Earlier this week we havd the chance to speak to Vidbir finalist Vlad Sheriff, who is hoping to represent Ukraine at Eurovision this year with his song ‘Wind of Change’. Among other things, Vlad told us what he thinks of this year’s Vidbir lineup and some surprising achievements from his past.

Vlad Sheriff will perform in the one-night Vidbir show, on Saturday 8th February. Check out everything he told us about his upcoming performance of “Wind Of Change” here:

Hi Vlad, thank you for taking your time out for talking to us. For the start of the interview, can you tell us when did you develop the idea behind your song, and what is it about?

‘The first version of the song was in Ukrainian, but I hesitated to release it because it turned out to be too personal. It expresses the emotions of someone who has been pursuing their dream for a long time, often finding themselves at a crossroads, wondering which path to take this time to finally reach their goal. The melody I composed kept playing in my mind, and eventually, I decided to translate the song into English so that its deeply personal meaning wouldn’t feel too exposed.’

Is this your first attempt at Vidbir? And why?

‘Yes, this is my first time participating in the national selection. Wind of Change reflects my personal journey. I often find myself torn between two passions: directing and singing. For most of my life, I focused on directing, but my friend Anka, who was a finalist in Vidbir 2024, practically pushed me to apply and take part in the competition. And now, I have the support of so many Ukrainians.’

Many have commented that this year’s Vidbir lineup, including your song, showcases a more Western display of Ukraine at Eurovision. Do you agree with such comments? Why?

‘Yes, absolutely. Ukraine has always presented strong entries at Vidbir, not only for our country but for the global stage as well. That’s why many of them have a Western sound. However, a lot of songs still preserve elements of Ukrainian culture.’

Which is your favorite song from Vidbir in the last few years, and why?

‘Jerry Heil & Alyona Alyona – Teresa & Maria. This is my favorite entry. In fact, I was involved in their performance as a backing vocalist.’

Which Eurovision songs/artists not from Ukraine have inspired you and contributed to your artistic journey?

‘Loreen – Tattoo. This is the song I performed on The Voice of Ukraine, where I turned all the coaches’ chairs. That was a breakthrough moment in my career as a vocalist.’

What can we expect from you after Vidbir during 2025?

‘Since the final of Ukraine’s Eurovision selection hasn’t happened yet, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. To be honest, I don’t even know what to expect from myself, because I don’t buy songs — I write them myself. And to create with passion and inspiration, I need to be in the right emotional and mental state.’

Are there any concluding messages you would like to send to your international followers?

‘Right now, Ukrainians are going through an incredibly difficult period in our history, but it has taught us the importance of appreciating every single day. My main message to the world is this: every day is not just another 24 hours—it’s a new page in your life, full of opportunities that must be seized here and now. Because making dreams come true is always the right thing to do.’

Thanks so much to Vlad and the team for putting together this interview!

Check out Vlad’s Vidbir entry right below:

Let us know who YOUR personal favorites are in this year’s Vidbir by voting for them in our poll below: