Today the first show of the Belgian preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 starts. As you know 5 participants will perform on 3 Sunday evenings in Eurosong 2016, and Amaryllis Uitterlinden is one of the contestants. Amaryllis is very experienced artist, not just singer. We talked to her about participation in the Eurosong 2016 and Amaryllis’ way in music and about her background.

Hi Amaryllis! ESCBubble and our readers wish you a Happy New Year!

And a very Happy New Year to you and all of your readers. May 2016 be a year full of love in every possible way!

How were your holidays? Did you have time to relax?

I did have a little time to relax. I am big on Christmas. My family is very important to me and Christmas to me is always a very warm time, spent close to your loved ones. Also, it’s my birthday… yeah, that’s right: Christmas eve, the 24th. 😉

 Happy Birthday! You were born on a very special day! You are a new artist for our readers outside Belgium, can you please tell us more about yourself?

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. My mother is an actress so I spent a lot of time in theatres, dressing rooms, back stages etc. I loved it, it has always felt like home to me. I have had a very diverse career up till now. I enjoy the excitement of discovering new challenges. I am a singer-songwriter and play the piano. But I am also an actress. I have recorded solo as well as with other great Belgian artists. I have played small stages and stadiums. On the other hand as an actress I have done theatre, musical theatre, television, and last year I played the lead in my first movie.

What could we expect form the artist Amaryllis Uitterlinden? In what musical style do you perform?

The music that I write can be considered as pop music… with a twist. I am big on lyrics and use my own experiences, things that touch me in life, to write from.

Every artist has something special, people say “he/she hast it”. How can you describe “it” about yourself?

Being an artist was never a choice for me, it’s just the way I am, I guess. I have always been writing stories and singing songs, even as a little girl. I guess a true artist keeps on going in a straight line, a line that only he/she can see. Even when times are hard, it’s still there, the need to create and share. Maybe that’s the mark of a true artist?

My love of theatrics is pushing me to create an act that is not only musically interesting but also visually exciting.

Eurovision is a competition for artists of all kinds with different background. What are your advantages?

I think that my diversity is a great advantage here. Eurovision is no ordinary, small stage. It needs ‘something’… more. I am a singer and a performer but also an actress. My love of theatrics is pushing me to create an act that is not only musically interesting but also visually exciting.

Every year after Eurovision Final many artists say, that Eurovision is a unique experience. You are very close to be part of it this year, how do you imagine your Eurovision experience now?

I think it will be one hell of a roller coaster ride…To me it’s important to keep my two feet on the ground, be relaxed and have the right people around me when the time comes. Other than that, I’m gonna take it all in and enjoy every moment of it. I would be proud to represent Belgium, it’s a small country but it is an extraordinary place. It has lots of creativity. Eurovision would give me the opportunity to share that with all of Europe, that excites me.

I have always been, and always will be a storyteller.

What is your inspiration for singing?

I have always been, and always will be a storyteller. I prefer stories that are close to my heart, that way it becomes easy to be sincere and connected to what you’re singing. Also… music is so powerful. It feels like the most direct line to people’s hearts.

How would you describe your ideal song that you would like to perform?

I am hoping the song I wrote for Eurovision will fit that description 🙂

Thank you Amaryllis, it was a pleasure to talk to you. Good luck in Eurosong 2016!

Watch one of the latest video by Amaryllis: