Earlier this year, it was reported that Mart Normet would be stepping down as Producer of Eesti Laul and Head of Delegation for Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest.
At the end of 2008 Heidy Purga took over from Juhan Paadam and the first mark she left on the national final, starting with her first one in 2009, was rebranding it from Eurolaul (Eurosong) to Eesti Laul (Estonia Song) and decided it should be more about showcasing the Estonian music industry than trying to please Europe.
It paid off immediately as Urban Symphony made Estonia reach their first final since 2003 and their first top 10 placing since 2002: a 6th place!
In 2015 she stepped down and the last 3 editions have been produced by Mart Normet, leaving on a high note after Elina Nechayeva’s success in Lisbon (and 8th place). A search for a new producer and Head of Delegation had already begun. Danel Pandre and Jarmo Seljamaa were in contention as well, but ultimately the choice fell on Tomi Rahula!
Tomi is a well-known singer, songwriter and producer himself and has some clear ideas on where to be headed with Eesti Laul.
In the Estonian show Terevision, he stressed that it’s about quality, not quantity and that it’s important that what an artist does comes from the heart. At the same time he says it’s also important to keep things up-to-date. He himself said he thinks he knows what constitutes the best in modern music but that things are only ”half-completed”, he wants to bring that new potential into the light.
Rahula will put his team together this autumn and states:
”However not all the changes can be introduced in one go… This is a very good TV show already; the goal is simply to make it even better”
Tomi has been involved with Estonia’s national final and the Eurovision Song Contest for roughly 20 years already. He has co-written ‘Mere Lapsed’, the song Koit Toome represented Estonia with in 1998 and also made an appearance in 2017 where he co-wrote Ariadne’s ‘Feel Me Now’, funny enough the edition that was won again by Koit Toome, in duet with Laura this time!
A recent Eesti Laul entry co-written by Rahula, Ariadne – Feel Me Now (Eesti Laul 2017):
In which direction would you like to see Estonia go under Tomi Rahula’s supervision?
Let us know in the comments below!
