Lawrence Gray is a true veteran of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, as he took part in this Contest various times, last time in 2016 when he tried to represent Malta in Eurovision with the song “You’re Beautiful”. He is back again this year, and will compete to win the hearts of the public and the jury with the song “Love Renegade”.

We had a pleasure to chat with Lawrence Gray, get to know him better and find out more about his entry “Love Renegade”, and the team behind it. Check out everything he told us right here in this interview:

Hi Lawrence! First of all thank you for your time for doing this interview, and congratulations for making it to the Finals of MESC once again! First of all, how did you decide to enter a song this year?

Well to be completely honest, I wasn’t gonna go for it this year, but a good friend of mine had a good advice for me, and he was right. He said to me “If you don’t fight for it you never really wanted it. Don’t ever give up in life, see why you did it in the past and why you want it now”. And the same answer always came into my mind – this time it’s personal, this time it’s different, it’s because I love my country so much, and because I want to see my country in number 1. Because Malta deserves it.

Can you tell us more about the story of the song, what it’s about, and the team who worked on it?

“Love Renegade” speaks about the true love of a man for the love of his life, and sees no one but her or him in his life. It was written for me by a very well known lyricist called Muxu, and music producer Cyprian better known as Tenishia – one of the best 100 DJs in the world, and I am very proud and honored about that.

How are you getting ready for the night of the final?

You’re never really prepared for what’s coming, because every year on and off has been a unique and a different beautiful experience for me. I’ve been hearing that practice makes perfect and that’s what I am trying to do – practice till I feel that am ready for the show, ready for it.

How do you plan your stage performance to look like? Are you planning to have any props, backing vocalists, or anyone joining you on stage?

Everything is different this year – the style of the song, style of voice, clothing, personal image etc, as I said, this time is different, this time it’s personal, my country comes first.

What do you usually do when you are not singing?

Obviously when I am not singing something, as it’s my job as a professional entertainer, I’m spending as much time as I can with my 5 year old son Liam doing kids stuff. I love it, and family is very important for me, family is everything.

Why should you be the one to represent Malta in Lisbon?

If I am very honest in this answer, I should be the one to represent my country in Lisbon because I have nothing more to prove here in Malta. Everybody knows who I am and what I can do, I’ve been around for some time now, and surely and really honestly I am not doing it for myself to be more notorious, but I am doing it first and foremost for Malta. I believe and always did that I can make a difference, I want to see my country on top, because Malta deserves it.

The competition is on a very high level this year. But which is that one act that you think is your biggest competition to win?

All the songs are different in their own writing, yes. But surely I have no desire to be in competition with no one. I am done playing games at this stage, all I am interested in is to see Malta triumph once and for all. I only want to be the best, and a better person than I was yesterday really.

Are you currently involved in any other projects?

For this month all I have is my own entertainment work going strong, but apart from that I did not take any other contracts to be able to concentrate more in what’s coming, to be 100% focused in what I have to do for my show to be perfect.

We also have a couple of questions for you just to get to know you a little bit better. What would be your favorite book?

To be honest with you, I am not much of a book reader, but what I can tell you is that the last book I opened was “Fifty Shades Of Grey” for curiosity really, and surely my wife was very happy with the outcome afterwards, if you know what I mean ? .

Favorite movie?

My favorite movie at the moment is about the story of the life of one of the greatest M.R.O, Andrea Bocelli. His story taught me to never give up and to keep fighting and working hard for what you believe in.

Your own signature dish?

It’s better if I tell you what’s my favorite dish instead of my signature one because I am more of an eater than a cook. My wife is good in being the chef at home, but sushi is my number one at the moment. In fact, you’re getting me hungry with this question ☺️.

In a movie about your life, who would be playing you?

Modesty apart, in the movie about the story of my life I would love it if it would be Mr. Iron Man himself – Robert Downey Junior. Wow!! It would be an honor, because I believe that we have the same character in own personal lives today.

What would you bring to a desert island?

I would bring nothing on a desert island really, I only hope that with me I’ll have a rosary to pray God to help me stay alive.

Favorite taste of ice-cream?

I am boring I know for I don’t eat ice cream much. I’m trying to take care of my voice, but if I have to choose, it has to be chocolate I guess definitely.

Your ideal duet-partner would be?

Surely my ideal duet has to be my dear friend, my love Chiara, for our voices matches perfectly together. We recorded the song “The Prayer” and sang in many different occasions together as a duet, I love her to bits.

The last song you listened to was…?

The last song I listened to was the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheehan, duet with Andrea Bocelli. Simply amazingly beautiful.

Favorite Eurovision winning song?

My favorite Eurovision winning song has to be the beautiful song “Hold Me Now” by the great legendary Mr. Eurovision himself Johnny Logan. I love that song, I sing it every night in my shows.

The song you heard and wished it was yours instead?

Well the song that I wish I wrote, or that someone wrote it for me has to be the song “Unchanged Melody” by the legendary group The Righteous Brothers. The lyrics and music of it makes perfect sense to me on how I am in with my own self at the moment.

Thank you very much for your time Lawrence, and I wish you the very best of luck at the MESC Final!

To keep up with all the latest news about Lawrence Gray, make sure you follow him on Facebook right here. Give a listen to Lawrence Gray’s entry “Love Renegade” right here:

If Lawrence Gray is your own personal favorite in this year’s Malta Eurovision Song Contest, make sure you cast your vote for him in our poll here: