alexacurtis

Interview with Alexa Curtis

Australia debuted at the previous Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 and were represented by Bella Paige who ultimately finished 8th place.  This year they were invited back to the contest in Valletta and flying their flag in Malta will be Alexa Curtis who won the Voice Kids in 2014.  Alexa will sing the song „We Are“ on the 20th November performing 14th out of 17 countries after Israel and before the Netherlands.  We were lucky to be able to conduct a short interview with Alexa before she went to Malta where she talked about her Eurovision experience so far.

How did it arise that you would be the representative in JESC and how did you feel when you heard the news?

SBS and their production partner, Blink TV selected me internally. They then contacted my music label, Universal Music Australia who contacted my parents. I was really surprised when I heard but so happy as this opportunity means the world to me. I get to represent Australia. That’s just crazy! It makes me so ready and determined to make Australia proud. I get the opportunity to meet other kids from other countries who love singing. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Could you tell us what the meaning of your song is and what it personally means to you?

I love this song. It is uplifting and sends a positive message to everyone that if you are feeling sad or alone, there is always someone who will be by your side and look out for you. It’s about saying that we don’t need money or nice things, it’s about friendship, feeling empowered and inspired. I feel relaxed and happy when I sing it and hope that it makes other people happy too.

How have you been preparing for JESC? Has your daily life changed during the run-up to the contest?

My daily life hasn’t changed that much. I have still been going to school and doing normal things. I try and keep my life as normal as possible leading up to when I perform. I listen to all my favourite singers and watch their videos. I take it all in and run through my song in my head ensuring I am well prepared. I have been watching JESC on YouTube to see what they did last year so I know what to expect during the lead up to the show.

Had you heard about Eurovision or JESC before you were asked to compete?

I’m familiar with Eurovision because I watched Conchita Wurst perform and I thought the performance was truly great. I also watched Dami Im perform this year and I thought her performance was spectacular. I watched Junior Eurovision last year and really enjoyed listening to all the performances. I loved Destiny’s song in particular.                  

How do you think being on The Voice Kids has prepared you for JESC?

TVK taught me a lot. I learnt so much in terms of preparation, diction, delivery, how to use the stage and how to handle the pressure. I was only ten when I was on the show and I hadn’t had any formal vocal lessons before so I made sure to listen and learn as much as I could from my coach, Delta. It was important to me to be positive, relax, laugh and just enjoy the whole experience. I have made some wonderful friends.

Most of the songs for the contest have been released with still a couple more to go. Have you listened to any of the songs from the other countries and do you have a favourite?

I have listened to all the songs from the other contestants. It’s going to be great that we can all come together in Malta through our love for music and singing. I love the girl groups Kisses and Dancin’ from the Netherlands and Water of Life from Russia. Everyone is so talented … let’s party together!

Could you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from your performance in Valletta?

I don’t want to give too much away, but I hope it’s a performance that is inspiring and one that people will remember. I definitely won’t be dancing as it’s not that sort of song!

What is your goal for JESC? What would you like to achieve from your performance in Malta?

My goal is just to do my best and sing well. I want to make Australia proud and I can do this by ensuring I put everything into my performance and giving it my all. It’s another part of my journey and I want to be able to look back at my experience and performance with pride.

Thank you for giving up some of your time to answer our questions, we wish you the best of luck in Malta. To finish, do you have a message for all of your fans and readers?

If you have a dream; pursue it. Don’t give up – even when it gets tough. Enjoy each day as you never know what is around the corner. Believe in yourself and don’t let others discourage you from achieving your goals.

Have a listen to Alexa’s song, „We Are“ below.