In the spotlight: Ana Soklič
06 April 2020 at 10:10 CESTSlovenia's public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, hosted its national selection show 'EMA 2020', where 12 finalists competed for a ticket to Rotterdam. In the end, after a jury-chosen superfinal around and open televote, it was announced that Ana Soklič won the national selection with Voda.
Who is Ana Soklič?
Ana Soklič started her music career early; as a young person, she studied with Alenka Dernač Bunta, a solo opera teacher, the acclaimed Slovenian musician Darja Švajger (two-time Slovenian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest) and singing coach Nataša Nahtigal.
Ana competed twice at EMA, the Slovenian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, and 3 times at the Slovenian Song Festival, where, in 2019, she won 2 jury awards for best interpretation and best song overall. She often performs her songs with symphony orchestras at festivals and on television. In 2014, Ana performed a sold-out solo concert at the Veneto Jazz Festival in Venice, which also hosted names like Keith Jarrett, Cassandra Wilson and Chick Corea. In 2017, she sang in Dubai, Naples and Monaco, and performed with a symphony orchestra at the Lignano Sabbiadoro amphitheatre.
She has performed with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and often sings with smaller ensembles, as well. These are her favourite concerts because she feels the connection with the audience is at its most genuine and intimate. She covers songs by the great names of jazz, soul and blues; music that has a story to tell, but also enjoys performing pop music and the way it allows for an engaged interpretation of the lyrics. As a songwriter, she wants to take people to unexpected places, since this is, as she says, “the true freedom of expression”.
Voda is written by Ana, herself, alongside Bojan Simončič.
READ MORE: Ana's participant profile
You can follow Ana on the following social media platforms:
Since it's original video release, the artist has released a lyric video for Voda as well:
LISTEN: Stream Voda and other Eurovision 2020 songs on Spotify
Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Slovenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 having previously entered the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Yugoslavia.
To date, Slovenia's best placing in the Eurovision Song Contest is seventh, which it achieved in 1995 and 2001. Whilst Slovenia has not won the Eurovision Song Contest it did win Eurovision Choir of the Year in 2017.
READ MORE: Slovenia's country page
In 2019, Slovenia was represented by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl in Tel Aviv. The duo sang their song Sebi, finishing 15th in the Grand Final.
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