A total of six acts are going to compete in order to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. One of them is Barei – a young singer and composer, who’s music has a very international sound, and is always up to the latest music trends.

We had a great pleasure to chat with Barei, and she spoke to us about her career so far, her involvement in Eurovision and her song, and a lot more. Check out everything she told us in this interview right here:

Hi Barei! Can you tell us a little bit about your career so far?

It is a history of over 15 years in this business. A career background in which I have not stopped learning. When I was fourteen years old I had a conversation with my mom after she saw me singing “Without you” by Mariah Carey. She came closer and said to me: “Honey, you love this, you have the ability to do it and I just want you to know that I will always support you if you choose this option for your life but first you have to develope your gifts…” After that conversation I began to study guitar, piano, music theory, singing … And although I’m more lazy with the instruments , they have always helped me to compose my own songs.

At eighteen this choice became more serious after winning the Festival of Benidorm and I began to record several demos. For coincidences of life I went to Miami on holiday and I end up singing at Miami Beach one night with two producers and musicians. After the gig, they proposed me to stay there for a while and compose and record my first album with them…So I came to Spain and told my mother: “Mom, I’m going to Miami …”. She didn´t hesitate to support that opportunity and after a few months… There I was! But when I returned to Spain it didn´t came out…I was not 100% satisfied with the result.  It helped me to start playing with that repertoire all over the most famous pubs in Spain.

From there I went to pick up the guitar again and start from scratch with Ruben Villanueva (co-producer of my two albums) to compose and produce my first released album “Billete para no volver”. An album that already were a reflection of my influences but lacked that step that I always wanted to take, singing in English. That would be the only way to be faithful to me and my influences: American and British pop, soul, black music …

That’s the way that “Throw the Dice” came alive. My second album but always the first one for me,hahaha.

How did this Eurovision proposal get to you? Did you ever think you would be competing to represent Spain in Eurovision, and did you say Yes immediately?

The truth is that it was my manager who presented my candidacy recently and suddenly called me telling me that they had liked my project and my music and I could be one of the candidates… and now, a few weeks later, here I am. I’m excited with this opportunity that I wouldn’t like to miss.

How did you choose which song to enter? Or did you enter various songs for the selection?

We sent a few of them but after a few days we decided to compose an specific one for this. Stronger, contemporary and more visual.

Can you tell us more about your song and the team behind it? What kind of a song can we expect from you?

We have been three authors working on it and Ruben Villanueva is also the producer. This song has a very current sound and arrangements… It´s very loyal to everything you’ve listened from my album “Throw The Dice” and it has a message in which everyone can identify themselves and I’m not talking about love, hahaha.

How are you getting ready for the national final? Did your ideas for the stage performance all come together, and how is everything going to look like?

I would like to offer a very powerful and innovative live with a minimalist bet, a very international image and something creative and different from anything previously submitted. I would like to say that I will show all this at the TVE Final but they have different ideas for that day… So I must go to Stockholm if you want to see it completely. ¡Fingers crossed!

Who do you think is going to be your biggest competition to win?

All of them have a long career on their backs full of effort, illusion, work, perseverance… Everyone deserves to go to Sweden! But first of all we have to wait to listen to the songs and then we´ll see. Good luck to all of them!

What would representing Spain in Eurovision mean to you?

For an independent artist, without a record label behind, that composes and performs his own songs and whose project is entirely in English… going to the most important Festival in Europe is undoubtedly the Great Gate through which move forward and cross borders. An opportunity that I wouldn’t want to miss. It doesn’t happen every day.

Spain unfortunately wasn’t in the top 5 in Eurovision since 1995! What do you think Spain needs to send to achieve this kind of result?

A new bet. When you get the same results every year, the only way to achieve a different one is to change the way you do the things you do. Maybe it would be better or maybe not but if you don’t take the risk you will never know.

What would be your all time favorite Eurovision song?

“Love Injected” by Aminata was one of my favorites last year.

What sort of music do you listen to in your free time, when all you want is to relax?

All kind of music but Sia, Michael Jackson, Maroon 5, One Republic, Emeli Sandé are part of my life soundtrack.

What do you do when you are not singing?

I play with my dogs, meet my friends and family , I dance, I do sports, I  cook,  I go to the cinema and the theater…

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Very sensitive, forceful and dreamer.

Are you engaged in any other projects at the moment?

I´m always writing for other artists from here and foreign countries but at the same time I continue with my own project as Barei, promoting my latest album with concerts and interviews, filming new music videos, recording new songs for my next work. This a “non stop” life.

Do you have a message for all the readers of ESCBubble who will support you in the Spanish national final?

Everything I feel from the first moment is GRATITUDE so I only have one thing to say: THANK YOU for your support, your energy, your words and your unconditional love. Now, it’s time to work hard and be at the height of what you expect from me and my song.

We would like to thank Barei for taking her time out for speaking to us, and we would like to wish her the best of luck in the Spanish Eurovision Final. Give a listen to her song in Objetivo Eurovision – “Say Yay” right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAtfAPjnPcE

If Barei is your personal favorite in the Spanish selection, make sure you cast your vote for her in our poll right here: