Evi Reci: In the case I go to Eurovision I think I will leave the song in Albanian

FiK is one of my favorite NFs and it makes me really happy to get the chance to do interviews with some of this year's participants. Our next artist has brought a very interesting sound to this year's festival and that's the reason her entry is on the list of the songs I like the most. Here are Evi's answers:

Name: Evi Reci

Birthday: 30.04.1990

Height: 1.80

Favorite color: blue

What’s your strangest talent? Imitation of other artists

What is the strangest thing you have in your room? A crystal stone! 

What are you really good at? At singing

What are you really bad at? Mathematics 

Childhood memory: Singing in my local theater 

Celebrity crush: Johnny Depp

Who would you cast to play you in a movie about your life? Anyone who understands the balcan reality!

What would the title of that movie be? Evita! 

Favorite movie: Babel

Favorite TV series: House of cards

Dish/Snack/Beverage/Candy we should try if we ever visit Albania: Bakllava & byrek

What is your guilty pleasure? Too many sweets during the day! 

Can you recommend us a song (old or new) from an Albanian artist? Try to listen all the arberesh songs!!! 

Can you teach us some interesting words in Albanian? Ckemi? ( whats up)

Hello Evi! Welcome to the eurovision universe, how have you been doing? 

I am great thank you!

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

An artist that tries to bring a special kind of styles and genres in music and in my videos.

You are one of the participants of Festivali i Këngës 59. How did it all begin?

It's my first time to try this festival. But for many years I was thinking of it! It was just a decision...

"Tjerr” is the title of your song, what’s the story behind it?

Tjerr means spin. It's a personal story, try to spin out of my heart a pain that it was caused... 

How do you feel about the reaction your song has gotten from the fans?

The reactions were great, especially when they try to pronounce my name!! hahaah! They loved the love and the dark style that I brought

This years festival will be held in an open air venue, how do you as a singer prepare for performing under those conditions, taking in consideration that cold weather might not be a singer's best friend?

That is a thing... I am thinking that it will be just a moment as when we will be on stage everything will be ''hotter''. It will be a different experience so let it be!

Have you heard any of the other songs in the competition? Any favorite?

Yes, I 've heard most of them but they are all friends and colleagues of mine so I don't want to specify one! 

Now I'm going to ask you a question that we fans have every year when it comes to the Albanian entry for Eurovision and that generates some kind of debate. In the case you win FIK and go to Eurovision, would you sing your song in Albanian or in English?

I think i will leave it in Albanian, as the refrain ''Tjerr e Tjerr'' it is easy to get pronounced by the foreigners, but you never know...We will see!

What do you like about Eurovision?

I've been watching eurovision since 2013, and I love the international vibe that it's creating there.

What do you dislike about Eurovision?

The geopolitical votes :P 

Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word:

Oatmeal: necessary but don't like it

Chess: strategy

Glitter: scene dress

Air: meditation

Applause: my soul's food 

Thanks to Evi for the interview!

Facebook: EviReciOfficial

Instagram: evireci

Anxhela Peristeri: "Singing is like breathing to me"

 

Hello everybody, what a year this has been! The heartbreak of Eurovision being cancelled this year won't heal easily but I'm so glad we have arrived to a new NF season, and with it arrives new artists, new dreams and most importantly a bunch of new songs for us to discover. As usual Albania is the country that will open up the season and it's time for all of us to get to know more about of the highlights from FiK 59, here are Anxhela's answers:

Name: Anxhela Peristeri

Birthday: 24/03/1986

Height: 1,77

Favorite color: Red

What’s your strangest talent? Poetry

What is the strangest thing you have in your room? An expressionist painting of a sailboat

What are you really good at? Singing

What are you really bad at? Telling lies

Childhood memory: Happy moments with my family at home

Celebrity crush: Leonardo Di Caprio

What would you do if you were invisible? There are endless possibilities that one can do if they become invisible even for a day. I would travel wherever i wish to! I would just simply help people in need and make them happy too!

Favorite movie: Unfaithful with Diane Lane and Richard Gere

Favorite TV series: Game of thrones

Who would you cast to play you in a movie about your life? Jennifer Lopez

What would the title of that movie be? Karma

What is your guilty pleasure? Bread

Can you recommend us a song (old or new) from an albanian artist? Suus - Rona Nishliu

Can you teach us some interesting words in Albanian? Faleminderit, Dashuri, Te dua.

Hello Anxhela! 2020 has been a very challenging year, how have you been doing?

First of all, I try to be positive! I also believe that  good things are coming out of this difficult time, which too will pass.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I am just a singer who loves sharing my music. I feel what I’m singing. That’s the key to me! Singing is like breathing to me. It is the only thing that i can use to communicate the way i feel better than anything else i have given as a human!

You are one of the participants of Festivali i Këngës 59. How did it all begin?

My composer Kledi Bahiti wrote this song for me and we thought it was the perfect song for the Eurovision song contest and, since we had time to prepare, we decided it was the perfect moment!

“Karma” is the title of your song, what’s the story behind it?

According to Wayne Dyer : How people treat you is their karma! How you react is yours! 

How do you feel about the reaction your song has been getting from the fans?

I am very happy because the reactions have been amazing and i am also very glad that most of my people like my song.

This years festival will be held in an open air venue, how do you as a singer prepare for performing under those conditions, taking in consideration that cold weather might not be a singer's best friend?

Even though it will be very cold, we will be very warm and we will explode during those three minutes.

I don't know if it's too early to tell but do you have any idea of what you're going to wear for the shows? Any hint?

Its going to be a surprise 😊

Have you heard any of the other songs in the competition? Any favorite?

Most of the songs are amazing! There are many songs that i like! I like the songs of Era Rusi, Erik Lloshi, Inis Neziri, Orgesa Zaimi, Devis Xherahu, Mirud, Sardi etc.

Now I'm going to ask you a question that we fans have every year when it comes to the Albanian entry for Eurovision and that generates some kind of debate. In the case you win FIK and go to Eurovision, would you sing your song in Albanian or in English?

I still haven't started thinking about this because i am focused on the festival at the moment, but if it happens for me to win, then i will think very hard about what language i'll sing. Maybe in albanian, maybe in english, maybe both. I don't know yet for sure! We will see!

What do you like about Eurovision?

I really like Eurovision because it is a musical festival. So many people from all over the world are coming together. It's like an international big music party!

What do you dislike about Eurovision?

There is nothing i dislike about Eurovision! 

Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word:

Courage: Strength

Silence: Gold

Glitter: Eurovision

Applause: Performance

Dreams: Angels

Is there anything you want to say to close the interview?

I want to thank you all for listening to my music and for all the love and support you have given me. Take care, stay safe and keep it positive!

Thanks to Anxhela for the interview!

Facebook: AnxhelaPeristeriOfficial