Austria: 'Who The Hell Is Edgar?' revealed as entry

Stefan Zechner, Austrian Head of Delegation told Eurovision.tv: 

‘The song is catchy and at the same time has a message with a certain seriousness. Teya & Salena see themselves as members of the Song Contest family and it is great when someone perceives the whole event as a 'once in a lifetime' chance.’ 

Salena added: 

‘This song is a snapshot of the fun we had on the day we wrote it. It started with wanting to convey what it feels like when a good song is made. Sometimes creativity rushes through you as if you‘re getting possessed by a ghost.’ 

Teya chimed in: 

‘But we also wanted to put our personal experiences as female songwriters into the song. It often feels like you have to prove yourself over and over again to be taken seriously. By presenting Edgar Allan Poe as the actual writer of the song, we want to draw attention to this frustrating part of the music business. It's satire.’

Teya discovered her passion for music at the age of twelve, citing Adele and Amy Winehouse as her greatest idols. She taught herself how to sing, performed in musicals, and - in addition to dancing and acting - had her first experiences on stage as a saxophone player in a jazz orchestra.

At 17 she began writing songs, and just a year later she was already taking part in song writing camps all over Europe, especially in the Eurovision camps in Switzerland, Belgium and Sweden. Meanwhile, she has made a name for herself as a songwriter.

In 2020, she participated in both competitions for Austria's and Serbia's ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest. This time TEYA made it, and she still finds it difficult to believe: 

'Already as a child, I wanted to go to the Eurovision Song Contest because it embodied the idea that even big dreams can come true, no matter who you are and where you come from. I can hardly wait to get on that stage! Only then the seven-year-old me will believe that all this is real.'

Salena began singing at the age of seven, and she also taught herself to play the guitar. Later she performed at school events, confirmations, weddings and christenings, both with a band and as a solo artist. 

In 2017, she made it to the third round of The Voice of Germany, and in 2019 she made her first attempt to be picked as Austria’s Eurovision act. Since 2020, she has been the ‘Station Voice’ at Hitradio Ö3 and can be heard in numerous advertising spots.

Salena can't even describe what it means for her to be part of the Song Contest:

‘My biggest childhood dream is just becoming true. Back then I watched Conchita on stage and told my parents that this is exactly what I want - an enormous stage and people who feel the same way about music as I do. From there on, I worked even harder on myself and my singing. For me, the ESC stands for diversity and is a place for people with visions and dreams like the ones us two have. The moment we both stand on the stage, sing the first lines and realise that an audience of millions is watching is probably the moment I am most looking forward to - it's when the dream becomes reality.'