With just a week to go until the final of Wer singt für Österreich? we caught up with LiZZA. LiZZA has had an amazing 12 months going from singing covers on YouTube to potentially representing her country at the 61st Eurovision Song Contest, here is what she had to say.
Thank you very much for talking to us, with just over two weeks to go until the selection how are you feeling?
I am so excited to be one of the ten candidates. It is nice having the chance to fight for the ticket to Stockholm. Although I feel a little bit nervous I am looking forward to the show!
Now I want to find out more about you as a singer what was it that drew you into singing?
I only remember one particular moment, when I was three years old and sang along to a Udo Jürgens song called „Bleib doch bis zum Frühstück“ very loud with big self-confidence! That is how all started and there even is a video of it. I have always been an enthusiastic singer and my dream, being a singer, became stronger over the course of these past years. And now my dream has come true, I think.
Growing up who would you say your biggest musical influences have been and why?
I think Udo Jürgens was a big influence; because of his music I started to sing. The reason why? I do not know, I was only three years old. Also, Pink was an influence, I loved her voice and her way to perform on stage. Pink was also the first ever concert I went to. Now I am also excited by musicians like Ed Sheeran, since he has that acoustic element in his music. That is exactly what I want to keep up in my songs, too. I will always perform with my acoustic guitar.
What was it that made you decide to submit a song into the Austrian selection process?
Last year I took part in a casting for the live shows, but I did not make it. This is why I decided to try again this year, to get the chance to sing in public, to get known!
Can you tell us more about your song “Psycho”?
My song is about love, fear and overcoming. First, I am in a cared for area filled with love and outside, there is fear, this is where I am vulnerable. Sometimes I have to overcome fear to be stronger. Fear can not beat us, it just makes us vulnerable.
If someone had told you at the start of 2014 that you’d have gone from singing on YouTube to potentially representing your country at Eurovision what would you have said?
I would have totally freaked out and would not have believed it.
After Conchita and The MakeMakes what would it mean to represent your country on stage in front of millions of people?
My dream would come true and it would be an honour to represent my country in Stockholm. This is my big chance to tell people my story through songs!
If there is one thing that you’d tell yourself five years ago what would it be and why?
I would teach myself to play keyboards, so that maybe one day I could play it as well as my guitar. Its sound is beautiful and now I am a little bit upset, that I did not learn it sooner.
Finally do you have a message for the readers of Eurovoix.com?
With my song I want to encourage everybody to overcome one’s fear. I’m stronger when i face my fears and have the courage to step out of my protected environment. I dedicate my song to everybody who is scared of something. Don’t be.
We wish LiZZA they best of luck in the selection and all the best for her future as a singer.
