Greece's Demy: "When the time comes, there will only be excitement"

Monday morning started with Demi’s vocals echoing through the dressing room area as she warmed up. The all-important hair and make-up followed whilst her two dancers flexed their muscles in the delegation area. Demi has been performing professionally since 2011, you can read more about her life and career in her participant profile.

A familiar face in Kyiv   

Demy has been joined by Alex Panayi who is her vocal coach. Alex represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995 and 2000 and was a backing singer for Greece when the country won last time the contest was held in Ukraine in 2005. That year he battled his way to the stage despite being hospitalised for pneumonia! "I’m here to help the team to prepare and to support them technically. My first trip to Eurovision was in 1989, here I am nearly 30 years later," he said.

In addition to vocal coaching, Alex has also been advising Demy on what she can expect at Eurovision. "He told me to enjoy it, focus on the performance and enjoy the time on the stage. He advised me to trust myself when I get up on stage and not get stressed out because that's not good for the voice," explained Demy.

Practice makes perfect   

Demy took to the stage this morning for her first rehearsal. The singer performed her routine three times in total and was looking forward to the experience; "I’m really excited, a little stressed, but it’s great. We want to check that everything is alright, with the cameras, it’s going to be perfect."

Demy’s stage performance was designed by director Fokas Evangelinos, who also choreographed Greece's winning 2005 entry My Number One, Ukraine's 2008 entry Shady Lady, Russia's winning 2008 song Believe and many others.

The start of Demy's performance is said to represent a fairy tale world, before she rises up on a platform, stymbolising unconditional love. "The stage presentation triggers my emotions, and I believe we will manage to make the viewers feel the same," said Demy. 

After the rehearsal, the Greek delegation reviewed the performance in the viewing room. "There are still some minor issues to solve from the make-up to the voice but this is how it goes, this is how it is supposed to be," Demy added.

Many happy returns   

The Greek singer has been to Ukraine before and filmed several videos ahead of the national selection. "I’ve been to Kyiv and Odesa before where we filmed the three videos, we had a great time last time I was here and I’m sure it’s going to be even better."

Demy is enjoying her Eurovision experience so far:  "I’m feeling more excited than stressed, which might sound odd but I am feeling so pumped, I don’t feel that it’s going to be stressful, we have so many rehearsals that when the time comes there will only be excitement. I’m waiting for the Semi-Final, all the people who are going to be on the stage are really excited."

Greece’s next rehearsal will take place on Thursday 4th of May, leading up to their participation in the first Semi-Final on Tuesday, 9th of May.