ESC+Plus has talked to Benjamin Ingrosso, semifinalist of this year’s Swedish national selection for Eurovision. The young singer will perform «Good Lovin» composed, by himself, Louis Schoorl and Matt Parad, in the second semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2017 to take place on February 11th.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Swedish national selection for Eurovision 2017!
Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
Benjamin Ingrosso: I grew up doing musicals when I was younger, and I’ve always been writing music since I was seven years old. I released my first single when I was nine, then I did a lot of tv-shows then I took a break. I started doing musicals until I was fourteen, then I took a break again, and I studied in school, and then I started writing songs in the studio as a songwriter and then I’m here today as an artist and songwriter.
My dream is to be a successful artist and songwriter and tour all over the world.
ESC+Plus: What impelled you to take part in «Melodifestivalen 2017»?
Benjamin Ingrosso: It’s a great show and a great opportunity if you have a song that you love and a number you think that you can perform very well in front of a lot of people with the kind of crowd I want to reach out to. And it’s a good platform to show who I am in three minutes.
ESC+Plus: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the semi-final? Did you expect it?
Benjamin Ingrosso: I was so happy that they liked my song and were just as excited as I am. I had a good feeling about getting qualified because it’s a great song and I hold it very close to my heart.
ESC+Plus: What would it mean to you to represent Sweden?
Benjamin Ingrosso: That would mean a lot to me because that would mean I could represent a whole country and it would mean that this country supports me and my music.
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?
Benjamin Ingrosso: The story behind the lyrics is that I just broke up with my girlfriend before I went to L.A. so I had a lot of inspiring lyrics and melodies that needed to get out of my body. So I wrote that song about her being with some other guy and that I want her back but I can’t think about the bad memories that we have and to start thinking about the good memories if I have to let her go, then I have to realise that what we had was really good. Then I remember that GOOD LOVIN’.
ESC+Plus: Why do you think your song has to be selected for Kiev? What are you strengths to reach the top in the competition?
Benjamin Ingrosso: It’s not a very obvious song, it’s a very personal Benjamin song and that’s why I wanted to do it, I wanna show who I am as an artist not as an pop-songwriter but as a songwriter for Benjamin Ingrosso.
ESC+Plus: Have you thought about your performance for Melodifestivalen 2017?
Benjamin Ingrosso: Yeah, I’m not gonna focus that much on the high-tech stuff. I’m gonna focus about doing a great performance and a great number lighting wise and great choreography and just focus on me on stage.
ESC+Plus: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What is your favorite song in the history of the competition?
Benjamin Ingrosso: Yeah of course, it comes a lot on the television during spring. I loved the last Eurovision show that Sweden did, it was a very high standard.
The best song in Eurovision ever must be “Hold Me Now”, “Volare” or “Scattered Light”.
ESC+Plus: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Benjamin Ingrosso: Céline Dion
ESC+Plus: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Benjamin Ingrosso: HELLO everybody! Really hope I will see you all in Kyiv!!
Thank you so much Benjamin and Therese Hädinggård for the interview. Good luck!