Permit Of Stay is an underground rockband from Albania, that has been active for more than 18 years. In the upcoming week, they will participate in the 61st edition of Festivali i Këngës, the country’s biggest music edition, that will also select their representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

We had the pleasure to meet the guys from Permit Of Stay ahead of the show, where they will compete with the song “Fobia”.

Hi Permit Of Stay and thank you for agreeing to do this interview! 

First of all, would you like to introduce yourselves to our readers? Who are the members behind Permit Of Stay?

We are 4 members, Ergys Meta (Guitar and Keyboards), Ervin Laluci (Vocal), Herton Meta (Bass) and Aulon Kreshpaj (Drums).

When and how did you all come together as a group?

Permit of Stay was created as a band on 2004 in Bologna, Italy. Ervin and Ergys were living as students in the same home sharing the same passion for music. We were playing just for entertainment and never thinking to have a real rock band. After getting to know by coincidence with Aulon, the drummer, we decided to go to a music rehearsal room. Herton was present recording with camera and we needed a bass player, so we asked Herton to take the bass. After hours jamming together the band was created.

Why have you decided to enter Festivali i Këngës this year?

We think that after all these years as a underground rock band it was the time that our music to have its mark on the history of Albanian rock experimental music and through FIK we think is the best way to do it.

You are going to compete with the song “Fobia” – What is the song about?

Fobia is the second part of a triology songs  based on Obsessions and Phobias: Freud, Sigmund. As its title, this song talks for phobias which any of us might have in a way or another. More precisely Phobia talks about the fear to fall in love.

What kind of genre can we expect from you?

We have always been an experimental band, so this will be our next experimet, we are presented with a Bossa Nova with classical elements and leaving aside the rock form which we have always use.

Do you already have plans on what your performance is going to look like?

Yes of course but we prefer for you to see it on our live performance.

Have you followed FiK and Eurovision in the past?

Of course, but not every year.

Do you have a favorite song from Eurovision or Festivali i Këngës?

Our favorite song has been Rona Nishliu – Suus

What would it mean to you to win FiK and represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest?

A new dimension which we haven’t given much thought.

Do you have a personal goal for the competition?

As we said before, our only goal is to enter our song on the history of Albanian rock experimental music.

Finally, do you have a message to our readers from all over the world?

Keep up with the real good music.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, guys. I wish you the best of luck for the competition!

We will keep you posted about the upcoming shows of Festivali i Këngës on our website and our social media platforms! @escbubble