We were really astonished that for such a small country like Malta is Eurovision as well as the National Selection is the biggest and the main event every year. It was emotional and touching. We liked the atmosphere in the concert hall, we liked the way the Maltese prepare for such events and of course, I can’t help mentioning the support of the audience that I felt while performing on stage. I liked the way they took my performance. All the people present in the hall during the National Selection were supporting the contestants so much and gave each of them tremendous applause.

 Now I’d like to ask you a few questions that readers have submitted to us. I’d like to start with a question from Arianna in Canada; What is your favourite part of Eurovision?

I liked Marija Šerifović from Serbia with her song “Molitva”. I like Emmelie de Forest, the winner of the previous year and I like Loreen.

 Arianna also wanted to know if you could share a fact with us about Ukraine that we wouldn’t know?

Interesting question, you know,….I suppose that you probably don’t know that “Trembita” – a national Ukrainian wind musical instrument is the longest wind instrument in the world. The length of it could reach 4 meters and the sound of it could be heard for more than 10 km.

One more interesting fact. You probably don’t know that magicians live in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. They can drive away the clouds. Once a festival took place in Chernivtsi, in the city I was born in. The sky was overclouded so that the festival was under the threat of being conducted. My father asked the magicians for help. So, they drove the clouds away right in front of the audience’s eyes and the festival took place successfully.

 Shane from the United Kingdom asks who was your childhood idol?

The first CDs I listened in my childhood were of Spice Girls, Julio Iglesias, Backstreet Boys, Whitney Houston. I grew up on their music. They could be considered my idols.

Tobias Larsson from Finland wants to know whether the song you sang in Malta is the final version of the song?

No, it’s not the final version of the song “Tick-tock”. We are trying different variants, we are thinking and reconsidering the song in different directions in order to understand what arrangement will suit the most. We are working on it now and choosing the best variant.

Tobias also wanted to know whether the situation in Ukraine at the minute, is having any impact on your preparations or not?

Of course, it’s difficult to think about Eurovision when the situation in the country is so emotional. It’s so hard to concentrate when there is sadness and grief in the air. What is going on in Ukraine now is really very painful. I support people and pray for them and want all of them to live happily and peacefully in our beautiful country.

 Orestis from Greece asks who is your favourite Eurovision star?

Helena Paparizou from Greece who was the winner of ESC-2005 when it was in Kiev. I liked her performance very much.

 Patrick from Scotland asks what is your favourite Ukrainian Eurovision entry and why?

Of course, each of them is a national hero who I supported and worried about. I tried to help each of them with my thoughts and support. But the most original and powerful Ukrainian Eurovision artist in my opinion is Ruslana who brought the country victory.

 Finally Mila from Denmark wants to know if you have any special talents besides singing?

My second education is political science. I also like psychology, history and languages.

 I’d like to say a massive thank you to you and good luck, do you have a message for the readers of Eurovoix.com?

Music is the best thing that a mankind invented. Music can make our life better, more beautiful when it is sometimes gray and tasteless. I wish all of you to have as wonderful life as the music is so that it could remind a masterpiece.

We wish Maria the best of luck in Copenhagen and look forward to hearing the final version of her song for Eurovision.