Sam Ryder, Mr. Lordi, Teya and Poli Genova discuss writing for Eurovision, how it impacts their creative process, and how they handle nerves on stage.
Sam Ryder was inspired to get into music after seeing Sum 41 in concert when he was 11. He took up the guitar after seeing Lordi win Eurovision in 2006, and was also influenced by David Bowie and Queen. He co-founded a band called The Morning After, and during the first Covid lockdown he started posting cover songs on TikTok, which caught the attention of Elton John, Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys. One of the songs he wrote during the pandemic was called Space Man; it went on to be the UK's 2022 Eurovision entry, finishing second behind Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra.
Mr. Lordi is the lead singer and costume maker of Finnish heavy metal group Lordi. The monster mask-wearing band won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah.
Poli Genova's music career began aged 4, as a member of the children’s ensemble Bon-Bon. Since then, she’s represented Bulgaria at Eurovision twice, has appeared as a coach or mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria and X Factor Bulgaria, has had three #1 singles, and hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.
Teya is one half of Teya & Salena, the first-ever female duo to compete for Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest. They’re entering this year’s competition with a song about being possessed by the ghost of Edgar Allen Poe.