In the first of a series of interviews with the participants in A Dal 2016 we caught up with Viki Singh. Viki is a first time participant in A Dal having rose to fame in Hungary through her participation in Rising Star. She is hoping to represent Hungary with a song about peace, take a read below:
May I start by saying thank you very much for talking to us, I’d like to start by asking what it was that drew you to submit a song into A Dal 2016?
I wasn’t planning on it until the song-writers Viktor Fitos and Attila Valla contacted me with the request to enter the competition with this beautiful song.
You rose into the Hungarian music scene through “Rising Star” where you finished 5th. How did you become involved in Rising Star and what was the competition like?
I started working as a singer 15 years ago. I worked in lots of bands as a session singer, and also as a background singer (for example in the Dal 2013 too). In 2015 I was a finalist in a Hungarian talent show Rising Star, and after that everything has changed….It gave me the opportunity to show myself to the Hungarian audience. I became more self-confident. I got lots of love and support from the people.
When you were growing up was singing something you’d always wanted to go into or was it something you discovered in later life?
I have been learning music and singing since I was a 7-year old little girl,… so music is my life, my everything
The song you want to take to Stockholm is titled “Katonák”, can you tell us what the song is about?
This song is a general peace song – it never loses its relevance (it is unfortunately always actual). It is not a “trendy theme”. People talk about this time and time again to raise attention. When I listen to this song, time stops for me for 3 minutes. I hope people will feel the same.
What was it that made you decide to sing your song in Hungarian and not for example English?
It wasnt my decision to sing in Hungarian. The songwriters contacted me with the request to sing this song…It was in Hungarian already, and I fell in love with the song and the lyrics.
Your song is written and composed by Viktor Fitos and Atilla Valla, Atilla Valla has previous experience of Eurovision having written the 2005 Hungarian entry, how has it been like working with the two of them?
It was unbelievable… When Viktor called me for the first time, I couldn’t believe that it was happening to me…Attila is a well-respected and renowned artist in today’s scene and it was an absolute honour that they thought of me when selecting a singer for the song.
Going into A Dal are you in it to make it all the way to Eurovision or would the experience of making it to the final be the success you want?
I’m am very happy to be among the best 30 in Hungary entering The Dal, because I have a great chance to present this song to a wide range of audience, but if I can represent Hungary in the Eurovision It would give me the opportunity to bring this wonderful song close to the hearts and souls of all the people who are going to watch this competition across Europe.
How would you feel to step out on the A Dal stage to perform a reprise of your winning song knowing you are heading to Stockholm?
I don’t know yet…I always try to concentrate on the next step! But I hope everything will happen as faith wants it.
Finally do you have a message for the readers of Eurovoix.com?
I wish everyone a very good time during the Eurovision competition and I hope you will all find a song that you will truly enjoy and can relate to…
We wish Viki the best of luck in A Dal, take a listen to “Katonák” below:
