Anja Bas is one of the 10 singers who will compete for the golden ticket to perform and wave the Slovenian flag on the Eurovision stage in Stockholm this coming May.
We had a chance to talk with this talented girl, who’s not only a singer, but also a painter and a songwriter. Anja Baš also left funny video message for our ESCBubble readers, which you can check below:
Firstly, congratulations for qualifying for EMA 2016! How did you decide to enter the contest this year?
Hi and thank you! 🙂 I’ve been sending my songs for some time now, but I guess the timing wasn’t right then, nor were the previous songs. This year, I wrote a song that is way more energetic, powerful and maybe that’s why I’ve been selected for the competition now. I couldn’t be happier about it.
Apart from EMA, what would you say is your biggest achievement in your music career so far?
Many of such achievements are bound to last year, which was the best year of my life and of my music career so far. I released my first album in March (I wrote all the songs by myself), and I wrote songs for some of the best Slovenian singers too. Last year was the first year of my solo career, as before that I was always the front-girl of other bands. Now I also have my own band. In December I also wrote and published a book about my experience with bulimia in teenagerhood. I did it for all the next generations who suffer from eating disorders. This year, I’ve got a plan to combine the story of the book with my music and do a series of small story-telling events. I look forward to 2016 to be a great year.
EMA is already a festival tradition in Slovenia, have you been following it in the past years and if so, do you have your all-time favourite song?
I’ve been a backing vocalist in EMA for four times now, and I’ve watched it every year. I think my all time favourite would be Nusa Derenda’s “Energy”.
Let’s talk more about your song. What’s the main message of it, and what type of a song can we expect from you?
My song is about destructive love. About loving someone who manipulates you, emotionally drains you out and leaves you empty and craving for their „love“, which is just an illusion. It’s about taking your power back, leaving such a person, but it’s also about your heart not listening to you rationalizing. The song is energetic and full of emotions. I’d say it’s a power pop-ballad.
Can you tell us something more about the team behind this song?
It’s a small but essential team 🙂 I wrote the lyrics and the music by myself, and my producer Franci Zabukovec arranged it. We’ve been cooperating for some time now and he knows what I want to hear in my songs. I especially like the outcome in this one. I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Do you already have some stage plans? How is everything going to look like on the night of EMA?
Yes, I have some plans, but I’m still working on stage performance. I’d like to do something new and unseen, but it depends on possibilities on the organizer’s side. I have a few versions of my performance. It’ll be minimalistic, sexy and elegant.
What would winning EMA and representing Slovenia in Eurovision mean to you?
It would literally be a dream come true. I’ve wanted this for all my life, and even getting to EMA as a solo artist was a big wish. Now I’m gonna make sure to be remembered, no matter the outcome. I’ll give my all, I want to present myself in the best way.
Do you usually follow Eurovision, and do you have a favourite Eurovision song?
I do follow Eurovision every year and my favourite song is the one from Alexander Rybak “Fairytale”.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
True to myself.
What do you usually do when you are not singing?
Lots of creative stuff like painting and writing. I work out a lot and I like all kinds of sports, but the king of all – to me – is kitesurfing. I also like hanging out with friends, doing things just for fun.
And finally, Anja, do you have a message for all of the readers of ESCBubble, who will support you in EMA?
I can’t wait to meet all of you someday! You can follow my music journey on my social medias, as Facebook, Instagram, or directly on my webpage.
We would like to thank Anja Bas for her time for doing this interview with us! While we are waiting to hear her entry in this year’s EMA, let’s listen to “Punca iz tvoje ulice” (eng. A Girl From Your Street) – the song she released in November 2014.