After a six week marathon of Melodifestivalen 2023 is coming to it’s end with final scheduled to take place this Saturday, 11th of March. A total of twelve acts will compete for the chance to become the next Swedish representative at Eurovision Song Contest. Paul Rey is a singer and songwriter who has trying his luck at the contest for the third time as a performer, for the first time he qualified directly to final. In his two previous attempts with “Talking in My Sleep” in 2020 and “The Missing Piece” in 2021 Paul went through the second chance to the final. Last year he was part of the author team behind Cazzi Opeia’s “I can’t get enough“. This year he returned to the contest with “Royals” who he created together with LIAMOO, Dino Medahodzic and Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt.

Hello Paul, first of all I would like to congratulate you for advancing directly to the final of Melodifestivalen 2023. How does that feel and what made you decide to the show?
It feels amazing! When we wrote the song I had a really strong gut-feeling that this song would be performed at Friends Arena in a Melodifestivalen final, and I was right!

Last year you wrote the song ” I can’t get enough” which was performed by CazziOpeia. How was that experience and do you prefer more to be the author of the song or also compete as the singer?
Haha I love both, but it is a lot less pressure to compete as a songwriter compared to performing as well.

In the previous two appearances with “Talking in my sleep” and “The Missing Piece” you got your final ticket after the second chance round and now you qualified to the final directly what do you think “Royals” had that made the audience vote for it as direct qualifier unlike your previous two entries?
I think the performance is on another level with Royals. I love the energy the number has, the choreography with the dances, the LED-content, everything is in a perfect symbiosis.

Can you tell us a bit more about  “Royals” how did it came to life and what does the song mean for you?
We wrote the song on a really warm summer day in Sweden, and we had such a blast making this record! The song is about believing in yourself and letting go of self-doubt. I think it is an important message to send out to the world at this moment.

In order to create the song you were joined by: LIAMOO, Dino Medanhodzic and Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt. How did the cooperation go?
Wonderful, I have collaborated with everyone separately before, but never together in this constellation! It turned out to be an amazing team!

What can we expect from your performance in the final? Will you be changing anything from the one in Heat 3?
Maybe! We’ll see haha!

What would it mean to you to win Melodifestivalen and represent Sweden at Eurovision Song Contest?
It would mean a lot to me, and it would be a tremendous honor to represent Sweden!

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?
Yes, I love watching Eurovision! I know it has probably been said before, but Loreen’s performance of Euphoria stands out of course!

If you had a chance to make a duet with any Melodifestivalen/Eurovision participant, who would you choose?
I would love to do a duet with Ida Lova, she has a really beautiful voice!

What are the three things you never leave your house without?
My jewelry (wedding ring, signet ring and necklace with pendant), my earphones and phone haha.

What do you do when you are not singing or creating music? Any hobbies?
Right now it is renovating the house, since we just bought a new house haha! Other than that I like to play basketball and cook food!

What are your plans after Melodifestivalen2023?
To do concerts in Sweden and release more music!

Thank you so much for your time Paul. We wish you the best of luck in the final of Melodifestivalen.
You can watch the performance of “Royals” by Paul Rey below:

If Paul Rey is your favourite in the final of Melodifestivalen 2023, don’t forget to cast your vote for him in our poll below

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