Belarus: Teo – Interview

Yesterday we got the chance to catch up with Teo this years Eurovision entrant from Belarus. Here is what he had to say about getting ready for Eurovision.

It’s just over a month to go until Eurovision, how does it feel?

 Crazy. Busy. Fun. Nerve-wracking. Combine all of those together and then add not enough sleep and that sort of explains it!

Now you’ll be singing “Cheesecake” in Copenhagen, I have to ask why did you decide to call the song “Cheesecake”?

 An ex-girlfriend of mine used to call me ‘sweet cheesecake’ but after a while – and yes, we broke up – it was irritating.  She wasn’t listening to me or respecting me, so it seemed to suit the tune I’d come up with.  Then the rhythm of the song seemed to say ‘I’m not your cheesecake’ and it flowed from there.

 This wasn’t the first time thought that you’ve tried to go to Eurovision, you’ve had a number of songs in the Belorussian selections before. How does it feel going to Eurovision as a singer that has composed your own song?

 You’re correct. In 2008 I was in the national finals with Anna Blagova and after that wrote songs for other Eurovision singers including Alyona Lanskaya and this year for both Natalie Tamelo and Tasha Odi.  My entry was a last minute idea, I just thought it would be fun to have another try and submitted my song just less than two hours before the deadline.  It’s a simple little song with a good message – don’t ‘objectify’ people – and it’s thrilling to think that it’s made it to Copenhagen.

 Can you tell us a bit more about your plans for the staging in Copenhagen?

I’ve been working with choreographer Alexander Mezhenniy and Swedish goddess Tine Matulessy will be doing even more dance work with me now that it’s April.  With three backing singers and two dancers, we hope that the song shines through in the second semi-final.

 Something that a lot of Eurovision participants say is that once they get the “Eurovision bug” they have to try and come back, do you see yourself in the future coming back to the contest as a singer or would you be coming as a fan?

 I think I already have the bug seeing as I tried in 2008, wrote songs for Alyona from 2010 to 2013 and three for this year!  The song-writing aspect of it really appeals to me, so my return could be a blend of a fan (always) and a songwriter.

 It isn’t just me that asks the question, our readers and followers on twitter also sent in questions for you. Shane from the UK wants to know – If you could collaborate with any former Belorussian ESC star, who would he choose?

 Alyona is wonderful – she’s a friend as well as an amazing performer. I’d sing or collaborate or dance with her any time.  I also would love to perform again with Anna Blagova, too.  I recently sang karaoke with Dima Koldun (Eurovision, Belarus 2007), does that count?

 Dennesh from Germany asks: Have you listened to the other songs this year and if so which is your favourite?

 I’ve listened to them all now; especially those in the second semi-final. All of them stand out because they are all so different from each other.  There’s traditional instruments and ‘sound’ from Switzerland, Malta, Georgia, Slovenia and Ireland; great dance songs from Greece, Romania, Finland and FYR Macedonia; power tracks from Austria, Israel, Lithuania and cheekiness from Poland and a heartfelt ballad from Norway – I can’t pick out a single one because they’re all terrific.

Jess from the UK wants to know: How does he compare his song to past Belarus ESC entries?

 I honestly avoid trying to compare my song as ‘cheesecake’ is fun and yet also personal to me.    I have enjoyed and followed every single contestant representing Belarus in Eurovision for the past ten years and, as a songwriter myself, can appreciate the melody and construction as well as the performance of each one.

Emily who is also from the United Kingdom has a couple of questions for you. Do you know any other languages? 

 Do Belarusian and Russian count as two separate languages? If so, then two. I am trying very hard to improve my English.  I learned most of it from hearing songs sung in English, but speaking it…? That is so much harder.

Do you actually like actual cheesecake? If so, what’s your favourite flavour?

 OF COURSE.  I love cheesecake!  As you can imagine though, I have had rather a lot of it lately – a 320kg one was made for the official song launch a month ago and I’ve been surrounded by various forms of cheesecake ever since.  My favourite flavours are many but include any kind of berries, chocolate, coffee, caramel …….  it’s hard to find one that I don’t like.

 Hanne from Norway wants to know if you have a good cheesecake recipe?

That’s a good reminder actually, as I posted a photo of a batch a friend made recently and asked her to share the recipe.  Eurovoix readers get it first!

White chocolate and blueberry cheesecake

 Ingredients

 Base:   120 grams of plain sweet biscuits (speculoos are really good)

1 cup of ground almonds

2 tablespoons of melted butter

Filling: 600 grams of cream cheese

120 grams of sour cream (about four heaped tablespoons)

150 grams of white chocolate, melted (you can do this in the microwave)

120 grams (around 6 tablespoons) white sugar

2 eggs

1 cup or punnet of fresh blue berries (any berries will do)

 Get to work:

 Pre-heat the oven to 150C.

Base:   If you want a workout, put the biscuits into two plastic bags and give them a good bash with a rolling pin until they’re crushed.  Otherwise, use a food blender!  Mix in the almonds and melted butter and press this mixture into the base of a greased and paper-lined springform tin. Put in the refrigerator while you make the filling.

Filling: Beat the cream cheese, sour cream and sugar until nice and smooth.  Then add each egg and the melted chocolate until everything is combined and smooth again.  Pour into the springform tin and cover the top in blueberries.

Then bake for half an hour (30 minutes) or until set.

Cool in the tin and then refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.  You can serve this with more fresh berries and some cream.

 Do you have anything to say to your fans the readers of Eurovoix.com?

 I have always liked the Eurovoix website – the information that is provided there is as good as it looks!  You are not just a ‘cheesecake’ but have a lot more information to offer singers, fans and other writers and I hope that your readership grows and grows.

Thanks for your time and all the best for Copenhagen.

 Thank you!  Amsterdam for ‘Eurovision in Concert’ is my next step and then, Eurovision in Copenhagen!

Teo will perform in the second semi final in 10th position before FYR Macedonia and after Ireland.