Armenia’s Depi Evratesil kicks off tonight and opening the show is Gevorg Harutyunyan with his song “Stand Up”, we got the chance to speak to him and find out a little bit more about the story behind the song and his musical inspirations.

Hey Gevorg, Congratulations on being back in Depi Evratesil! What made you want to return to the selection process?

Thank you so much! I am a big fan of ESC since 2005 and It’s a big dream for me to represent my country at Eurovision. To share my music and feelings with a European audience. I have a lot of ideas of what to do on the Eurovision stage. That’s why I will work hard to not miss my chance to take a victory and represent Armenia in Eurovision.

Can you tell us a bit more about your song “Stand Up” and the team behind it?

My song “Stand Up” is an emotional song which has dramatic, romantic and also crazy parts. We mixed in some Armenians instruments you will hear in instrumental parts. The genre of song is Simfo-folk ballad.  The music is mine but only last year I started to work at the song with talented musician Astghik Grigoryan. She has also done the harmonies of ”Stand Up”. Lyrics are by Liana Aramyan. She surprised me with the ordinary way of thinking.

I can open for you that arrangement, recording and mix/mastering was done by Lilit/Levon Navasardyans, who are very popular with the Eurovision audience because they worked on Aram Mp 3′ s “Not Alone”, Iveta Mukuchyan’s  “Love Wave” and at Artsvik’s “Fly with me”. The instrumental parts were performed by Paruyr Baghyan (Violin) Armine Asatryan (Qanon) and  Vardan Baghdasaryan (Qamancha).

How would it feel to win and be selected for Armenia and go to the Eurovision song contest?

Oh my God. I can’t wait for that moment. It will be so great for me and the most important achievement for my career.

And how are the rehearsals for Depi Evratesil going?

Vocal rehearsals are happening every day. I can announce that choreographer of my performance is Kristina Hovakimyan. Who was also choreographer of my winning solo dance in Dancing with the stars 4, Armenia

Can you tell us anything about how the song will be staged for the contest?

At this moment I can’t share with you more details, But you can wait for some of arthouse staging mixed with contemporary dance.

Who are your biggest inspirations musically?

Of course they are Armenian composers like Aram Khachatryan, Robert Amirkhanyan, Khachatur Avetisyan and also some classical  composers Chopin, Beethoven, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles.

Any dream artists you would love to duet with?

With Norah Jones, Tom Odell, Ed Sheran, Beth Hart, Sia, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, Helena Paparizou, Anna Vissi. John Mayer, James Morrison and also with some of Eurovision stars <3

Do you currently have any other projects going on at the moment that we can look forward to?

I have some concerts and shootings in coming weeks, but the most important is “Depi Evratesil”.

What do you enjoy doing when not performing?

I have lots of hobbies, that I do when I am able to scratch some time out my busy schedule, lets say if I am having a fun time with my friends it is gonna be either volleyball or football (soccer), if I want to stay alone I ”smash” my piano that is taking me some other world, or I go swimming! Swimming also is kinda MY thing I do when I want to be alone, that no one could bug me. But the biggest hobby for me is the movies. I don’t know if it is connected with my speciality( I have a master degree as a movie- director ) or it is just something inside of me from the childhood, I can’t explain it but I can feel it!

And finally do you have a favourite Eurovision song from previous years?
Yes of course. I have so many lovely songs from Eurovision family.

2005:Nox – Forogj Vilag,Chiara – Angel, Helena Paparizou – My Number One, Luminita Anghel – Let Me Try,

2006:Elena Risteska – Ninanajna, Hari mata Hari – Lejla, Anna Vissi – Everything, Severina – Moja Stikla,

 2007:Sopho – Visionary Dream, , Marija Serifovich – Molitva, Marija Sestic – Rijeka bez imena, Sarbel – Yassou Maria, Serebro -Song #1,

 2008:Boaz Mauda – The fire In Your Eyes, Vania Fernandes – Senhora do Mar, Jelena Tomasevic – Oro,

2009:Yohanna – Is It True, , Urban Symphony – Randajad, ,Aysel And Arash – Always, Jade Ewen – It’s My Time,

2010:Didrik Solli-Tangen – My Heart Is Yours,Safura – Drip Drop, Chanee and Nevergreen – In A Moment Like This,

 2011:A Friend In London – New Tomorrow, Eric Saade – Popular, Amaury Vassili – Sognu, Raphael Gualazzi, Maja Keuc – No One,

 2012:Rona Nishliu – Suus, Ott Lepland – Kuula, Tooji -Stay , Loreen – Euphoria, Zeljko Joksimovic – Nije lyubav stvar,

 2013:Margaret Berger – I Feed You My Love,ByeAlex – Kedvesem

 2014:Aram Mp3 – Not Alone, Sergej Cetkovic – Moj Svijet, Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix, Ruth Lorenzo – Dancing In The Rain, Molly – Children Of The Universe,

2015:Elina Born and Stig Rasta – Goodbye To Yesterday,Morland & Debrah Scarlett – A Monster Like Me, Loic Nottet – Rhythm Inside, LL Volo – Grande Amore,

2016: Poli Genova – If Love Was A Crime, Frans – If I Were Sorry,  Amir – Jai Cherche, Dami In – Sound Of Silence, Jamala – 1944, Iveta Mukuchyan – Love Wave,

2017:Sunstroke Project – Hey, Mamma, Francesco Gabbani – Occidentali’s Karma, Salvador Sobral – Amar pelos dois, Blanche – City Lights, Robin Bengtsson – I Can’t Go On, Kristian Kostov – Beautiful Mess, Alma – Requiem

WOW! What a selection! Many thanks for this interview Gevorg and we look forward to seeing you Stand Up at Depi Evratesil!

Thanks a lot Kyle for such interesting questions!

You can follow Gevorg on social media and give his song a listen here:

You can vote on our poll for who you want to qualify below: