NDR launched an open call for both songs and artists without songs and in the end got 693 singers applying and 572 songs that eventually became 32 judged by an international jury and eight were chosen for the final. Ich will zum ESC selection in pure Sanremo newcomers style added one more act to the line up, Floryan. But it was Isaak with Always on the run that won both jury and televote in the final with a song co-penned by a Finn, Leo Salminen. Isaak Guderain (29) is a German singer who has an Icelandic mother. His musical path has been from a street musician to forming a band then taking part in X Factor in 2011 and then finally starting to compose his own music during the pandemic and in 2021 he won Show Your Talent show that lead to taking part in the national final and going to Malmö 2024 for Germany. He's been releasing a lot of singles since 2020 Always on the run being already his 12th. His only charting one so far has been Baby steps with David Puentes in 2022. So, what ...