Every autumn, as a new Eurovision year begins in earnest, the rumor mill is thrust in to overdrive. Who is going to be in the line up? Who are the returnees? Is there going to be any new artists? Fast forward to February and Melodifestivalen 2024 is shaping up to be a rather different one – a new format, more debuting artists than ever before and plenty of potential Eurovision fan favourites for years to come.
Heat 1 and 2 featured several of those debutants and pulled no punches in whittling down the entrants hoping to be Sweden’s representative for Malmo. With Heat 3 upon us this weekend, 6 more artists will be hoping their performance sends them direkt till final!
We had a chance to catch up with one of Heat 3’s entrants, singer-songwriter and Melodifestivalen debutant, Kim Cesarion!
First of all, Kim, what takes your breath away?
Ooh, I can’t put that out there just yet, but I’m hoping going to the finals would be one thing that does the trick!
You are classically trained, how has that influenced the songwriting for Take My Breath Away?
It gave me some of the keys to music.. which then helped me get to a place where I now 30 years later are able to finalise a song like Take My Breath Away.
So tell us a little more about your song!
It’s a song I hope embodies both what Mello is together with what many of my supporters wanna hear from me as the artist KC. It will make you move but most of all I hope it’ll make you feel something!
What are your Mello hopes for 2024?
Of course to win! I’m not here to not win, and if I’d felt differently I would’ve just kindly turned Mello down haha. I’m definitely looking forward to making some really amazing memories!
What does Mello mean to you?
It means happiness, community and love. Everyone in Sweden knows about Mello. Even though they’ve never watched it, they know about it and if Mello is in your town I’m pretty sure the Melfest rubs off on most people.
How close to competing have you been before in Mello?
Never! I kind of come from the other side of the industry and was always focusing on my career inside as well as outside of Sweden, but in the last few years, especially after 2020 happened to all of us, I’ve felt a need to bring stuff closer to home. I also think that’s why my recent singles have been in Swedish too. I’m just going with what feels right to be honest.
Who are your musical influences?
Marvin Gaye, D’Angel, MJ, Usher, Brian McKnight, Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti…the list goes oooooon!
Whilst we are waiting for his Mello entry to be revealed, give a listen to one of Kim’s latest singles – “Flyga” right here: