EXCLUSIVE: AISHA TALKS!

Aisha was a wonder child who won her first singing contest at 5, criticized Liza Minnelli’s vocal skills at 6, took part in flautists’ competition at 11, conducted brass band at 12 and nearly became a rock star at 14. She has won a TV reality show, Danced with the Stars, sung for the soldiers in Afghanistan and now at 24 she’s representing Latvia in the Eurovision song contest 2010 in Oslo and had a little talk with BlogIlkar.

How did that happen? Was it a natural step in your career and planned or did it just happen? 

As the most devoted Eurovision fans know it was not my first year participating in the national final of Eirodziesma. I am grateful for the trust the Latvian televoters and even jury had put in me.

True, there was Hey hey hey last year. Are you a follower of Eurovision, a fan? If so any special memories and favourite songs, or a song that you went “Oh I wish I had done that!”? 

The most special Eurovision memory is connected with the victory of Lordi, believe it or not! It was the song which broke almost all the expectations about how a Eurovision song should be and I hope and assume that it attracted younger audiences to the contest.

How did you come up with the staging in the Latvian final, the huge dress and those laundry ladies? Will we see it in Oslo, too? 

Well, the theme of the song is so global that there could be anything on the stage and it still would fit the mood and the topic. We are working on the stage performance for Oslo, just wait and see!

Your father is a famous musician, too. Where there ever any other way for you besides music when you grew up? If so, what would you do? 

If I was not a singer, I would be a dancer, and if not a dancer then a cook for sure. Even my dad says that I succeed in cooking and it is delicious.

Are you doing a promo tour like seems to be the fashion these days? Do you think it helps? 

So far the only planned promo tour even is participating at Eurovision Party in Amsterdam on April 24. The thing is, I am having a busy schedule with activities in Latvia – I am supporting Latvia Radio 2 which plays Latvian music only on their 15th anniversary tour. Rehearsals for the children musical “Velnini” (Little Devils) take up a lot of time and efforts – the premiere is on May 6. Instead of promo tour we promote the song through media – tv, radio, web all over Europe, and focus on the performance at the semifinal.

What do you think about the 50-50 jury-televote system used this year? 

I think it is the system to be tried. We had it in our national selection. It might be a good trend. But it is a bit too early to judge – we’ll see about it on late nights of May 25, 27 and 29.

You must have your hands full Eurovision before the end of May but what happens after? A new album perhaps? Any dream duet partners? What kind of music do you listen to? 

Yes, a new album for international audience is planned to be recorded and released after the contest. What regards my musical taste, I can tell you that it totally depends on the mood. I listen to everything from classical to rock, from ethno to blues. You name it, I have it on my computer!


You ask many questions in your song. What is the question that bores you most with the interviews and what do they never ask you would like to answer to? 

Could you ask me the same question on May 24? I bet there are going to be loads of questions until then to crown the most boring and exciting one.


Any message for the readers? 

Thank you, Ilkar for your questions! Dear blog readers, I wish you to smile and stay positive – it is the lightest and brightest approach to life. I look forward meeting the Finnish singers at our semifinal! Good luck, girls!

Thank you Aisha for your time and best of luck in Oslo! Remember to have a good time! And you readers go to Aisha's MySpace and listen to the awesome remix of What for? Here.