🇨🇭 Eurovision 2025: Meet The Artists

This week, thirty-seven countries will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Ahead of the contest, we’ve made this handy guide to knowing who’s representing which country and with what song.

In the months leading up to now, we’ve had the pleasure of speaking to several of this year’s participants at numerous pre-parties. Check out our interviews here!

Albania – Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”

Facts:

• Selection method – National final (Festivali i Këngës 63)
• Language – “Zjerm” is performed entirely in Albanian
• Songwriters – Lekë Gjeloshi, Beatriçe Gjergji, Kolë Laca
• Running order position – 12th in Semi-Final One

Shokdra Elektronike will represent Albania at this year’s contest in Basel with “Zjerm”. The duo is formed of singer-songwriter Beatriçe Gjergji and songwriter-producer Kolë Laca. It was founded in Shkodër, Northern Albania, in 2018.

Both Beatriçe and Kolë have grown up in Italy, far from their hometown in Albania. They have founded the duo with the purpose of finding a way to go home without taking any planes, by re-interpretating the traditional songs of Shkodër in a contemporary electronic key. They define their music as “Post Immigrant Pop”.

Find out more about the duo here.

Armenia – Parg – “Survivor”

Facts:

• Selection method – National final (Depi Evratesil)
• Language – “Survivor” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Benjamin Alasu, Jon Aljidi, Peter Boström, Joshua Curran, Thomas G:son, Martin Mooradian, Armen Paul, Pargev Vardanian, Eva Voskanian (Parg), Alex Wilke
• Running order position – 5th in Semi-Final Two

Armenia’s 2025 Eurovision Song Contest entrant is Parg with his song “Survivor”.

Pargev Vardanyan, more commonly known by his stage name Parg, was born in Hayravank, a village on the shores of Lake Sevan in eastern Armenia. Although he spent much of his childhood and adolescence in Russia, he has since returned to Armenia.

Parg has gained recognition for his ability to infuse Armenian cultural elements into his music. His latest single, “Kanchum Em” (I’m Calling), explores themes of longing, identity, and personal growth. With lyrics in both English and Armenian, the song combines folk influences with modern pop production, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

Find out more about Parg here.

Australia – Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man”

Facts:

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (SBS)
• Language – “Milkshake Man” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Jason Bovino, Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, Marty Zambotto (Go-Jo)
• Running order position – Opening Semi-Final Two

Representing Australia on their tenth appearance at the contest is Go-Jo with “Milkshake Man”.

Go-Jo, stage name of Marty Zambotto, was born in 1995 in Manjimup, Western Australia, from a French father and an Australian mother, thus holding Australian and French dual citizenship. Go-Jo started his activity as a musician very early. He received his first guitar at 13 years of age and started writing and producing songs for other artists. His solo career took a turn later on when he moved to Sydney.

His first viral success came in 2020, when he sang a cover of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris”, achieving more than 3 million streams on Spotify. In 2023, his song “Mrs. Hollywood” peaked at number 1 in the Australian Independent Record Labels Association, with the song spreading quickly and reaching soon one billion views across all video platforms and social media.

Find out more about Go-Jo here.

Austria – JJ – “Wasted Love”

Facts:

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (ORF)
• Language – “Wasted Love” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Johannes Pietsch (JJ), Teodora Špirić (Teya) , Thomas Thurner
• Running order position – 6th in Semi-Final Two

Austria’s entrant for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is JJ with his song “Wasted Love”.

Johannes Pietsch, known professionally as JJ, was born in the Austrian capital Vienna, on 29th April 2001. He spent the majority of his childhood living in Dubai with his Austrian and Filipino parents, before returning to Austria in 2016. JJ’s music career began in 2020, appearing on The Voice UK, and then the Austrian talent show Starmania a year later. The singer currently attends the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, where he studies classical music.

Find out more about JJ here.

Azerbaijan – Mamagama – “Run With U”

Facts:

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (İTV) after open call for entrants
• Language – “Run With U” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Hasan Hayadar, Sefael Mishiyev, Roman Zee
• Running order position – 10th in Semi-Final One

Azerbaijan’s representative for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest are Mamagama.

Mamagama was formed in Baku in 2021. The current lineup of the band consists of Asaf Mishiyev (vocals), Hasan Heydar (guitar) and Arif Imanov (drums). Prior to forming, all of the members had experience in musical ensembles. The group released their debut single “My Medicine” in 2022. Later that year, they participated in Kënga Magjike, one of the biggest music festivals in Albania. They won first place in the International Artists category with their song “Dreamer”.

Find out more about Mamagama here.

Belgium – Red Sebastian – “Strobe Lights”

Facts:

• Selection method – Selected via national final (Eurosong)
• Language – “Strobe Lights” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Billie Bentein, Seppe Herreman (Red Sebastian), Astrid Roelants, Willem Vanderstichele
• Running order position – 9th in Semi-Final One

Representing Belgium at this year’s contest is Red Sebastian and his song “Strobe Lights”.

Seppe Herreman, better known as Red Sebastian, was born on May 13, 1999 in Ostend in western Belgium. He moved to Ghent to study singing at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where he was taught by Gustaph, who represented Belgium in Eurovision 2023. He still lives in Ghent today.

Seppe first rose to fame when he participated in the second season of Belgium’s Got Talent in 2013. He reached the final of the show. After a few years away from the spotlight, he continued his singing career in 2019 under his new artist name, Red Sebastian.

Find out more about the artist here.

Croatia – Marko Bošnjak – “Poison Cake”

Facts:

• Selection method – Selected via national final (Dora)
• Language – “Poison Cake” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Marko Bošnjak, Emma Gale, Ben Pyne, Bas Wissink
• Running order position – 14th in Semi-Final One

Croatia’s thirtieth representative at the Eurovision Song Contest is Marko Bošnjak with his song “Poison Cake”.

Marko Bošnjak was born on January 11, 2004 in Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina, from Croatian parents. Marko began to be known to the ex-Yugoslavian audience at the early age of 11, in 2015, when he won the second season of the Serbian talent show “Pinkove zvezdice” (Pink stars).

However, his first point of contact with Eurovision happened in December 2021, when Marko Bošnjak was announced as one of the fourteen participants of Dora 2022 with the song “Moli za nas” (Pray for us). The song received 179 points but came 2nd place, just behind Mia Dimšić, who would then represent Croatia at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, Italy.

Find out more about the artist here.

Cyprus – Theo Evan – “Shh”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (CyBC)
• Language – “Shh” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Linda Dale, Dimitris Kontopoulos, Lasse Nymann, Elsa Søllesvik, Elke Tiel
• Running order position – Closing Semi-Final One

Cyprus’ representative for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest is Theo Evan.

Evangelos Theodorou, known professionally as Theo Evan, was born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus. His artistic development began early. By the age of seven, he was actively engaged in singing, dancing, and participating in school theatre productions. Immersed in the performing arts from a young age, he continued his training through formal education, eventually studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of the most renowned contemporary music institutions.

Theo released his debut single “The Wall ” in July 2021, marking the beginning of his recording career. His musical style blends Mediterranean pop with electronic influences, often leaning into darker, introspective themes.

Find out more about Theo here.

Czechia – ADONXS – “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (ČT)
• Language – “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Lorenzo Calvo, Michaela Charvátová, Inés Coulon, Ronald Janeček, George Masters-Clark, Adam Pavlovčin (Adonxs), Adriano Lopes da Silva
• Running order position – 12th in Semi-Final Two

Czechia’s thirteenth entry at the Eurovision Song Contest is “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” by ADONXS.

Adam Pavlovčin, professionally known as ADONXS, was born in Myjava, Slovakia. His early interest in music and dance was sparked by his older sister, leading him to join a junior dance crew, take singing lessons, and learn piano. However, a significant voice change during puberty caused him to pause his singing and concentrate on dance instead.

ADONXS achieved notable success as a dancer, winning the Slovak Championship in IDO street dance disciplines five times across both junior and adult categories. At the age of fifteen, he moved to Bratislava and began studying acting at the New Scene theater. It was during this time that he began to model as well.

Find out more about the singer here.

Denmark – Sissal – “Hallucination”

• Selection method – National final (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix)
• Language – “Hallucination” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Linnea Deb, Melanie Hayrapetian, Malthe Johansen, Sissal Jóhanna Norðberg Niclasen, Chris Rohde-Frisk, Lina Spangsberg, Marcus Winther-John
• Running order position – 11th in Semi-Final Two

Sissal will represent Denmark at this year’s contest in Basel with her song “Hallucination”.

Sissal Jóhanna Norðberg Niclasen, known professionally as Sissal, was born in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. Music has played an integral role in her life from an early age, influenced by her mother, Faroese artist Mikkalina Norðberg. Her natural talent for singing was evident from childhood, and she made her breakthrough in 2005 when, at the age of 10, she won the Faroese children’s singing competition Nósa Barnaprix with the song “Summarið er komið.” This early success paved the way for further achievements in her musical journey.

Find out more about Sissal here.

Estonia – Tommy Cash – “Espresso Macchiato”

• Selection method – National final (Eesti Laul)
• Language – “Espresso Macchiato” is performed in English and Italian
• Songwriters  – Johannes Naukkarinen, Tomas Tammemets (Tommy Cash)
• Running order position – 4th Semi-Final One

Representing Estonia with his self-penned song is Tommy Cash with “Espresso Macchiato”.

Tommy Cash is the stage name of Tomas Tammemets, an Estonian rapper born in Tallinn on 18 November 1991. He describes himself as a “post-Soviet rapper” with an “Eastern European soul”, a “Scandinavian CV”, and mixed immigrant “Ukrainian-Kazakh-Russian-Estonian” ancestry.

He started releasing singles in 2012, but his breakthrough came in July 2016, when he released his song “Winaloto”. The track has received over 16 million views on YouTube (as of February 2025) and saw Tommy awarded with the Estonian Music Award for Music Video of the Year. This led to him performing as a special guest at the official residence of the former President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Find out more about the artist here.

Finland – Erika Vikman – “Ich Komme”

• Selection method – National final (Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu)
• Language – “Ich komme” is performed entirely in Finnish
• Songwriters  – Christel Roosberg, Jori Roosberg 
• Running order position – Closing Semi-Final Two

Finland’s representative at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest is Erika Vikman with her song “Ich Komme”.

Erika Vikman was born on February 20, 1993, in Tampere, Finland. She spent her early years in Lempäälä, in the southwest of Finland, where she was immersed in music from a young age. Coming from a musical family, her mother was a singer specializing in Finnish tango music.

Vikman began her professional career in 2013 when she competed in the seventh season of the Finnish version of Idols. Following her time on the show, she established herself as a Finnish tango singer. In 2015, she participated in Tangomarkkinat, Finland’s premier tango competition, finishing as the runner-up. She returned the following year and claimed victory.

Find out more about Erika here.

France – Louane – “Maman”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (France Télévisions)
• Language – “Maman” is performed entirely in French
• Songwriters –  Anne Peichert (Louane), Tristan Salvati
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Representing France at this year’s contest in Basel is Louana with her song “Maman”,

Anne Peichert, better known as Louane, was born on November 26, 1996 in Sainte-Catherine in northern France and grew up in the nearby town of Hénin-Beaumont. She lost both of her parents while she was a teenager.

In 2008, Louane made her first television appearance by competing in the children’s music competition L’École des stars. Her real breakthrough came in 2013 when she participated in the second season of The Voice: la plus belle voix. After getting all four coaches to turn during the Blind Auditions, she reached the semi-final of the competition. During this time, she started using her stage name Louane, a combination of one of her sisters’ name (Louise) and her mother’s name (Anne).

Find out more about Loane here.

Georgia – Mariam Shengelia – “Freedom”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (GPB)
• Language – “Freedom” is performed in Georgian and English
• Songwriters  – Keti Gabisiani, Buka Kartozia
• Running order position – 10th in Semi-Final Two

Georgia’s seventeenth entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest is Mariam Shengelia with “Freedom”.

Mariam Shengelia was born in Mingrelia, Georgia, and spent her early years in the capital city of Tbilisi before relocating with her family to Zugdidi at the age of ten. She developed an early passion for music, drawing inspiration from a range of genres including pop, soul, and jazz. Her formal training took place at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, where she studied vocal performance and music theory.

Mariam began gaining national attention in 2018 as a semi-finalist on X Factor Georgia, followed by a sixth-place finish in Geostar in 2019, which served as Georgia’s selection process for Eurovision that year. Though she did not win, she was selected to be a backing vocalist for Georgia’s intended 2020 Eurovision entry, “Take Me as I Am” by Tornike Kipiani, before the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Find out more about Mariam here.

Germany – Abor & Tynna – “Baller”

• Selection method – National final (Chefsache ESC 2025)
• Language – “Baller” is performed entirely in German
• Songwriters – Attila Bornemisza (Abor), Tünde Bornemisza (Tynna), Alexander Hauer
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Brother and sister duo Abor & Tynna will represent Germany with their self-penned anthem “Baller”.

The siblings were born in Vienna, Austria into a family of Hungarian origin. They were introduced to music at a young age, since their father, Csaba Bornemisza, had been a cellist with the Vienna Philharmonic. Attila plays the cello, while Tünde played the flute and has won several national flute competitions in Austria.

In 2020, Abor & Tynna were invited to submit a song to Austria’s internal selection for the Eurovision Song Contest but because they felt like they had not enough experience with live performances at the time, they declined the offer.

Find out more about Abor & Tynna here.

Greece – Klavdia – “Asteromata”

• Selection method – National final (Ethnikós Telikós)
• Language – “Asteromata” is performed entirely in Greek
• Songwriters  – Arcade, Klavdia Papadopoulou
• Running order position – 7th in Semi-Final Two

Representing Greece at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is Klavdia with her song “Asteromata”.

Klavdia Papadopoulou, better known as Klavdia, was born on August 18, 2002, in Aspropyrgos, a municipality in the Athens metropolitan area. She comes from a family of Pontic descent.

Klavdia began to be known to the Greek audience in 2017, when she auditioned for the fifth season of the TV show Greece’s Got Talent. In 2018, she competed in the fifth season of The Voice of Greece, as a member of former Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou, making it all the way to the finals but failing to qualify for the final three.

However, after that moment, Klavdia signed a contract with the Greek music label Panik Records and started producing her first singles “Vasanizomai” (“I am tormented”), “Lonely Heart”, and “Haramanta”, the latter being certified double platinum for 40,000 units.

Find out more about the artist here.

Iceland – VÆB – “RÓA”

• Selection method – National final (Söngvakeppnin)
• Language – “RÓA” is performed entirely in Icelandic
• Songwriters  – Gunnar Björn Gunnarsson. Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson, Ingi Þór Garðarsson, Matthías Davíð Matthíasson
• Running order position – Opening Semi-Final One

Brothers Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson and Matthías Davíð Matthíasson aka VÆB will represent Iceland this year with “RÓÁ”.

The duo released their first single “Aron Can (Borðar kál)” in 2022. This was followed by their first album Væb tékk later that year. In 2023, VÆB released a remix of their song “Ofboðslega frægur” featuring Ingi Bauer. This was their first song to chart in the Icelandic Singles Chart, reaching number 17.

Find out more about VÆB here.

Ireland – Emmy – “Laika Party”

• Selection method – National final (Eurosong)
• Language – “Laika Party” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Truls Marius Aarra, Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, Erlend Guttulsrud Kristiansen, Henrik Østlund, Larissa Tormey
• Running order position – 3rd in Semi-Final Two

Representing Ireland at this year’s contest in Basel is Emmy with her song “Laika Party”.

Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, better known just as Emmy, was born on September 13 2000 in Sande in eastern Norway. As a child, she sang in a choir. In 2015, she took part in MGPjr, the children’s version of Melodi Grand Prix, with “Aiaiaiai”. She reached the superfinal. After MGPjr, she performed in concerts across eastern Norway and wrote several songs, including “Bjørnar”.

In 2021, Emmy participated in Melodi Grand Prix with her song “Witch Woods”. She qualified from the third semi-final to reach the final. In the final, she did not qualify for the superfinal. In 2024, she returned to Melodi Grand Prix as a songwriter for the song “Woman Show” by Mathilde SPZ feat. Chris Archer and Slam Dunk.

Find out more about Emmy here.

Israel – Yuval Raphael – “New Day Will Rise”

• Selection method – Selected via national final (Rising Star)
• Language – “New Day Will Rise” is performed in English, French and Hebrew
• Songwriters – Keren Peles
• Running order position – 14th in Semi-Final Two

Israel will compete at the contest with Yuval Raphael and her song “New Day Will Rise”. She was selected to represent Israel through the show Rising Star and was later given her competing entry. She will perform in 14th position in semi-final two.

Italy – Lucio Corsi – “Volevo essere un duro”

• Selection method – Selected by broadcaster RAI after Sanremo winner Olly had first refusal
• Language – “Volevo essere un duro” is performed entirely in Italian
• Songwriters – Lucio Corsi, Tommaso Ottomano
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Representing Italy at this year’s contest in Basel is Lucio Corsi with his self-penned song “Volevo essere un duro”.

Lucio Corsi was born on October 15, 1993 in Grosseto, Italy. He was raised in the Maremma region of Tuscany, known for its landscapes and nature. He started making music at a young age and later moved to Milan, where he composed and released his first debut EPs in 2014 and 2015. At the beginning of his career, he also performed as an opening act for various famous Italian artists such as Stadio, Baustelle and Brunori Sas.

In 2017, he released his first studio album titled “Bestiario musicale“. Since then, he has released three more studio albums, the most recent being released on March 21, 2025, titled “Volevo essere un duro” (I wanted to be a tough guy), the same title as his entry for Eurovision 2025.

Find out more about the artist here.

Latvia – Tautumeitas – “Bur man laimi”

• Selection method – National final (Supernova)
• Language – “Bur man laimi” is performed entirely in Latvian
• Songwriters  – Laura Līcīte, Elvis Lintiņš, Asnate Rancāne, Aurēlija Rancāne, Gabriēla Zvaigznīte
• Running order position – 4th in Semi-Final Two

Representing Latvia in their twenty-fifth appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest is Tautumeitas with “Bur man laimi”.

Tautumeitas are a Latvian folk music group that was founded in 2015. It currently includes six vocalists and instrumentalists – Laura Marta Līcīte, Annemarija Moiseja, Asnate Rancāne, Aurēlija Rancāne, Kate Slišāne, and Gabriēla Zvaigznīte. As a group, in 2017 they released with the Latvian folk band Auļi an album called “Lai māsiņa rotājās!” (Let the sister shine!), dedicated to engagements and weddings. The album relies on Baltic folk musical traditions, and it was awarded the Annual Latvian Music Recording Award as the Best Folk music album of 2017.

Find out more about the group here.

Lithuania – Katarsis – “Tavo akys”

• Selection method – National final (Eurovizija.LT)
• Language – “Tavo akys” is performed entirely in Lithuanian
• Songwriters  – Lukas Radzevičius
• Running order position – 8th in Semi-Final Two

Post-punk band Katarsis will represent Lithuania with their song “Tavo akys”.

Katarsis is a Lithuanian band composed by Lukas Radzevičius (vocalist and guitar), Emilija Kandratavičiūtė (bass), Jokūbas Andriulis (drums), and Alanas Brasas (lead guitar). They were formed in 2020 and have been in activity since then. Their first success came in 2020 with the single Vasarą galvoj minoras, which charted fourth in the Lithuanian Neighbouring Rights Association’s billboard.

After releasing many other singles in 2022 and 2023 – like Des, Būsi, and Praradau tave – in 2024 they self-published their first EP, Dausos, always staying true to their dark alternative sounds and their emotional lyrics.

Find out more about the band here.

Luxembourg – Laura Thorn – “La poupée monte le son”

• Selection method – National final (Luxembourg Song Contest)
• Language – “La poupée monte le son” is performed entirely in French
• Songwriters  – Christophe Houssin, Julien Salvia, Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal
• Running order position – 13th in Semi-Final Two

Representing Luxembourg at this year’s contest is Laura Thorn with her song “La poupée monte le son”.

Laura started getting involved in music at the age of five. She is trained in music theory, piano, cello, keyboard, chamber music and dance, performing at various concerts and competitions. She completed her studies with a master’s degree in music theory, music pedagogy, and pop singing from IMEP in Namur in Belgium. She currently works as a teacher at the Conservatory of Music in Esch-sur-Alzette in southwestern Luxembourg.

Find out more about the artist here.

Malta – Miriana Conte – “Serving”

• Selection method – National final (Malta Eurovision Song Contest)
• Language – “Serving” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Miriana Conte, Sarah Evelyn Fullerton, Matthew Mercieca, Benjamin Schmid
• Running order position – 9th in Semi-Final Two

Competing for Malta at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel is Miriana Conte with “Serving”.

Miriana Conte was born on December 17, 2000 in Valletta to a Maltese mother and an Italian father.

In 2018, Miriana participated in the first season of X Factor Malta, where she was a member of the group 4th Line. The group made it to week 2 of the live shows before being eliminated. In 2019, Miriana left 4th Line and auditioned for the second season of X Factor Malta. She did not advance to the live shows.

Miriana attempted to represent Malta at Eurovision several times. In 2017, she placed 16th in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with “Don’t Look Down”. In 2018, she finished 12th with “Rocket”. In 2022, she finished 6th with “Look What You’ve Done Now”. Last year, she finished 9th with “Venom”.

Find out more about the artist here.

🇲🇪 Montenegro – Nina Žižić – “Dobrodošli“

• Selection method – Selected by broadcaster RTCG following their national final, and a disqualification
• Language – “Dobrodošli” is performed entirely in Montenegrin
• Songwriters  – Darko Dimitrov, Violeta Mihajlovska Milić, Boris Subotić 
• Running order position – 2nd in Semi-Final Two

Returning to the contest this year after a two-year break is Montenegro with Nina Žižić.

Nina Žižić was born on 20th April 1985 in Nikšić, Montenegro. In 2004, she began her music career as part of the girl group Negre. The trio participated in the Serbo-Montenegrin selection for Eurovision that year, finishing in 3rd. In the same year, the group went on to once again achieve 3rd at the Sunčane Skale Festival in Montenegro, but it wasn’t long after that Nina parted ways with the band.

Afterward, she began her career as a soloist, releasing several singles over the years. In 2013, Nina was internally selected by Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG to represent Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest with the hip-hop duo Who See. With their song “Igranka”, they finished in 12th place in the first semi-final.

Find out more about Nina here.

The Netherlands – Claude – “C’est la vie”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (AVTROTROS)
• Language – “C’est la vie” is performed in French and English
• Songwriters – Claude Kiambe, Arno Krabman, Léon Paul Palmen, Joren van der Voort
• Running order position – 13th in Semi-Final One

Claude will represent the Netherlands in Basel with his song “C’est la vie”.

Claude Kiambe was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His mother fled to the Netherlands with him and his siblings when he was nine, initially seeking refuge in Alkmaar, in the north-west of the country. The family later settled in Enkhuizen, where he studied for his high school diploma. He briefly pursued hotel management studies before deciding to quit to begin a career in music.

In 2019, at the age sixteen, Claude stepped into the spotlight as a contestant on the eighth season of The Voice Kids, where his journey ended just before the liveshows. Undeterred, he returned to the stage the following year, winning the talent show Are You Next. Later, he secured a record deal with label Cloud 9.

Find out more about Claude here.

Norway – Kyle Alessandro – “Lighter”

• Selection method – National final (Melodi Grand Prix)
• Language – “Lighter” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Adam Allskog, Kyle Alessandro Helgesen Villalobos
• Running order position – 8th in Semi-Final One

The youngest participant in this year’s lineup is nineteen-year-old Kyle Alessandro from Norway.

Kyle Alessandro Helgesen Villalobos, born on March 10, 2006, in Levanger, Norway, is a Norwegian pop singer and songwriter. Raised in Steinkjer and Trondheim, he was born to a Spanish father and a Norwegian mother.

At the age of ten, he gained national attention by participating in “Norske Talenter,” Norway’s Got Talent. This performance gave him nationwide fame leading to appearances on popular Norwegian television shows such as “Allsang på Grensen.” He released his debut single, “Din Sang,” in 2017, followed by his first studio album, “Første Kapittel,” in 2018 which established him as a promising young artist in the Norwegian pop scene.

Find out more about the artist here.

Poland – Justyna Steczkowska – “GAJA”

• Selection method – National final (Wielki finał polskich kwalifikacji)
• Language – “GAJA” is performed in Polish and English
• Songwriters  -Dominic Buczkowski-Wojtaszek, Patryk Kumór, Justyna Steczkowska, Emilian Waluchowski
• Running order position – 2nd in Semi-Final One

Justyna Steczkowska returns to the Eurovision Song Contest this year following her first appearance in 1995. Her 30-year gap between participations is the longest in the contest’s history.

Justyna Steczkowska was born on August 2, 1972 in Rzeszów in southeastern Poland. She is of partial Tatar descent through her mother’s side. When she was five years old, Justyna moved with her family to the nearby city of Stalowa Wola. After graduating from school, she played violin in a family band and was the lead singer of several rock and jazz bands before launching a solo career.

In 1994, Justyna won the talent show Szansa na sukces. The same year, she won the Karolinka Award at the 31st National Festival of Polish Song in Opole for the best debut performance at the festival. In 1995, Justyna was selected to represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest as only the second ever Polish representative. She finished 18th in the contest with “Sama”. Later that year, she won the Baltic Song Contest in Sweden.

Find out more about Justyna here.

Portugal – NAPA – “Deslocado”

• Selection method – National final (Festival da Canção)
• Language – “Deslocado” is performed entirely in Portuguese
• Songwriters  – Diogo Góis, Guilherme Gomes, João Lourenço Gomes, João Rodrigues, André Santos, Francisco Sousa
• Running order position – 7th in Semi-Final One

Indie-pop band NAPA will represent Portugal with their song “Deslocado”.

NAPA is a band founded in Madeira, Portugal, in 2013, under the original name of “Men on the couch”. The current line-up consists of Guilherme Gomes, Lourenço Gomes, Francisco Sousa, Diogo Góis, and João Rodrigues. They released their first album, “Senso comum”, in 2019, obtaining funds to record it through a crowdfunding campaign. Their second album, “Logo se vê”, would come in 2023, this time with a more mature style. It was then that the band changed its name to NAPA.

Find out more about the band here.

San Marino – Gabry Ponte – “Tutta l’Italia”

• Selection method – National final (Una Voce per San Marino)
• Language – “Tutta l’Italia” is performed entirely in Italian
• Songwriters  – Andrea Bonomo, Gabriele Ponte, Edwyn Roberts
• Running order position – 11th in Semi-Final One

Representing San Marino on their fifteenth appearance at the contest is Gabry Ponte with “Tutta l’Italia”.

Gabriele ‘Gabry’ Ponte was born on 20th April 1973 in Turin, Italy. Best known as a member of Eiffel 65, Gabry is a musician and DJ with an extensive musical career. During his time with Eiffel 65, he produced the chart-topping single “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”, and won “Best Italian Artist In The World” in the year 2000. He went on to produce several singles and remixes, including O-Zone’s “Dragostea Din Tei”.

Gabry left Eiffel 65 in 2005 and a year later founded his record label Dance and Love, which he still works at today. Throughout his solo career, he has collaborated with multiple international artists, such as Pitbull, Aloe Blacc, and Alessandra.

Find out more about the artist here.

Serbia – Princ – “Mila”

• Selection method – National final (Pesma za Evroviziju)
• Language – “Mila” is performed entirely in Serbian
• Songwriters  – Dušan Bačić
• Running order position – 15th in Semi-Final Two

Serbia’s representative at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is Princ with his ballad “Mila”.

Princ, stage name of Stefan Zdravković, was born on September 29, 1993 in Vranje, Southern Serbia, but he has been living in Belgrade since 2002. He holds a degree in Norwegian and Scandinavian studies from the Faculty of Philology of the University of Belgrade. Besides Scandinavia, Prince’s other huge interest is music – he has been singing, playing the guitar, and playing the drums since high school.

Since 2016, he has been the frontman of the band Sisyphus, although he is known best to the public for his solo works. In 2020, he was cast as the lead role of a Serbian production of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. After this, in 2021, he took part in the eighth season of the TV show Glasat na Bulgaria (The Voice of Bulgaria), successfully making it through the semi-finals and entering the top 12.

Find out more about the artist here.

Slovenia – Klemen – “How Much Time Do We Have Left”

• Selection method – National final (EMA)
• Language – “How Much Time Do We Have Left” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters  – Klemen Slakonja
• Running order position – 3rd in Semi-Final One

Performing his entirely self-penned ballad for Slovenia is Klemen with “How Much Time Do We Have Left”.

Klemen Slakonja was born on June 3, 1985 in Brežice in eastern Slovenia. He studied at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in the University of Ljubljana.

Klemen started his career as a local radio host. In 2007, he performed “Sivo kladivo” (Grey Hammer), a parody of the Slovene Christmas song “Bela snežinka”, at the homecoming of the hammer thrower Primož Kozmus, after his silver medal in the World Athletics Championship 2007. In this song, Klemen impersonated several Slovene musicians. After this, he was invited by Sašo Hribar on to his satirical radio show on Slovenian National Radio, Radio Ga Ga in October 2007. A month later, he was invited to appear on Hri-bar, a satirical program on RTV SLO 1, where he impersonated various Slovenian musicians.

In 2008, Klemen became the co-host of “Nekega lepega popoldne” on RTV SLO 1. He went on to host various programs, including EMA, the Slovenian national final for Eurovision, which he has hosted four times.

Find out more about the artist here.

Spain – Melody – “Esa diva”

• Selection method – National final (Benidorm Fest)
• Language – “Esa Diva” is performed entirely in Spanish
• Songwriters  – Alberto Lorite, Melodíá Ruiz Gutiérrez (Melody)
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Representing Spain at this year’s contest in Basel is Melody with her song “Esa diva”.

Melodía Ruiz Gutiérrez, better known as Melody, was born in 1990 in Dos Hermanas, Seville. She grew up in a musical household, influenced by her father, Lorenzo Ruiz Molina, the leader of the flamenco group Los Kiyos, and her mother, Ana Gutiérrez Flores. From a young age, Melody showed an extraordinary talent for music and performance.

Melody burst onto the music scene at just 10 years old with the release of her debut album ‘De Pata Negra’ in 2000. The album, which went double platinum in Spain and America, featured ‘El Baile del Gorila’, a song that became a cultural phenomenon, reaching number one in Spain and solidifying her as a child prodigy in the Spanish music world.

Find out more about Melody here.

Sweden – KAJ – “Bara bada bastu”

• Selection method – National final (Melodifestivalen)
• Language – “Bara bada bastu” is performed entirely in Swedish
• Songwriters  – Axel Åhman, Kevin Holmström, Jakob Norrgård, Robert Skowronski, Kristofer Strandberg, Anderz Wrethov
• Running order position – 6th in Semi-Final One

“Bara Bada Bastu” is the first entry sung in Swedish sent by Sweden since 1998, and will be performed by Finnish trio KAJ.

KAJ are a music group from Vörå, Finland, consisting of Kevin Holmström (vocals), Axel Åhman (vocals and accordion), and Jakob Norrgård (vocals). Their first name initials form the band’s name. The trio met in various ways when they were younger, but later attended the same school and formed KAJ in 2009. Their music can be described as diverse, spanning several genres. From pop and disco to rock and rap, they often find a way to include humour and satire in their performances. They primarily perform in Swedish, with lyrics in the Vörå dialect.

Find out more about KAJ here.

Switzerland – Zoë Më – “Voyage”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (SRG SSR)
• Language – “Voyage” is performed entirely in French
• Songwriters  – Zoë Kressler, Emily Middlemas, Tom Oehler
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Representing this year’s host country Switzerland is Zoë Më with her song “Voyage”.

Zoë Anina Kressler known professionally as Zoë Më was born on 6th October 2000 in this year’s host city Basel, Switzerland. Zoë grew up in the bilingual canton Fribourg, and this mix of languages has greatly influenced her music. Zoë has been writing her own songs since the age of ten. Her musical background includes classical training in piano as well as influences from French chansons and poetic pop.

Find out more about Zoë here.

Ukraine – Ziferblat – “Bird of Pray”

• Selection method – National final (Vidbir)
• Language – “Bird of Pray” is performed in Ukrainian and English
• Songwriters  – Fedir Khodakov, Danylo Leshchynskyi, Valentyn Leshchynskyi
• Running order position – 5th in Semi-Final One

Representing Ukraine on their twentieth appearance at the contest is Ziferblat with “Bird of Pray”.

Ziferblat is a Ukrainian band consisting of Danyii Leshchynskyi (vocals), Valentyn Leshchynskyi (guitar), and Fedir Khodakov (drums). Founded in 2015, the band has released several singles, one EP, and one album. Ziferblat are no strangers to talent competitions, having participated in X-Factor in 2019, and were on the longlist for Vidbir 2023. A year later, the band competed in the final of Vidbir with their song “Place I Call Home”, finishing second behind winners alyona alyona & Jerry Heil.

Find out more about Ziferblat here.

United Kingdom – Remember Monday – “What The Hell Just Happened?”

• Selection method – Internally selected by broadcaster (BBC)
• Language – “What the Hell Just Happened?” is performed entirely in English
• Songwriters – Julie Aagaard, Sam Brennan, Lauren Byrne, Tom Hollings, Holly-Anne Hull, Kes Kamara, Charlotte Steele, Thomas Stengaard
• Running order position – Grand Final (automatic qualifier as part of the Big Five)

Country-pop girl group Remember Monday will represent the United Kingdom with “What The Hell Just Happened?”.

The trio consists of Charlotte Steele, Holly-Anne Hull, and Lauren Byrne. Formerly known as Houston, the group formed in 2013 when they met while studying at The Sixth Form College Farnborough, changing their name to Remember Monday in 2018. Their first big television appearance occurred in 2019, when they participated in The Voice UK, reaching the quarter-finals after being mentored by Jennifer Hudson.

Find out more about the group here.

Eurovision 2025

To get the most out of our coverage of this year’s contest in Basel, make sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms.

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Image source: SRG SSR & EBU

Posted by:Emily Grace

I have been following the Eurovision Song Contest since 2006, and more recently I’ve enjoyed watching partner contests such as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision Young Dancers. I joined Eurovoix as an editor at the beginning of 2017.