News - Bulgaria: Interview with Deep Zone & DJ Balthazar | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

Esctoday.com have been given the privilege of an interview with this year's Eurovision Song Contest entrants from Bulgaria, Deep Zone & DJ Balthazar after Thursday's semi final. This is the only interview given by group before they flew back to Bulgaria on Sunday following the contest.

Hi guys and thank you for your time today. Can you tell me about your feelings about not qualifying form the semi final last Thursday.
 
'Today is not difficult anymore, yesterday was very difficult for us, particularly as it was Joanna's birthday. However, we are very happy to be on the Eurovision stage and very happy with our performance.  Of course, the first few minutes when we found out we did not qualify was very difficult and we felt very disappointed, but this is normal of course.  After, 1 day of thoughts and discussions, we know know that it was not too important that we did not qualify.  Our goals were achieved'.
 
What were these goals?
 
'Firstly, it was to show on a big stage that Bulgaria can deliver fresh, original and interesting modern music.  And secondly, that our song touched many people during this week.  We had one of the biggest applause from the audience in the venue, we are very happy about this.  It was also wonderful to hear our song all around Belgrade. The security guard at our hotel has our song as his ring tone, we could her DJ Take Me Away on the radio , in the taxi , shops and clubs.  It is really nice that the people have taken to our song.
 
We feel that in a few months people will forget about a lot of the songs in the Eurovision final.  They will not remember who finished outside the top three.  We hope that we have given the people something to remember.  We feel that our goals have been delivered and that we did a great show.  We were already winners before we arrived in Belgrade and this has not chanced'.
 
How did it feel to appear on the Eurovision stage?
 
'We had one of the greatest 3 minutes of our lives.  We can still hear the cheers and the applause of the people in the hall.  It was truly a wonderful experience'.
 
 Is there anything your are unhappy about?
 
'The only thing we not really happy about is the new rules for the qualification form the semi final.  We find that this is very limiting for the smaller countries like Bulgaria.  We feel that the system is not perfect and that all countries should be allowed to vote.  If not then it is smaller courtiers like San Marino, Cyprus and Malta who will suffer'.
  
Why do you think you did not qualify to the final?
 
'We are not really sure, but maybe our audience was not watching the show on Thursday.  The song is more suited to the clubs and is not fitting with the normal song you would see in the Eurovision Song Contest. We wanted to send an unusual song to Eurovision and we know that it would be risky.  But some times you have to take positive and well as negative response and this is the chance we took.  Maybe, our song is for the younger generation and they were not watching the show last Thursday.  At least we are very proud that we gave a great show'.
 
What is the feed back you have received for your performance and not qualifying to the final?
 
'The media coverage we have been receiving from Bulgaria is very positive.  They can not understand why we did not qualify.  Also, we have had wonderful feedback from the UK with hundreds of positive responses on You tube. Also positive reaction from Iceland, Netherlands, Greece and Turkey.  This means so much to us'.

What are your plans for the future?

 'After our huge promotional campaign for the Eurovision Song Contest, our aim is that DJ Take Me Away will be a huge summer hit.  The song is already a hit in Greece, Romania and Ukraine and we have singed a number of licensing contracts.  This means that our song will be on compilation albums in these countries as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.  The song is also being picked up in Canada and North America and we just received an approach from South Africa.

 We will release an english version of our Bulgarian album and we have a national tour of Bulgaria planed for the summer.  Our Eurovision campaign has open many doors for us; we now have many new contacts including the UK.  Our act is best suitable to the club scene and we are interested in performing in many clubs throughout Europe.  Who would also like to remix version of this years songs.  We have been asked to remixes song for Philip Kirkorov and Mor ve Oteri from Turkey.  We will also have a new single out in September'.

Thank you very such for allowing esctoday this exclusive interview. I would just like to say that you have been one of the most popular delegation in this year's contest and certainly the most fun. Best of luck for the future.