The Grammy award winning artists MERJ (former Blackstreet) have officially announced that they will perform with the Macedonian representative Daniel Kajmakoski in the first semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on the 19th of May.

Mark Middleton, Eric Williams and Jeremy Hanna or simply “MERJ” are music veterans with over 20 years of experience as performers, publishers, producers and writers. They have come together to bring the soulful experience of the R&B male groups back to the mainstream of music, radio and stage. They have written and produced songs for great artists like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Blackstreet, the international rap diva Vibe, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Jaheim, Guy, Next, Donnell Jones and Dave Hollister. They have been awarded numerous times with Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Video Music Awards, Billboard, Soul Train awards, BMI, ASCAP awards and many more.

In April 2015 Daniel, famous US R&B group MERJ, and Bulgarian singer Bobo took part in a very significant project , a charity song called “Carry the Flame”, as part of a campaign for the Holiday Heroes Foundation in Bulgaria. The purpose of the campaign- and generally of the Foundation – is to aid socially disadvantaged families.

Daniel Kajmakoski said:

I still can’t believe that my biggest wish will soon become reality! These incredibly talented musicians have always been my idols, I grew up with their music and now I am performing with them on Eurovision stage! Performing with idols is a dream comes true for every artist!

Mojca Horvat, established choreographer and stage director, will be working on putting the pieces together on stage performance. Portfolio of Mojca is long and full will working on musicals in Broadway, opening of Winter Olympic Games, theatre, movies and operas. She said:

The stage performance will follow the emotion of the song, because it’s a ballade we will try to create a bit of mystery and playing with lights on stage.

Ivana Rabrenovik will be Daniel’s stylist in Vienna, both on the stage and off stage. They met and started working together since X Factor Adria. Last year she was part of the Macedonian delegation together with Tijana Dapcevic in Copenhagen, and back in 2007 with the winner of the Contest, Marija Serifovic.

Give a listen to “Autumn Leaves” once again, right here: