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[UPD] Watch now: National final in Austria

12 February 2016 at 21:39 CET
Céline Roscheck & Farina Miss
Wer singt für Österreich? - Who sings for Austria? That's the title of the Austrian national selection for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Ten songs are in the running, and a 50/50 combination of televoting and the verdict of an expert jury will decide the winner. The show will be broadcast live at 20:15 CET tonight - you can watch it online on the ORF website!

The show Eurovision Song Contest - Wer singt für Österreich? takes place at 20:15 CET tonight. It can be watched live on the ORF website. The following ten acts will fight to represent Austria in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest:

  • Bella Wagner: Weapons Down
  • LiZZA: Psycho
  • Vincent Bueno: All We Need Is That Love
  • Lia: Runaway
  • Céline Roscheck & Farina Miss: Sky Is The Limit
  • Sankil Jones: One More Sound
  • AzRaH: The One
  • Orry Jackson: Pieces In A Puzzle
  • Elly V: I'll Be Around (Bounce)
  • ZOË: Loin d'ici

You can listen to all the songs on the ORF website

Gallery: Impressions, live from the rehearsals

The winning song will be jointly chosen by the TV viewers and an expert jury, consisting of Conchita Wurst, madita, and Julie Frost. The fourth juror will be a combined vote of Austrian media experts who have been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest in past years.

In the first round of voting, the votes of the TV viewers and the jury will be combined to determine two super-finalists. Those two acts will then perform their songs once again, and this time televoting will solely decide the winner and thus the Austrian representative in Stockholm.

Bella Wagner

Singer-songwriter Bella Wagner was born in Vienna and speaks five languages. With her versatile yet distinctively significant voice, she impresses her audiences in many a genre, from jazz to pop, which is her personal focus.

"I will speak/sing for everyone who stands up against war and for peace, also in later generations."

Elly V

Elly is 17 years old. She came to Austria when she was just eight months old, together with her family who was fleeing from Armenia. She proved her great talent by coming first in the talent show Prima La Musica.

"With my song and performance I want to represent my country with dignity. I would like to touch the hearts of many people and convince them to vote for me."

Orry Jackson

Orry Jackson was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1989, where he also grew up before moving to Graz, Austria. International pop music and Neue Deutsche Welle have coined his personal style of German-soul.

"Michael Jackson was my first and biggest musical influence. What stayed in my life is passion for international pop music. I like artists who convince as a whole - voice, looks, style, and pop attitude."

Céline Roscheck and Farina Miss

Céline Roscheck and Farina Miss are teaming up for their performance. Céline's style goes all the way from classic music to pop. The musician plays both the classical and electrical violin. She is famous for her modern interpretation of classical pieces her cross-over projects.

"The Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest music event in Europe. It's a great chance for me to present myself there."

The former jazz student Farina Miss gets her inspiration from artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and D'Angelo.

"I am hoping for a huge music party, with artists from all kinds of countries, countless influences and languages - simply a colourful and inspiring clash of cultures."

Lia Weller

After studying jazz at the Vienna Conservatory and taking part in several musicals, the singer, who was born in Brazil, became famous in Austria due to her participation in the Starmania talent show. Her style is a mix of soul and house music, wrapped in pop.

"I have a lot of memories about the Eurovision Song Contest but the greatest one was when Conchita won."

Vincent Bueno

Vincent Bueno, 30 years old, is based in Vienna but his roots hail from the Philippines. His experiences comprise several musicals and projects both in Austria and the Philippines. 2015 he released his first German-language single called Geständnis.

"My message for the Eurovision Song Contest is: All You Need Is That Love! I am just grateful and at the same time very excited."

LiZZA

LiZZA, alias Lisa Klammer, hails from Carinthia and is currently 19 years old. In 2014 she signed her first record contract and released her debut single Every Minute Of A Day. Her musical role models are Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.

"First of all - it's the taking part that counts! The greatest thing would be to win, of course. My first memory about Eurovision is Lordi, who won in 2006."

ZOË

ZOË's career as a singer started early, influenced by her father Christof Straub who plays the guitar in the band Papermoon. In 2013, the 19-year-old artist, whose idol is Edith Piaf, started her career as a singer-songwriter, and in 2015 she already participated in the Austrian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, followed by her first single and album releases.

"If I get the chance to represent Austria, I will give everything. I am hoping for many nice memories and experiences from the national final."

Sankil Jones

Sankil Jones was born in Vienna and he grew up in New York City. He studied violin, vocals and dance at the Manhattan School of Music and at the Vienna Conservatory. He worked as a model, dancer and choreographer before releasing his first electro pop-RnB album.

"The Eurovision Song Contest is a great opportunity to start an international career and represent Austria as a country of great musical diversity."

AzRaH

When AzRaH was nine years old, she came to Austria as a refugee, fleeing the war in Bosnia & Herzegovina. She studied journalism and works as a digital marketing manager but music kept being her escape from everyday stress at work.

"I hope to reach the hearts of the people with my music."

The show will be presented by Alice Tumler and Andi Knoll - remember them from the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna?