Iina Salin, the black voiced blond beauty with her dance track is one of the UMK 2013 participants and took her time to answer some questions. How long has she been writing songs? Does she like Diana Ross? Who was her favourite in last year's UMK? What has been changed from the first performance for the live gig? What about Loreen? Read it all here and don't forget to vote for her in my poll here on the right hand side!
When and how did you hear you have made the cut of the top-12 in UMK
2013?
I got a call from
YLE in October. They told me they loved my song “Last Night” and it´s selected
to be one of the TOP 12. I almost fell off my chair! I couldn´t help myself but
smiling all the time.
You have an amazing voice. When did you discover that you have that Anastacia effect; blond girl, black voice. What do you
think about that?
I have always
loved to sing and listen to the greatest singers of all times. I love soul and
R´n´B! I started to develop my vocal skills with a singing teacher when I was
14. I´m still working on it, I love to practise different sound colours and I
do have a strong focus on what I need to get the feeling out the way I want to
express it. Anastacia uses a lot of twang at times and so do I.
How did you start writing songs and do you remember your first song you
wrote?
I wrote my very
first song at the age of 9 with my new Roland keyboard. I can still remember
how the melody goes! I´ve always written a lot, but I really started to work
with my own songs in my twenties.
If you were offered a recording deal and rush to make an album, would
you have enough material? How do you feel about covers and is there a song or
two that you'd like to cover?
I do have
material for an album but I´d have to go through it and write some new stuff,
too. There are many
great songs in this world and to do a cover, an own version, is not a bad idea.
If you could work with any musician (living or not), who would it be?
I´d have to go
with MJ.
Ideal duet partner?
This is crazy but
I´d love to do a duet with Bruno Mars, he seems sweet.
Who are your idols, musical influences?
I love music and
sound of Michael Jackson, James Brown, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin,
Adele, Emeli Sandé, Robyn, Nancy Wilson, Sam Sparro, Björk, Jamiroquai, Lady
Gaga, Prince, Diana Ross, Janelle Monaé, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Joshua
Ledet, Madonna, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Sia, Erykah Badu,
Lana Del Ray… to name but a few! I enjoy all kind of good music. I love urban
and groovy stuff! Today I´m more into singer-songwriter based pop music that´s
full of emotion.
Did you watch UMK last year and if so, what did you think?
Yes, I did watch
UMK last year and I liked the show. Stig was my favourite!
I think the quality of songs is much better this year, do you agree?
Absolutely! ;)
Are you happy how everything is progressing in UMK this year?
I think it´s
wonderful that UMK selected the TOP 12 in the spotlight like this. It all seems
pretty clear now.
Are you an Eurovision fan and have you followed it? If so, what is your
earliest memory?
I´ve watched
Eurovision every year, yes! When I was around 7 years old, I remember I stayed
overnight at my best friend´s and we watched the Eurovision with her mother. I
couldn´t go to sleep until we got the final results.
If you watched last year, what did you think about Loreen? And the
grannies?
An Eurovision song you would have wanted to sing first?
I loved Loreen´s
performance! I have to say it was my favorite even before she won the
Eurovision, though the Russian grannies were sweet, too.
We just saw this Thursday your first performance to the judges? How did
you feel it went? Were you nervous?
My first performance
to the judges was the first time we ever performed “Last Night” so I was a bit
nervous, but in a good way. I felt happy about it anyhow and I fully enjoyed
it.
What do you think about their advice and opinions?
It was
interesting to hear what the judges have to say. I listened to their advice and
opinions with an open mind.
Are you going to act on them? What can we except in two weeks time in
live gig at Circus?
We´ve been
rehearsing a new choreography with the new version of the song and now there´s
more movement and attitude to come.
Where were you when Lordi won Eurovision? Did you think one day you
would be very close to that stage as well (well, not Athens but Malmö...)
I was at home
when Lordi won the Eurovision, I couldn´t believe it´s happening! I haven´t
thought about me being in Eurovision until maybe now.
How will you get your fans to vote for you in UMK? Are you busy in
social medias and what plans do you have on that?
I try my best in
social medias to get the most of it and I do have friends around who can help
me out. But the most important thing would be that people would get to hear my
music and vote for me if they like what they hear and see on stage.
Thanks for the interview, Iina. Would you like to say hi to the readers of Blogilkar?
Thanks for the interview, Iina. Would you like to say hi to the readers of Blogilkar?
Dear readers of Blogilkar, I wish you all the best
for this gorgeous new Eurovision year 2013! Thank you so much for giving me
your support and interest, it means the world to me! Keep your spirit high.
Thank you,
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