Exclusive for OGAE Serbia: When Austrian sings and Serbian writes – the heartfelt journey of „Wasted Love“

If you’ve been riding the Eurovision wave these days (and we know you are), one name might catch your ear – JJ.

Behind that stage name is Johannes Pietsch, a countertenor from Austria with a voice that sounds like it walked straight out of an art house film. With his song “Wasted Love”, JJ brings an emotional story about unrequited love – and the strength to move on.

What’s interesting is that the songwriters behind JJ’s entry are Austrian producer Thomas Thurner and Teodora Špirić – better known to the public as Teya, a Serbian singer-songwriter who’s been living in Vienna for years. Eurovision fans may remember her from 2020, when she competed at Serbia’s national selection Beovizija with the song “Sudnji dan”.

JJ is set to perform in the second semi-final on May 15, performing 6th in the lineup – the same semi-final as Serbia, adding a little extra drama for those of us watching at home, snacks in hand, stats ready, emotions running high.

In a conversation with our portal, JJ spoke about working with Teya, the emotions that guided the creation of his song, and his expectations ahead of the big performance. Here’s what he had to say.

Austria’s Representative at Eurovision 2025.

First of all, congratulations on being chosen to represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025! How did the decision come about for you to be Austria’s representative and what does participating in Eurovision mean to you?

Thank you so much! Representing Austria at Eurovision is truly a dream come true for me. Since Conchita’s iconic victory in 2014, watching Eurovision with my family has become a yearly tradition – that moment really sparked something in me. It’s more than just a show; it represents freedom, diversity, and connection.

Your song has already captured the attention of Eurovision fans across Europe. One of the co-writers is Teya, a Serbian-born artist who previously represented Austria. How did that collaboration come to be, and what was it like working with her and the team?

Teya and I have been friends for a long time, but we never worked together before. When I asked her to write me a Eurovision Song we didn’t know what to expect, but working with her and the producer Thomas Thurner was incredible!

We wrote in Berlin and it was actually one of my first writing sessions ever. I came in with a lot of emotion and a personal story to tell – and Teya managed to translate that into lyrics and melody in such a powerful way.

At the moment, you are ranked second in the betting odds. Do you see this as a boost of motivation or perhaps a bit of pressure? How do you personally deal with the rising expectations?

To be honest, I try not to focus too much on rankings. Of course, it’s exciting and motivating to see that the song is resonating with people, but I don’t see myself as a „favorite“ in that sense. I see myself as someone who has been given this amazing opportunity to share their heart and art on one of the biggest stages in the world.

Austria has won the Eurovision Song Contest twice so far. How would you describe your song, and how do you personally perceive it? Do you believe that with this song, you could bring Austria its third victory?

Wasted Love is very close to my heart. It’s a deeply emotional piece that talks about unreciprocated love, the pain of investing in something that doesn’t give back, and ultimately finding the strength to let go.

Musically, it’s a fusion of classical and contemporary styles – I’m a countertenor, so I draw from opera, but the production brings in modern textures to create something unique and cinematic. I don’t know if it will bring Austria a third win, but what I do believe is that it has the potential to touch people.

If it moves the audience and creates a moment of connection, then I’ve already won something very meaningful.

How are the preparations for Basel going? Can we expect any surprises in your staging or performance? What’s the message or feeling you want to leave with viewers on the big night?

Preparations are in full swing, and I can honestly say – it’s intense, emotional, and incredibly fulfilling. There will be dynamic visuals and surreal, symbolic elements that mirror the emotional journey of Wasted Love.

The message I want to leave with the audience is this: even when love feels like it was in vain, it was never wasted. Every feeling, every tear, every hope – it all shapes who we are.

I want people to feel seen in their own stories of love and loss, and to walk away feeling empowered to embrace both pain and beauty with open hearts.

We thank JJ for taking the time to talk with us and for his honest answers that gave us a glimpse into his artistic world. In Wasted Love, he delivers a powerful message about emotional loss – but also about the courage to move forward.

We wish Austria the best of luck in the second semi-final on May 15 in Basel, where JJ will perform 6th in the running order. We believe his emotionally charged and artistically sincere performance will touch hearts across Europe.

His song Wasted Love is not just a musical hit – it’s a story with the power to create a deep emotional connection for anyone who’s ever experienced unrequited love or emotional growth.

Stay tuned for the Serbian translation of “Wasted Love” below, to fully experience the message JJ is bringing to the Eurovision stage.