The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast

Some of the biggest creative brains at the Eurovision Song Contest join a special episode of the podcast, recorded in front of a live audience at the Novartis Pavilion in Basel. Joining Steve is Teya, Ralf Mackenbach, Ace Bowerman, Jorge Antonio Fujizaki and Melanie Wehbe.  Teya represented Austria in 2023 with Who The Hell Is Edgar? and is now the creative director and co-writer for JJ’s entry Wasted Love.  Ralf Mackenbach won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, but switched his career to his other passion… and is now a leading physicist! Creative director Ace Bowerman and choreographer Jorge Antonio Fujizaki are the brains behind the staging for this year’s United Kingdom and Azerbaijan entries. Melanie Wehbe has worked on four Eurovision Song Contest entries, including Sissal’s Hallucination, where she’s also a backing vocalist.  Also joining Steve are two ‘Novartists’ - Gustavo Prack & Anisah Alyahya - who talk about balancing their careers at Novartis, with their passion for music.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Yuval Raphael, the talented Israeli singer representing her country at Eurovision 2025, shares her journey from childhood in Switzerland to the stage. She discusses her stirring ballad, "New Day Will Rise," and who can resist a karaoke sing-off? She even brings her mom into the conversation for a heartwarming cameo. Meanwhile, German duo Abor & Tynna express their excitement about their energetic entry, "Baller," the first German song in two decades, infusing humor and sibling camaraderie into their creative process.

Join the fun as KAJ and Ziferblat dive into the quirky world of sauna culture, sharing hilarious sauna design tales and a playful competition about their personal experiences. They reflect on their thrilling journey to Eurovision, the pressure of being favorites, and memorable interactions with fellow contestants. Twin brothers from Ukraine channel their inner Roger Federer while preparing for their performance, celebrating sibling dynamics in music and friendships forged through the spirit of competition. Humor and nostalgia abound as they embrace the camaraderie of the Eurovision experience!

The artists from Austria and Latvia drop by for the latest episode of the podcast! Austrian opera star JJ is ready to bring drama to his Wasted Love performance. He talks about bonding with Conchita, working with 2023 contestant Teya, and his ‘choatic’ friendship with Denmark’s Sissal. Then, all six members of Latvian folk-pop group Tatumeitas tell us about their song Bur Man Laimi and their love of Eurovision ethno-divas.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Claude, who brings his feelgood anthem C’est La Vie to Eurovision, shares his journey filled with dance and family support. He dives into his musical inspirations and chats about the excitement surrounding his performance. Meanwhile, Nina Žižić reflects on her return to Eurovision after three years, discussing her emotional solo journey with her dramatic ballad Dobrodošli. Together, they reminisce about memorable Eurovision moments and the significance of truly representing their countries on stage.

It’s a triple threat as Croatia’s Marko Bosnjak, Albania’s Shkodra Elektronike and Theo Evan from Cyprus visit the podcast. First up, Marko Bošnjak has been baking his Poison Cake for the Eurovision stage. Albanian powerhouse duo Shkodra Elektronike tell Steve all about the famous legend inspiring their song Zjerm. And finally, please be quiet as Cyprus’ Theo Evan tells us all about his entry Shh, a performance which channels Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Estonia’s Coffee King Tommy Cash and Slovenia’s TV presenter-turned-Eurovision star Klemen join Steve on today’s episode of the podcast. First up, Tommy Cash takes part in his first EVER podcast to discuss the creation of Espresso Macchiato, his friendship with Charli XCX and the famous names backing him for Eurovision victory. Next, Klemen brings his personal story to the stage in Basel with his ballad How Much Time Do We Have Left?. He tells Steve about the heartfelt ode to his wife, and his background as one of Slovenia’s best known impressionists.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rehearsals in Basel have begun and we're speaking to three acts who performed on stage on day one of the Contest - Væb, Justyna Steczkowska & NAPA! First up, it's Icelandic duo Væb who are opening the whole event with their ocean-inspired anthem RÓA. Brothers Matthías and Hálfdán talk about their rehearsals, whale watching, and their fame in Iceland. Next, it’s Justyna Steczkowska, representing Poland with the epic GAJA. Justyna is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest after first performing 30 years ago... in 1995! Steve also talks to singer Guilherme & drummer João from Portugal's NAPA. They discuss the message behind their beautiful entry, Deslocado and the love of their home island, Madeira and its legendary drink Poncha. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have two HUGE singers for the price of one on today’s episode of the podcast.  First up is Serbia’s long-haired Princ who’s bringing his epic song Mila to Basel. He talks about his cat (also called Mila), his former life as a karate champion, and the unusual third language he speaks. Armenia’s PARG is here to talk about his powerful anthem Survivor. The singer tells Steve about the meaning of the song, what we can expect from him in Switzerland, and his special connection to Rosa Linn.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a very special episode of the podcast, recorded in front of a live audience at the London Eurovision Party! Joining Steve on stage are the United Kingdom’s Remember Monday, Australia’s Go-Jo and Austria’s 2024 entry Kaleen. Next up it’s Iceland’s Væb, Malta’s Miriana Conte and Slovenia’s Klemen, before they passed the microphones to Sweden’s KAJ, Sissal from Denmark and Croatia’s Marjo Bošnjak.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices