ESC+Plus has talked to Shauna Vassallo, finalist of this year’s Maltese national selection for Eurovision. Shauna will perform «Crazy Game» in the final of MESC 2017 set to take place on February 18th.
ESC+Plus: Hello! First of all, thank you so much for your time and congratulations on having been selected to take part in the Maltese national selection for Eurovision 2017!
Can you tell us about you, your musical career and important achievements?
Shauna: I started singing at a very young age, moved on to get some vocal coaching and my career kicked off when I started entering Maltese singing competitions. I was then selected to take part in the Italian TV Program ‘Io Canto’ which was a great experience. As a big animal lover, I have also written and sang songs against animal cruelty and participated in mass marches in Malta. After that I never looked back, and here we are today, road to Eurovision 2017.
Singing is my passion, what I get my energy from and I cannot wait to sing in the Maltese national selection. I am ready to make Malta and all the Maltese proud!
ESC+Plus: What impelled you to take part in “MESC 2017”?
Shauna: I always believed that the Eurovision is a wonderful experience. Since I was a toddler I followed the Eurovision, so as a new singer applying to participate is an obvious choice.
ESC+Plus: How did you feel when you knew you had qualified for the final? Did you expect it?
Shauna: There are too many feelings for me to list, but in a nutshell I saw honored, happy, ecstatic, proud and above all humbled, and I will do my very best. The finalist are all renowned artists in Malta so I did not expect it at all, however now that I am in the game I will give my utmost to succeed.
ESC+Plus: What would it mean to you to represent Malta?
Shauna: It would be one of the proudest moment in my career. I love my country with all my heart, as much as I love singing, so combining the two together would be the highlight of my career. It would be an absolute honor to represent my people and my country in Europe.
ESC+Plus: Can you tell us about your song? What is the story behind the lyrics?
Shauna: My song is about not expecting anything in life, being strong and determined and stranding tall as an individual.
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?
Shauna: Since I started my singing career, I have worked hard, trained and showed determination in anything that I did, and I intend to do the same. If selected to take part in the Eurovision, I will work day and night to make sure that my country is represented well. Press, marketing and also networking and important, and I am ready to do it all and make my country proud.
ESC+Plus: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What is your favorite song in the history of the competition?
Shauna: I have been watching the Eurovision since I was a little kid in my bouncer, the Maltese competition and the final contest. My favorite all time song would be Wild Dances by Ruslana from the 2004 Eurovision, vibrant, energetic, great choreography and overall fun.
ESC+Plus: If you could choose a Eurovision former participant to sing along with, who would it be?
Shauna: Definitely and without any doubt Jamala, the 2016 winner. Her voice is angelic, plus her song 1944 is so powerful with a great meaning.
ESC+Plus: Finally, can you send a message for our readers and Eurovision fans?
Shauna: As Conchita Wurst said in her 2014 winning speech, ‘’believe in peace and freedom, if we are all united, we are unstoppable.’’ Believe in yourself, be humble and never stop following your dreams.