IRELAND – Speaking to extra.ie Irish Eurovision star Lesley Roy has teased what to expect on her upcoming song for Eurovision 2021.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, this year’s Eurovision was sadly cancelled and Lesley lost out on taking her tune to Rotterdam. Already gearing up for next year, the ‘Story Of My Life’ singer is currently in Sweden working on the track that’s going to bring the competition home to Ireland.
‘We’re still up-tempo,’ she said to Extra.ie. ‘We’re trying to keep it as positive as possible because we need it now more than ever!’ The singer continued: ‘People really resonated with “Story of My Life” and the world has gotten even darker over the past six months so I’m trying to keep the vibe positive.’
However, Lesley warned that an emotive Eurovision ballad may just surprise her in the next few weeks as she works on the next earworm.
‘I wish I had a crystal ball and could say exactly what the sound will be but I’m definitely keeping it as a big banger, either a fun pop song or a big ballad.’
The Balbriggan woman has been in touch with Eurovision legends, Norway’s Jowst and Finland’s Lasse Piirainen, in order to build the perfect Eurovision song.
‘We’ve bounced some fantastic ideas, we’re on the right page. I’ve just really gotten together an ultimate list of producers that one would want in a songwriting camp to help write this.’
Lesley Roy, hailing from Dublin’s Balbriggan, has been in touch with Eurovision legends, Norway’s Jowst and Finland’s Lasse Piirainen, in order to build the perfect Eurovision song.
Following the cancellation of this year’s competition, the singer has been in touch with RTE’s Michael Kealy (who Lesley has dubbed the ‘captain of the Eurovision ship’) throughout this stressful period and that they’re on the same wavelength of what 2021’s song needs to be.
‘We had a big long chat just as soon as I got to Sweden last week,’ she said. ‘Once I’ve finished the song, we’ll sit down and listen to it with the entire team and only when we’re all in agreement, we’ll greenlight it to the press and say we have it. We’re on the exact same page which is that I’m going to write something that is my very best and phenomenal and bring it home to Dublin.’
The singer-songwriter spent lockdown in New York, which was initially ravaged by the virus in March and April and then self-isolated for 14 days in her sister’s home before travelling to Sweden to make her next hit.
Although completely unplanned, Lesley has been thrust into a Eurovision bubble and she has felt the pressure of besting her own self with her next Eurovision song.
‘I knew Story Of My Life would be a great Eurovision song, we never know what would have happened on the night but in that same respect, it did do really well within the Eurovision community,’ she said to Extra.ie. ‘But with this, it’s like a blank slate. You’re writing a Eurovision song, which for some might seem so easy when it’s actually not like a typical pop song!’ She continued: ‘I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my songwriting anyway and I’m always trying to top myself, it so just so happens that I’m in this predicament! ‘But look, there’s way worse things happening right now and having the pressure to write a great song — I’m not complaining too much. I’m definitely trying my hardest to get something great for Ireland.’
Speaking on her Eurovision heroes, the ‘Gold’ singer heaped on the praise for Ireland’s previous champs.
I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my songwriting anyway and I’m always trying to top myself, it so just so happens that I’m in this predicament!’ Lesley Roy said. Pic: RTE
‘I hate to be so cheesy but the Irish winners really put it in my head when I was so young that I wanted to do this. Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington, Charlie Gettigan, Linda Martin, Johnny Logan … ‘ Lesley said. ‘All of our ultimate golden years of winners really left a mark on me as a young person in Ireland and particularly as a young person who knew they were going into music. The golden winners will always be at the back of my mind, especially every single day since I’ve turned to be an Irish Eurovision singer into a fulltime job for two years!’
While hailing Johnny Logan as the competition’s ‘biggest icon’, Lesley reflects that she hopes she’s ‘carrying the torch’ of the winners’ legacy.
‘I’m very grateful and I’m working at it so hard and taking it so seriously.’
