Arsi Bako is a young singer. her career has started when she took part at “Tirana Art Fest” contest where for three years in a row she managed to receive different awards such as: “The best debut artist”, ” Best song” and as the most recent one, “Best Vocal”. She debuted at last years edition of Festivali i këngës with the song “Sonte Dua Te Jem Me Ty”

Hello Arsi, first of all I would like to congratulate you for being selected to take part at Festivali i këngës 62. Last year you made your debut at FiK with ” Sonte Dua Te Jem Me Ty “. How was that experience for you?

Last year was memorable for me. I had such a great responsibility representing such a powerful and well-written song, for which I have to thank Evis and Osman Mula. I think I had a very decent performance and am proud of it. Being on stage and performing your song accompanied by such a fantastic and grandeur orchestra was truly an honor and still is.

You are a new artist at the Albanian music scene and your first single was released in June 2022, can you tell us more about the music you write and perform?

I believe I have yet to truly present my work to the public. I do like what I have published and written until now, but still think I can do better. I like to write about things that move me and I mostly am inspired by the beauty found in any small detail or a “bigger canvas”. I try to be different in each material that I release and yearn to try all kinds of genres until I , maybe, find one that suits me best.

Do you have any musicians which are your role models or inspiration?

Many inspire me, starting from big Divas like Beyoncé, Adele and so on, to other amazing artists such as Hozier, Radiohead and Billie Eilish. As for models, I try to be my own role model and find everything necessary to me and my journey on my own.

You took part at Kenga Magjike 2022 with “Më Mbaj” how was that experience for you?

Also a very amazing experience. Two very big stages in one year and I still can’t really comprehend what happened to me as a new artist to this day. I am very proud of my achievements and am happy to have been part of these big competitions of my country at such an early stage of my career.

Can you share with us how was it to work on the creation of “Zgjohu” ? Can we expect something similar to your previous songs or it will be completely different

Nothing similar ahahahah. I will only say that it is meant to call out every single one of us to start doing something (anything) important with our lives and “Wake up!”.

What can we expect from your performance? Can you give us any hints?

It will be “elecrtifying”. (Hopefully ahahahah)

If you become the next Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, what would it mean to you?

It would mean the world. It would truly be a dream come true. It has been a dream for a long time and I truly dont know how I would react if it became a reality.

Have you watched Eurovision in the past and do you have a favorite song of the contest?

Of course. I have followed Eurovision for as long as I can remember. I love it and it always transmits such great emotions to me. I always imagine myself up there and get goosebumps just thinking of it.

What do you do when you are not creating music and singing? Any hobbies?

I also paint. And therefore, I chose to study Architecture. I am in my second year of studies and I am really enjoying it as a degree. As I said before, I love to find beauty in everything. I love all kinds of Arts and wish to try each form of it during me lifetime.

What are your plans after Festival i këngës 62?

I’ll take a biiiig long break and spend some time with family and friends. And perhaps work on new songs too ahahahah.

Thank you so much for your time Arsi. We wish you the best of luck at Festivali i këngës 62.
Do you want to share something else or you maybe have a message for followers of escbubble?

I would like to thank you for the interview.

You can watch Arsi Bako perform “Zgjohu” for the first time live on Wednesday 19th of December during the second night of Festivali i Këngës 62.

Don’t forget to check our interviews with Festina, Luan, Andi, Peter Pan Quartet, Eldis , Irma as well as Erina & The Elementals who are also competing at Festivali i Këngës 62. Stay tuned for the news about the show itself by following our social media platforms @escbubble.