The 54th Festivali i Kenges, the long-running Albanian music competition which has served as the country’s national selection method since their debut at Eurovision in 2004 will take next weekend. We can find many familiar names in the participant list who will fight for the opportunity to represent Albania in Stockholm next year. One of them is Evans Rama who will perform the song titled “Flakë” in the second semifinal.

Evans Rama participated in Festivali i Kenges four times already, but never managed to qualify to the final. Could he make it with his new entry this year?

What was your first reaction when you found out that you will take part in the Festivali i Kenges once again?

I felt great emotions once again that I will be participating in this Festivali i Kenges, because Festivali i Kenges gives everyone big emotions!

It will be your fifth participation at Festivali i Kenges, you already have big experience taking part in this competition. Do you think that the show has changed? Are those changes positive or negative?

There are a lot of changes and they are positive. This year’s innovation is the presentation of all songs in radio and social media.

Exactly! Thanks to this innovation we heard your song “Flakë” already. Did you received any comments about your entry?

Yes the song is very much liked. I am in the second place of one internet poll and I hope to get a good standing this year during Festivali i Kenges. I’m hoping for a top three result.

How are the preparations for Festivali i Kenges going? Can you tell us more about the collaboration with RTSH Orchestra?

We have started live singing and I feel privileged to sing with professional orchestra of RTSH.

If you win Festivali i Kenges, would you like to sing your song in Albanian or English at the Eurovision Song Contest?

It would be a dream come true for me if I could win Festivali i Kenges, and to sing for Albania in Eurovision. I think that this song deserves lyrics in English, but for me it would be better in Albanian. That remains to be decided.

What’s new in your music career? Any new songs or music projects?

For the moment I’m focusing only on the Festivali i Kenges, and very soon I will make the full video clip of this song. I had four years that I have been away from music for personal reasons, and with this comeback I believe that I will be back stronger again.

Are you a Eurovision fan? What’s your favorite Eurovision song?

Yes, I’m a fan of Eurovision and it’s pleasure to follow it, although I don’t agree with how the voting is done there but the songs of Eurovision are truly made in an exceptional way. Last year’s song winner is, in my opinion, one of the best songs made. The technological advance creates the true art together with music.

Albania has two main music festivals – Festivali i Kenges and Kënga Magjike – you participated in both. Which one should be used as the selection method for Albanian entry in the Eurovision?

Festivali i Kenges of course, because it has a tradition of 54 years and is unique in its style because everything is performed live 100%. This makes it the most wanted and most followed by all singers and spectators.

Finally, do you have any message for Eurovision fans who will watch Festivali i Kenges online?

Yes. I hope they will like my song have the possibility to enjoy it and of course, why not, to vote for me, I would appreciate that.

You can listen to Evans Rama entry “Flakë” below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOUe7eXMWH8

ESCBubble would like to thank Evans Rama for his time for doing this interview, and wish him the best of luck in Festivali i Kenges!