Armenia’s Eurovision selection “Depi Evratesil” starts in a few days and one of the acts participating is Suren Poghosyan with the song “The Voice”

We got the chance to catch up with him and find out about his preparations for the contest and the story behind The Voice.

Hey Suren, Congratulations on being a part of Depi Evratesil 2018! What made you want to enter the selection process?

 It’s been 13 years that I actively follow Eurovision Song Contest. I have always had a dream – to find myself on Eurovision stage and represent my country. So when I saw the announcement of entries to “Depi Evratesil”, without thinking much, I decided to try and struggle for becoming the representative of Armenia for 2018.

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

The song which I am going to perform at Depi Evratesil is called “The Voice”. The authors of the song are Jonas Gladnikoff (Sweden), Giorgios Kalpakidis (Greece), and Natasha Turner (Malta), who already have some Eurovision background. When we decided that I have to send an entry to Depi Evratesil, I received demo versions of about 10 songs from Jonas. It took me one time to listen to “The Voice” to understand that this is the song I am going to apply with. “The Voice” touched my soul at once and made me make my choice. After the choice was made, I started to work with my team to make it sound better and better. And I’m grateful to my friends Arthur Aleq Qosbekyan and Diana Margaryan for their immense support in that matter.

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

That will really be great happiness. Even when I imagine that moment, I get really emotional and almost lose control. But I think the victory will first of all bring me a big sense of responsibility. In any case, I am ready to present my country on the European stage in a proper way.

And how are the rehearsals for Depi Evratesil going?

Now we are working in a big team sparing no effort. We are preparing for the first live broadcast of “Depi Evratesil”. It is really hard to sing live for television, realizing that you are in competition and thousands of people are watching you. That’s why we rehearse day and night.

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

The people who are working on the staging of my song are very talented and professional people – Grigor Khachatryan and Ara Asaturyan. Our main aim is to create an interesting, extraordinary and meaningful performance. We want the performance, just as the song itself, to send its messages to the audience. We try our best to do it. The rest is still confidential information which will be discovered during the live broadcast.  

Who are your biggest inspirations musically?

For me, people are a source of inspiration. Not a certain person, but any person can inspire me. Even strangers can inspire me. You can look at a stranger and feel that some music is being born in your mind at the moment… 

Any dream artists you would love to duet with?

One of my biggest dreams is to sing a duet with Michael Bublé. I’d also love to sing with Stevie Wonder, Loic Nottet, Beyoncé, Ben Forster.

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

I already have a few songs that I will in the nearest future present to the audience. Very soon I am going to record my second song I am working on at the moment. 

What do you enjoy doing when not performing?

My first profession is acting. I still study and play in performances simultaneously. As a hobby, I can mention water polo. I’ve done water polo and swimming for a long time.  The second place after the stage where I feel comfortable and confident is water.

And finally do you have a favourite Eurovision song from previous years?

I have many Eurovision songs in my playlist that I always listen to. Among them are Loic Nottet’ Rhytm Inside (Belgium), Jamala’s 1944 (Ukraine), Polina Gagarina’s A Million Voices (Russia), Iveta Mukuchyan’s LoveWave (Armenia).

Many thanks for the chat Suren and we look forward to seeing and hearing The Voice in Depi Evratesil in a few days!

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

Suren will take part in Semi Final 2 of Depi Evratesil on February 22nd, let us know who you want to qualify from Semi 2 in our poll below: