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An interview with Lisa Andreas!
"I had to have my tonsils removed at the end of October 2003 and whilst I was recuperating, Mike wrote Stronger every minute for me. None of us knew what my voice would be like..."
Esctoday.com: First of all, congratulations with your victory on Cyprus! Please tell me, how did you started this adventure?
"My managers always had the idea that I should take part in Eurovision for Cyprus but I was too young before. This year, in order to take part, you had to be 16 years old on 31st December 2003 and my 16th birthday was on 22nd December 2003, so I might be the youngest artist taking part?"
"Mike Connaris got in touch with my managers because he had heard about me and wanted to submit a song for the Cyprus entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and had to have a Cypriot artist. I was born in England because my father is British, but my mother and grandparents come from Pano Lakatamia in Cyprus, where I was christened, so I am half Cypriot. I lived in Cyprus for two and a half years when I was a little girl and have returned to Cyprus for holidays since I came to live in England because my family still lives there".
Esctoday.com: We heard something about your tonsils. What's the story?
"I had to have my tonsils removed at the end of October 2003 and whilst I was recuperating, Mike wrote Stronger every minute for me. None of us knew what my voice would be like after the operation, but thankfully I seem to be singing better than ever which is a huge relief! When I went back to his studios and heard the song, I loved it so much that I just couldn’t wait to record it".
"My managers always had the idea that I should take part in Eurovision for Cyprus but I was too young before. This year, in order to take part, you had to be 16 years old on 31st December 2003 and my 16th birthday was on 22nd December 2003, so I might be the youngest artist taking part?"
"Mike Connaris got in touch with my managers because he had heard about me and wanted to submit a song for the Cyprus entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and had to have a Cypriot artist. I was born in England because my father is British, but my mother and grandparents come from Pano Lakatamia in Cyprus, where I was christened, so I am half Cypriot. I lived in Cyprus for two and a half years when I was a little girl and have returned to Cyprus for holidays since I came to live in England because my family still lives there".
Esctoday.com: We heard something about your tonsils. What's the story?
"I had to have my tonsils removed at the end of October 2003 and whilst I was recuperating, Mike wrote Stronger every minute for me. None of us knew what my voice would be like after the operation, but thankfully I seem to be singing better than ever which is a huge relief! When I went back to his studios and heard the song, I loved it so much that I just couldn’t wait to record it".
Esctoday.com: What do you hope to achieve with your participation on the Eurovision Song Contest?
"Firstly, I think that you are always learning in the music industry and I have already gained a lot from my participation so far and just taking part in the Cypriot preselection was a great experience. I was thrilled to win and am very proud and honoured to represent my Cyprus homeland and of course I want to win for Cyprus. Going to Istanbul and taking part in Eurovision will be the biggest thing I have ever done and I know that I will take a lot away from it whatever the result. For me personally I hope this would help me to achieve my ambition to follow my chosen career as a full-time singer/songwriter and hopefully get recording contract. After all ABBA were launched on their fantastic career from Eurovision and Céline Dion who has been one of my musical influences became noticed from Eurovision".
"Firstly, I think that you are always learning in the music industry and I have already gained a lot from my participation so far and just taking part in the Cypriot preselection was a great experience. I was thrilled to win and am very proud and honoured to represent my Cyprus homeland and of course I want to win for Cyprus. Going to Istanbul and taking part in Eurovision will be the biggest thing I have ever done and I know that I will take a lot away from it whatever the result. For me personally I hope this would help me to achieve my ambition to follow my chosen career as a full-time singer/songwriter and hopefully get recording contract. After all ABBA were launched on their fantastic career from Eurovision and Céline Dion who has been one of my musical influences became noticed from Eurovision".
Esctoday.com: Do you often watch the contest?
"Ever since I can remember I have watched the Eurovision Song Contest. I think it is becoming more popular again which is a good thing because music brings people together, no matter what language they speak".
Esctoday.com: Whats your all-time favourite Eurovision Song Contest song?
"That’s a very hard question because each year there are some really good songs that take part. I did really like the winning song from last year because it was different".
Esctoday.com: Have you heard other 2004 songs and do you have favourites? Who do you think will win?
"Actually I have not listened to any of the other songs. I am not meaning to sound rude or arrogant but for the moment I am just concentrating on Stronger every minute and getting ready for the contest and getting my school work and studying done, so I don’t have much time for anything else. I am still listening to other music because I need to keep in touch with what is happening on the music scene and this helps me to stay fresh. So I am waiting until I get to Istanbul to hear all the other entries but I am sure that they are all great songs and it will be a really good competition".
Esctoday.com: Tell us something about your career!
"I am sixteen years old and I started singing when I was 12 and I joined my managers after they saw me at a karaoke competition. Since then I have appeared all over the UK on really big shows with artists such as Atomic Kitten, Five, Big Brovaz, and many other top acts and celebrities, including supporting the annual celebrity day held for the Children with Leukeamia appeal which was launched by Diana Princess of Wales, which is always great fun".
"Apart from Mike Connaris who I met in October when we started to work for Eurovision, I have worked with some really great song writers who have produced some great original tracks for me and I have a dance version of One Day I’ll Fly Away produced by top DJ/producer Peter Martine which is on a dance compilation CD and has been very successful in clubs in the UK and in many countries around the world, including as far away as Australia. I just love performing live and have been fortunate to appear before some great audiences. I never mime my songs because you cannot put the same feeling into your performance".
Esctoday.com: You are still in school, how do they look at your Eurovision Song Contest participation there?
"The people at my school are thrilled that I have been selected to represent Cyprus in 2004 and they are being very supportive, especially as this is a very busy time for me with important exams after I return from Istanbul".
Esctoday.com: What do you fear most in Istanbul?
"Ever since I started in the music industry, my managers have been training me to perform live in front of all different kinds of audiences and last year I took part in a song contest in Serbia to gain experience especially of performing live in competition on television but Eurovision is massive and I suppose like all the other artists, I will be nervous because I want to do my best for all the people of Cyprus and everyone else who is supporting me including my family and friends and also for Mike who wrote the song because it is a song contest".
"Ever since I can remember I have watched the Eurovision Song Contest. I think it is becoming more popular again which is a good thing because music brings people together, no matter what language they speak".
Esctoday.com: Whats your all-time favourite Eurovision Song Contest song?
"That’s a very hard question because each year there are some really good songs that take part. I did really like the winning song from last year because it was different".
Esctoday.com: Have you heard other 2004 songs and do you have favourites? Who do you think will win?
"Actually I have not listened to any of the other songs. I am not meaning to sound rude or arrogant but for the moment I am just concentrating on Stronger every minute and getting ready for the contest and getting my school work and studying done, so I don’t have much time for anything else. I am still listening to other music because I need to keep in touch with what is happening on the music scene and this helps me to stay fresh. So I am waiting until I get to Istanbul to hear all the other entries but I am sure that they are all great songs and it will be a really good competition".
Esctoday.com: Tell us something about your career!
"I am sixteen years old and I started singing when I was 12 and I joined my managers after they saw me at a karaoke competition. Since then I have appeared all over the UK on really big shows with artists such as Atomic Kitten, Five, Big Brovaz, and many other top acts and celebrities, including supporting the annual celebrity day held for the Children with Leukeamia appeal which was launched by Diana Princess of Wales, which is always great fun".
"Apart from Mike Connaris who I met in October when we started to work for Eurovision, I have worked with some really great song writers who have produced some great original tracks for me and I have a dance version of One Day I’ll Fly Away produced by top DJ/producer Peter Martine which is on a dance compilation CD and has been very successful in clubs in the UK and in many countries around the world, including as far away as Australia. I just love performing live and have been fortunate to appear before some great audiences. I never mime my songs because you cannot put the same feeling into your performance".
Esctoday.com: You are still in school, how do they look at your Eurovision Song Contest participation there?
"The people at my school are thrilled that I have been selected to represent Cyprus in 2004 and they are being very supportive, especially as this is a very busy time for me with important exams after I return from Istanbul".
Esctoday.com: What do you fear most in Istanbul?
"Ever since I started in the music industry, my managers have been training me to perform live in front of all different kinds of audiences and last year I took part in a song contest in Serbia to gain experience especially of performing live in competition on television but Eurovision is massive and I suppose like all the other artists, I will be nervous because I want to do my best for all the people of Cyprus and everyone else who is supporting me including my family and friends and also for Mike who wrote the song because it is a song contest".
Esctoday.com: What do you look forward to most in Istanbul?
"There are several things that I am looking forward to. Firstly I am looking forward to the experience of visiting Turkey because I understand that it is a lovely country and Istanbul is a lovely city. I am probably going to be very busy but I hope there will be time to visit the wonderful mosques and museums. This is an exciting time for Cyprus because of the situation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot people, so it will be great if I can help just a little bit to bring people together. Then of course I am looking forward to meeting the other artists because music is international and it is great to meet people from other countries and learn about them and their music and I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible who support the contest. Lastly I am looking forward to taking part in the semi-finals and hopefully to get through to the final because I just love to sing".
Esctoday.com: Thanks for this interview and good luck with your performance!
"I want to thank all editors of esctoday.com for running such a great website. To all the visitors to esctoday.com I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted such nice messages of support. I hope you all enjoy the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 – let’s make it a great party!
"There are several things that I am looking forward to. Firstly I am looking forward to the experience of visiting Turkey because I understand that it is a lovely country and Istanbul is a lovely city. I am probably going to be very busy but I hope there will be time to visit the wonderful mosques and museums. This is an exciting time for Cyprus because of the situation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot people, so it will be great if I can help just a little bit to bring people together. Then of course I am looking forward to meeting the other artists because music is international and it is great to meet people from other countries and learn about them and their music and I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible who support the contest. Lastly I am looking forward to taking part in the semi-finals and hopefully to get through to the final because I just love to sing".
Esctoday.com: Thanks for this interview and good luck with your performance!
"I want to thank all editors of esctoday.com for running such a great website. To all the visitors to esctoday.com I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted such nice messages of support. I hope you all enjoy the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 – let’s make it a great party!
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