The second semi-final of Icelandic national selection for Eurovision 2023, Söngvakeppnin is taking place tomorrow evening. A total of 5 acts will be competing for two tickets for the grand final of the show. One of them are the only duet in the contest Silja Rós and Kjalar who will be performing “Ég styð þína braut”/”Together we grow”. We had a chance to talk to Silja about the creation of their entry and participation at Söngvakeppnin 2023.

Hello Silja, first of all I would like to congratulate you for being among the artists who compete at Söngvakeppnin 2023! What made you decide to take part at Söngvakeppnin?
Thank you so much! I’ve always wanted to compete in Söngvakeppnin since I was a little girl. As an artist I wanted to make sure that I had the right song that I connected with to bring to the competition and it was important to me to submit a song that I had written myself.

I wrote Together We Grow two years ago in Copenhagen, where I worked as a songwriter. I had couple of sessions with Rasmus Olsen and we co-wrote the song together with Eurovision in mind since we are both fans of Eurovision. When I decided to submit the song I wrote the Icelandic lyrics.

Icelandic audience got to know during the second season of The Voice Iceland, Svala turned the chair at your blind auditions and you became part of the show, how did that experience later on help you?
If I’m being completely honest I didn’t really enjoy The Voice. I was asked to audition and I decided to do it last minute not knowing what I was getting myself into, and when I look back I can see that I was not ready. I was so insecure at that time and was just starting to work through a trauma so I had a lot of self work to do. I had a hard time being myself in a “staged environment”, I was so focused on trying to be perfect and saying the right things, it was stressful.  But I did meet a lot of great people on the show and I’m thankful for that. But I don’t really connect The Voice to my career.

Can you tell us a bit about “Ég styð þína braut”/“Together we grow” and what does it mean for you?
The message of the song is that the world would be a better place if we would all be able to follow our heart without judgement from others. We can help each other grow by sharing love and respecting our choices.
The Icelandic lyrics hit closer to home for me, and I guess in a way I do connect it to the moments in my life when I’ve truly needed support from others through difficult times.

How did Kjalar and you start the cooperation on the song?
When I got the call from Söngvakeppnin that my song had been selected I decided to make it into a duet, I felt that the lyrics called for it and that’s when I added Kjalar to the team.

What can we expect from your performance? Can you share with us any details of it?
It’s going to be dreamy and magical like the song.

In case you qualify to the final of Söngvakeppnin will you perform the English or Icelandic version of the song and which one would you rather choose to perform at Eurovision in the case you win Söngvakeppnin 2023?
We will perform it in English the song was originally written in English so that has always been the plan. A lot of people have told me that they love the Icelandic version which means a lot to me. But as a songwriter I also want people to be able to understand the lyrics, I myself mostly listen to the lyrics when I listen to music and I want people to be able to find their own connection to the song.

Do you watch Eurovision regularly, if so would you like to share a memory which you have of it or a favourite song from the contest?
My first memory of Eurovision is when Selma was in second place with “All Out Of Luck”. That was the moment that I told myself that I wanted to go to Eurovision. There are two other performances that have always stood up to me and that is Euphoria and Amar Pelos Dois. The emotional connection in both performances is just breathtaking.

You performed in several musicals and plays in the roles of Thumbelina, Lady Fidget as well as in movies. What is your dream role in musical or a movie?
My dream roles in Musicals are Eponine ( Les mis ) and Satine ( Moulin Rouge! ) and in plays it would be Nora ( Doll House ). But I did enjoy Lady Fidget in The Country House a lot!

If there wasn’t for Kjalar, which of the artists would you like to do a duet with?

That’s a hard question, they are all so good in a different way. But I think I will have to say Benedikt or Kristín Sesselja.

What do you do when you aren’t singing? Any hobbies? 

I’m an extreme extrovert and I like being busy. I also work as a songwriter, actress, scriptwriter and a yoga teacher. And when I’m not working I like to go to go to the swimming pool, travel or just be around my loved once.

What are your plans after Söngvakeppnin 2023?
Hopefully to go to Liverpool and compete in Eurovision! But I’m also working on my third album and writing a TV show that will be filmed later this year. So I have some exciting projects lined up.

Thank you so much for your time Silja. We wish you the best of luck at Söngvakeppnin 2023. Do you want to share something else or you maybe have a message for readers of escbubble?
Thank you so much for your support and love, it means a lot! Listen to your instincts and follow your dreams <3

You can listen to “Ég styð þína braut” by Silja Rós and Kjalar below:

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