From our particular correspondent in Vienna (Austria)
“I’ll sleep in June. There, I do not really feel drained, I am too completely satisfied to do what I’ve at all times dreamed of,” Akylas tells us after we meet him, Saturday, at his resort the place he continues interviews. The 27-year-old artist represents the Greece on theEurovision 2026with the song Brought (“Deliver that to me”). A possible little hit, sung in his language, which underneath its cheerful and fanciful melody, tackles consumerism.
As these strains are written, bookmakers estimate his chances of victory at 17% (in comparison with 37% for the Finnish ultra-favorites). However, after seeing him on Monday on the first rehearsal open to the press, we’ve got the sensation that the trophy is reaching out to him. Within the area of three minutes, he entertains as a lot as he strikes and his whimsical persona bursts by means of the display screen, which makes him extraordinarily likeable. If he manages to qualify within the first semi-final on Tuesday, then he has each hope of victory within the last on Saturday. It may effectively be that his month of June won’t be so restful in spite of everything…
Being one of many favorites for Eurovision, is it a stress or does it offer you a lift?
In my wildest desires, I by no means imagined taking part in Eurovision and being one of many favorites. It is loopy! To be trustworthy, I do not actually really feel any stress. I am so completely satisfied that individuals imagine in me and my track, really feel linked to it and revel in dancing to it. After which, you realize, I already really feel like a winner: as a result of I am realizing a dream, I am making music and I’ve simply completed my first album. The happiness it offers me places the danger second, I do not take a look at what the bookmakers suppose. If I win, after all, I can be over the moon.
When you needed to describe “Ferto” in three phrases, which of them would you select?
I’d say: bittersweet, danceable and theatrical.
You didn’t select the phrase “enjoyable” or “amusing”…
That is what I meant by dancing!
Does it annoy you that the general public summarizes “Ferto” as a enjoyable track?
No manner. I am very completely satisfied that so many individuals affiliate me with Eurovision icons like Wrapper, Joost Klein or Tommy Cash (artists who’ve distinguished themselves in a kind of eccentric register). They have been an ideal inspiration to me. So I’ve completely no cause to complain that individuals discover me amusing. I wish to be enjoyable on stage and I believe I am a humorous man.
Nonetheless, there’s a deeper dimension in “Ferto”…
Precisely, it has a extra bittersweet dimension, like life. Truly, Introduced speaks of greed and overconsumption, of the necessity to at all times need extra and by no means be happy, of desirous to compensate for deprivations to fill a void… This track is the voice of my technology, and particularly of my Greek technology. We grew up in the course of a monetary disaster. Many people felt like we have been lacking one thing and we did not have any actual alternatives to benefit from. I keep in mind all our difficulties at dwelling once I was a baby. My track is for all these kids who dream massive however suppose they can not make issues occur as a result of they do not have the monetary means or do not come from a rich household.
You managed to interrupt into music…
I bought there by myself. I labored in eating places for lengthy days and within the evenings I went to the studio to put in writing and report. The whole lot is feasible. The track can be about my mom, who raised me alone and at all times did the whole lot attainable for my sister and me. For instance, when there was a faculty journey, she advised us that it was costly however that she would discover a manner for us to take part. When you’re a baby, you do not perceive all of the sacrifices your dad and mom make for you. So, this track is a manner of expressing my gratitude to her and, I hope, of creating her proud.
You even handle her in essentially the most shifting a part of the track…
Throughout the bridge, I mainly stated to her: “Look mother, I’ll give us a greater future, I’ll present for our wants. » It is like I manifested issues with this track as a result of I’ve already obtained a lot love from folks, I’ve completed the whole lot I wished.
How did your mom react to your victory within the Eurovision choice contest?
She discovered it exhausting to imagine it. Even I nonetheless pinch myself! I get up at night time, and I inform myself that I symbolize Greece at Eurovision! Severe ? ! , three months in the past I used to be on the streets of Athens, enjoying music for folks passing by, attempting to make a dwelling from it, and now right here I’m, at Eurovision. I went from zero to hero. It is so loopy, so sudden. So sure, my mom cried, she is so completely satisfied, she can be within the viewers the night time of the ultimate.
You might be queer. That is the primary time that an artist who has publicly spoken about his homosexuality has represented Greece within the competitors. Is that this essential to you?
Sure, very, as a result of I hope to have the ability to open the doorways for extra younger queer artists to emerge and supply their music. I really feel like I symbolize quite a lot of silent voices. So I am completely satisfied to be there for these folks and it exhibits that Greek society is trendy, open on these topics. The Greeks voted for me throughout the choice telecrochet, meaning one thing, that we’re shifting ahead.
I’ve one final query: what’s going to your album be known as and when will or not it’s launched?
(He appears to be like at his groups) Can I say that? Come on, I say it: it comes out on Could 22 and the title can be Press Begin. I wished this reference to video video games. I like enjoying it and I additionally like this concept that when enjoying, you’ll be able to fall, lose, however you’ll be able to at all times press the “strive once more” button to begin once more. That is what we should always all do in life.
