search
date/time
Lancashire Times
A Voice of the Free Press
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
6:16 AM 4th May 2022
arts

Interview With Eurovision Hopeful Amanda Tenjford

 
Even during the speculation stage of Eurovision 2022, the excitement that Amanda Tenjford might be representing Greece was high. As a result, the pressure was on for her to deliver. And wow. She has done just that! Die Together is powerful and beautiful. While there may have been questions as to how it would sound live, acoustic performances since have only heightened the depth of its beauty. With Amanda firmly on our list of potential winners, we were excited to have a chat with her about the upcoming contest.



Hi, first and foremost, how are you?

I am fine, thank you! Preparing for my Eurovision performance.

What an exciting 2022 so far... You must be thrilled with how it's playing out. What's been the highlight?

Undeniably, to myself, there is one highlight that rules each and every other one: The Eurovision 2022 and my participation with Die Together. I am super proud about this.

We absolutely love Die Together. It really captures a feeling of the last few years. Tell us a little about the process behind the scenes in creating the song?

It is a metaphor for love. I tried to imagine how it feels to love someone so deeply, that it feels like dying with him. I wrote it in 2021. It was inspired by a personal experience of mine. I was going through a rough patch in my life and I could not write a single note. One day I went to the studio with my music partner, Bjorn Helge and I expressed my thoughts on him. I wondered if the title Die Together was a bit heavy for a pop song, but Bjorn understood the symbolism under it. We wrote this song together in a few hours.

If you had to file it between two other songs, what would they be and why...

Well, actually I feel strongly that Die Together is a song that cannot be compared with others that I have already created. It has forged its own path, in Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

You are still at medical school, what drew you to Eurovision?

I love Eurovision! It has been something like a 'family tradition' to watch the contest on TV while gyro sandwiches and having lots of fun. I still remember Alexander Rybak’s performance (I was a little in love with him...) and Elena Paparizou My Number 1.

Who do you feel is your stiffest competition?

Frankly I don’t know how to answer this. I cannot see Eurovision as a competition game. I only want to see myself on stage and present my song to the Eurofans. In my heart, nothing is more important than performing Die Together on the 100% of my artistic strength.

What can we expect from your Turin performance?

I have been collaborating with the experienced creative director Fokas Evangelinos. I feel great about this. He has great experience of ESC and he also listens to my thoughts and ideas. We make a great team and I can’t wait to see our work unravel onstage. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you more about this, it’s a secret.

What is your Eurovision ambition?

To make Greeks proud!

And lastly, aside from Eurovision, what other 2022 plans do you have?

Ι am going to release my new album, in Autumn 2022. Before that, in late May 2022, as a Medicine student, I have to take part in the summer exams. But also try to get some rest after Eurovision finishes. Hopefully, I‘ll find time.