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Denmark's Soluna: Eurovision will be unforgettable

16 February 2012 at 12:07 CET

Guitarist, Linguist, Traveller, Street Performer, Down-to-earth, Passionate... Just some of the words to describe Soluna Samay. Now she has another few to add to that list, "Eurovision Song Contest representative"!

In January, Soluna won the Danish national selection, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, with the song Should've Known Better. Her strong performance and incredibly catchy song sent her to the top impressing both the juries and the public.

 I think participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku will be an unforgettable experience.
 

Now that she has had some weeks to digest her victory, Soluna talks to us about Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, her career and the road that lies ahead. She has also helped us to make a very special video... So why don't you take a look at it below and read how Soluna answered our questions:

How did you get involved in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix this year? Where did the story of your participation begin?

In December 2011 I was contacted by Remee and Chief 1, two very known danish songwriters/producers, who had discovered me on Facebook and Youtube. They liked my voice and style and therefore asked me to sing their song Should've Known Better at the Danish Melodi Grand Prix. I of course said yes, because I loved the song and thought it was perfect for me.

At the moment you realised you won, what was your first thought?

I wish I could go back to that moment and experience it again! It was an amazing feeling to win, but I can barely remember what went through my mind because it all happened so fast! But of course I was ecstatic and overwhelmed by joy, and to be honest also a little surprised! I remember thinking something like; "These things only happen in movies!!"

What are you most looking forward to about being in Baku? Do you have any expectations of the city and of Azerbaijan?

I think participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku will be an unforgettable experience. I look forward to meeting all the other contestants and having a great time. I have never been in Azerbaijan, so I really look forward to experiencing a new culture!

As a child you travelled a lot with your family, but if there was one place you could recommend others to visit, where would it be?

I was born in Guatemala, a truly amazing and beautiful country. I always recommend Guatemala as a destination for adventurous travelers!

Have you always known you wanted to be a performer or was there anything else you wanted to make a carrier out of when you "grew up"?

I honestly don't really remember wanting to be anything else. I've always focused on music! And I am completely sure that making music and performing is what I will do for the rest of my life.

You are representing Denmark but as mentioned you have spent a lot of your life in other countries. Where do you feel most at home?

I see myself as a citizen of the world. I was born and raised in Guatemala, at the age of 10 I moved to Denmark with my German/Swiss parents, and I have travelled all over the world my whole life. But because I have been living in Denmark for so many years now I definitely feel myself becoming more and more danish. I feel very at home in Copenhagen.

What are the main differences between being a street performer and standing on a huge stage? Do larger audiences make you more nervous?

I think the close contact between an artist and the audience is what makes street-performance so special. On a big stage it can be hard to connect with the audience. But at the same time standing on a big stage is amazing, it's quite an overwhelming feeling.I think that performing on streets with my father for over 15 years has given me so much experience that performing on stage comes naturally to me. I just try to take some of the street-performance-intimacy onto the big stage with me, and as long as I focus on the song and its message I usually don't get too nervous.

Below is a video of Soluna's performance in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix but with her help, it contains some surprises, exclusively for Eurovision.tv. Enjoy!