The artist that will represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lissabon in Portugal in 2018 is Cesár Sampson! That has just been revealed in the morning show on Radio Ö3, on the show Ö3-Wecker with Robert Kratky and Sandra König.

Cesár is 34 years old and was born in Linz, Austria.

Cesár might not be known name solo, but he is a guy ÖRF love to call when they need an experienced voice. Amongst other things he lends his singing voice to the Austrian version of Dancing With the Stars. He has also been singing in his own bands like Symphonix International and Electric Church.

Get a small preview of Cesár singing here, with the Electric Church project:

But besides that he also has experience when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest already! He has already worked with Macedonia and Serbia and was a backing vocalist for Bulgaria when Poli Genova and Kristian Kostov reached their top 5-placings! The jury that had the task to find an artist for 2018 saw Cesár doing his best with these other countries at Eurovision and asked him: ”Why don’t you do it for us?”. And that’s how he got the offer to represent his native Austria!

Eberhard Forcher, Austrian music expert and part of the jury says:

This year we chose an artist, who only at first glance appears to be a newcomer, as he has successfully participated in Eurovision twice already (as vocal producer and support singer for Bulgaria). With his dark, soulful voice and a background, that lies equally in classic gospel as it does in modern electronic-pop, he has all the necessary tools to possibly become a standout in this competition. He is the complete package.

The song Cesár will be representing Austria with is not finished completely yet but will be revealed to the world in February next year.