Mélanie René

Mélanie René

As a daughter of musicians, Mélanie René discovered her passion for music at the age of seven - and for several years she trained in the performing arts and song-writing at the Funambule Theatre in Nyon, Switzerland.

Her talent was noticed at several competitions, such as the George Grigoriu Festival in Braila, Romania, where she was awarded the grand prize in 2009. In 2010 she left for the United Kingdom to continue her musical training at the ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music) and the BIMM (Brighton Institute of Modern Music). It was during her time in the United Kingdom that she wrote her Eurovision Song Contest entry Time To Shine.

With her song, Mélanie René sends us a strong message: that you have the strength to go wherever you want to, to move mountains, to change the world if you want to.

Things you should know about Mélanie René

Most interesting fact about your song?

I wrote Time To Shine at a time in my life when I realized how much I had grown, both in my personal and musical life. For the first time I felt like I knew where I was going in life, and it made me feel free. It is this feeling of freedom that I tried to portray in my song.

Most interesting fact about yourself?

I come from a multicultural background, from a Mauritian familly. However, after doing some research, I have found out that one of my ancestors was an Indian princess who married a French captain.

Do you have a (lucky) routine before you go on stage?

I usually stand in a circle with people sharing the stage with me, and we have a little ritual we do in order to ground ourselves and refocus on what is important - which is have fun and enjoy every second of the show.

Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important for you?

Taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest is like a childhood dream come true! I have the amazing opportunity to share my passion with millions of people, and at the same time to represent a whole country - that is so close to my heart - abroad!