This week Moldova will found out its representative for Eurovision 2023, Etapa Națională will take place on March 4 and we had the opportunity to chat with Donia about her song for the contest. Check out our interview below.

Hello Donia and thank you for taking your time for ESCBubble! First of all, how was your reaction when you heard you will be at Etapa Națională Final?
I can’t describe in words how happy I was when I found out the result of the Eurovision semi-final. For me it’s a new experience, to come with my own song and receive this result, it’s indescribable.

What made you decide to enter Etapa Națională 2023 and what are your expectations from the contest?
To be honest, I didn’t plan to participate, I had the song composed for a year, I didn’t think that I would make it to Eurovision. I can say that I had a call from the universe, it gave me some signs that this is what I have to do. When I tell you this, it also seems unreal to me, but a thought came in connection with this and so I did, I submitted the file for the National selection!

Your song is called “Red Zone”, can you tell us what’s the song about and message behind it?
Red Zone is a song about human relationships that are deteriorating day by day! I wrote this song together with Andrei Robert Niculaie, my colleague, who is part of the project, when the war between Russia and Ukraine started. The song is not about politics or war, it’s about how we’ve come to treat ourselves, how long we were patient without commenting on anything. Many times we are no longer empathetic with the people around us, we forget to be human. It’s a wake up call, we’ve reached this “Red Zone” and it’s time to make some big changes, to be more forgiving and to give more love, for the good of all.

How will the staging be at Etapa Națională 2023? What can we expect from your performance?
I will certainly no longer keep the stand, I will go out with the saxophone on stage, I will also come with instrumentalists, my colleagues and I think I will try to bring the message of the song to the “show”.

Which of the other contestants are you excited to see on Etapa Națională this year? And who do you consider to be your biggest competitor?

I hate answering this question, most of them have a good chance. They are all my competitors, I like something about each one. I’m also the kind of person who sees the bright side of things, I found strenghts in every competitor!

Last year, Moldova chose internal, but now they’re back to the typical national final. If you could change some things in the national final, about the rules or the selection process, what would it be and why?
I think that I would come to this question with the following suggestion, to be able to vote online, or to vote for free, so that anyone can afford it, so you get appreciation from people who don’t have credit on the phone, and online because there are also Moldovans abroad, who would probably like to vote too! It’s a complicated subject, I don’t know if I’m up to coming up with ideas!:)

We saw you shared the stage with Holograf and Dan Bittman also participated in Eurovision back in 1994 , can you tell us how was that experience with them?

The experience with the Holograf was sensational! If I could repeat it with my current musical experience, I would be the happiest! I had great emotions with them! Together with them I learned that these emotions are transmitted positively through music, the sound of the saxophone. They welcomed me with such warmth, I felt like one of theirs!

Do you follow Eurovision and if so, do you have a favorite song from the contest?
Favorite Eurovision song, I know it sounds strange, but it’s my song! I’m smiling as I write this! I put so much energy into it, it’s like my child, whom I’m raising, that’s probably why I see it the most beautiful! Excuse my modesty!

Any other plans for 2023? Can we expect new music from Donia?
I have already composed another song, which I will release soon! I will continue my path in music, composing songs, this year is my year and I have the courage to open up, to come with my own personality and my own music.

In the end, I want to thank you for your time and please, if you have a message for your fans and our readers here on ESCBubble?
If I have convinced you with my song, I would appreciate receiving a support from you with a vote, it’s the biggest thing, the public’s appreciation. That’s how I know that my song reached your soul. Thank you in advance for this!

You can listen to Donia’s song for Etapa Națională 2023 here:

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