Greek-Australian singer and producer Vassy has withdrawn from representing the USA at Russia’s international music competition Intervision. The contest, set in Moscow, marks Russia’s bid to rival Eurovision following its 2022 ban.
Vassy— full name Vasiliki Karagiorgos (Greek: Βασιλική Καραγιώργος) — was born in Darwin, Australia, to Greek parents and became a U.S. citizen in 2020. She was set to replace R&B singer Brandon Howard, who withdrew due to family reasons.
Vassy has not yet commented publicly on the situation. However, in an Instagram story addressed to her fans, she asked for a day to explain the situation and said she would provide further details soon. However, the United States remains among 23 participating nations, including China, India, and Brazil.
📢 Official statement:
Due to political pressure from the Australian government, US-AU citizen VASSY won’t perform in the #Intervision25 final.
The US remains in the contest, represented on the jury by a Deep Purple legend.
Intervision stands for culture, not politics.— Intervision 2025 (@intervisionwld) September 20, 2025
Career marked by awards and global reach
Known for her powerful vocals and electronic dance tracks, Vassy has built a following of more than 4 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms.
She has collaborated with leading DJs, including David Guetta and Tiësto. In 2023, she became the first woman to receive the ICON Award from the Electronic Dance Music Awards. She has also won the Platinum Songwriters Award from the National Music Publishers’ Association for her contributions to hit singles.
Her music has been featured in major films and television shows. Tracks have appeared in the Hollywood comedy Admission and Disney’s Oscar-winning Frozen. Her songs have also been used in series such as Grey’s Anatomy, advertising campaigns for global brands, and popular video games.
The Recording Academy spotlighted her work through its Global Spin project. She also joined the Danish pop group Aqua as a guest performer on their U.S. tour organized by Live Nation.
Beyond the stage, Vassy serves as a representative of the environmental group Green IT and volunteers at the AVIVA Center in Los Angeles, where she leads music workshops for children.
Contest backdrop
Intervision takes its name from a song contest first held in the 1970s during the Soviet era. At that time, Moscow used it to bring together performers from Eastern Bloc countries as a cultural counterweight to Eurovision.
The modern revival follows Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision in 2022, after President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin officials describe Intervision as a stage for “traditional, universal and family values.” Organizers say it will highlight cultural traditions shared with countries Russia calls friendly, including Belarus, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
This year’s contest features 23 countries from BRICS, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Russian organizers claim the broadcast could reach more than 4 billion viewers worldwide, though they have not confirmed which foreign networks will carry the show.
