Hi Ira. How are you feeling now that the news that you are the chosen one has sunk in?
I think the initial 'shock', so to speak, was a reality check that yes, this had actually happened, I had won the MESC festival and in May I'm going to represent Malta again after 14 years of toying with the idea every time I was asked the question: 'Would you ever?' I've always said: "Never say never" and many factors led me to choose to participate again. Now it's business as usual, doing the best job I possibly can along with a team of professionals. I want to leave no stone unturned and I want to enjoy it at the same time. After all, music is about enjoyment and it should be shared to give this enjoyment to others. Considering that Eurovision is watched by millions that's a whole lot of 'others' we're talking about, but first things first - we have a job to do until mid-March - which is when Malta submits its final entry.
Photo: Tonio Lambardi
How are preparations coming along?
We are working hard to get the best team on board, over and above the one that already exists. We are thinking of how we can maximise this opportunity and have a fighting chance, because let's be honest, the strategies adopted internationally and the entire game have changed. I knew that to have a fighting chance you have to play your cards right. At the moment we are at what is called 'the production stage' and weighing all options.
Do you still feel it's been the right decision for you to attempt an entry again after all these years?
Like I said, there were a lot of factors leading me to making this decision. In 2012, when Loreen won, I started to believe in the quality of Eurovision again. Then in 2014, when I was asked to present the MESC with Gianluca, the public expressed the desire to see me back on the Eurovision stage. To be honest I was asked probably every year since I participated but it got pretty intense these last three years. The international reviews for my album The Fire, which made the Top 10 of the iTunes chart, were also very good, so I figured it was the right thing to do.
While being aware of a possible backfire, criticism, being put under a magnifying glass and not reaching expectations, I reasoned that this was also a decision between playing it safe and being courageous. Obviously, the latter is harder. I don't measure a good decision on the immediate outcome but on what it says about me as a person in the long term. People will judge me either way. These last 10 years have shown us that, no matter how high the expectations might be, results could still be disappointing but this has also taught us that we should never give up.
Describe the difference between the Ira of 2002 and the Ira of 2016.
I feel I can use my experience to make this a better experience for myself and to bring more to the table. Of course, there are also psychological factors that kick in. I'm not going to lie: the thing which bothered me most in the Malta final was that I was the favourite to win and the song Chameleon was earmarked to win from the first five-second clip shown on Xarabank. That bothered me because it made it less natural as a process, and it made me over-think every interview I did. I did not like it one bit as I much prefer to be the dark horse in a race. In fact, I was nearly sure I was not going to win at one point during the voting. I don't think I would have handled all this well in 2002, so I guess that is one of the main differences. I soldiered on.
Have you thought about what life will be like after Eurovision 2016 if you do well and if you don't?
I don't like adding unwanted pressure on myself and those around me. Music is what I do: I write it, I perform it, I live it. The contest is not a representation of that, yet it is a very valid challenge. Every artist likes to explore different fields to transmit their energy through, to live through and to learn from. For my part I am going to do my very best to use my experience and professionalism to the full. If we do well, it would be thanks to the people who voted for me and who believed in me, to the team past, present and in Stockholm, and to a lot of hard work.
If we don't do well it won't be for any lack of trying but because it wasn't meant to be and there will have been better contenders. The last 10 years have been a bit disappointing for Malta so I guess it would be year 11.
Photo: Tonio Lambardi
Your latest radio single incorporates a fast, contemporary pop beat. Why did you decide to explore that area of the pop genre?
I believe in exploring various genres because they represent different facets of my personality and different periods in my life. Haunted by Love is about the drive, passion and continuous struggle artists undergo while writing their songs and albums. It is about never giving up.
I'm also in touch with what's current and allow myself enough room to bend without losing my identity. Crossing over genres like reggae, dubstep, rock, ska, drum and bass, hip-hop, break beats, electronica or even orchestral can make the pop palette more interesting. I'm very comfortable with this track and the feedback has been very good.
What else can we expect from your new album, later this year?
Just like The Fire, the new album was written with no parameters. I like to have the leeway to do different things. Howard Keith, my producer and co-writer, was a great driving force towards that attitude. The album will follow where the last one left off in terms of what to expect in genre, but I might have a few other things up my sleeve...
Photo: Reno Rapa
Apart from Eurovision, are there any international appearances or projects scheduled in the near future?
Yes, there are plans for some international promotional appearances, but I can't divulge anything yet.
We wish you the best for Eurovision and for the album's launch. Do you have a message for our readers to conclude this interview?
I would just like to thank all the people out there: all those who have taken the time to contact me via phone, Facebook, e-mail and any other medium, to congratulate me and pass on words of encouragement. It is refreshing to feel such empathy, especially in these times when such a quality is really lacking in our society. Thank you to those of you who have reached out and who continue to support me in my projects and my music.
FIRST would like to thank Ira, Jagged House management and PBS Ltd for their assistance in producing this interview.