Anna Sahlene interview: “Love Me Low” brings “classic, old-school Eurovision” to Eesti Laul

Eesti Laul 2025 finalist Anna Sahlene became a Eurovision legend by chance. After one late night phone call more than 20 years ago, the contest forever became a part of her life story.

It was 2002, and a team of Estonian songwriters had their song chosen for the Baltic nation’s Eurovision Song Contest pre-selection. When the singer had to drop out of the competition, Sahlene answered the last-minute call for help. It was the evening before the show at 21:00 when the publisher reached out to her and sent her the song. With no high-speed internet at the time, Sahlene still remembers waiting for the modem to load as she sat patiently in front of her computer.

Just a few months later, she brought Estonia to a third-place finish in 2002 with “Runaway,” launching a prolific career that has spanned theater, TV, pop music, voice acting and singing in Swedish dubs of major films like Encanto, and more.

The accomplished artist is returning to Eesti Laul once again this year with the anthemic “Love Me Low” — 3 minutes of pop bliss that balance 1990s and early 2000s Eurovision nostalgia with a fresh, current sound. We caught up with Sahlene to talk about her latest music, and what could possibly be her sixth time participating in Eurovision! Check out her interview below.

What was it like to find out you were a finalist this year? 

It was a last-minute decision for me. I wanted to make a collaboration, but we didn’t have the time to finish that project. But then I realized I have this great song that’s not finished yet, and I could finish it for Eesti Laul. So we sent it in on the last day of the deadline. Eight days later, I found out “Love Me Low” made it in.

What was it about the song that made you think, “that’s the one?” 

Ever since the songwriters and I wrote it, I felt this song had such massive potential. It just happens sometimes, great songs end up in your drawer or the computer. But I always thought it would be great for Eurovision. 

What I want to bring to the table for fans is classic, old-school Eurovision. I’ve never been one to call myself a diva — because I’m not — but I want to bring a diva song, with a whole outfit and everything. This is something I want to give my fans and Eurovision fans all over. 

In this day and age, huge artists might have one hit and be gone and forgotten. But the memory of Eurovision fans, I can’t believe it — I’m so grateful for that. Being an artist is not always a walk in the park, and having people who believe in you is the most important thing. I want to give back to this community.

What has it been like to be part of the Eurovision community for so long?

My first-ever Eurovision experience was with Charlotte Perrelli in her background choir. It was Jerusalem in 1999, and we won with “Take Me to Your Heaven.” It was mind-blowing to be on the winning team. I was 22 just trying to make a living in the music business. I was blown away by the sense of community surrounding the contest. It’s huge not only to be on stage, but to connect with the fans and other artists. I have come to think more and more that we need more occasions where people from different cultures meet in peace. It might sound cliche, but it’s true!  

On a personal level, the first time I went to Eurovision with Charlotte, I didn’t understand how it would become a part of my life story and career. I just knew I enjoyed being in this environment. My life, the universe, or me — whatever it was — has led me to participate five times. People might not know that I did backing vocals for four different nations: Sweden 1999, Australia 2016, Malta 2001, and U.K. 2019. 

How has your connection to Estonia grown since you first represented the country? 

I ended up representing Estonia in 2002 by chance. I got a call from a Swedish publisher I had been working with. He said, “Hey Anna, I have a very strange question, and I don’t know if you’d consider this — but tomorrow, they have the national pre-selection for Eurovision. I’m working with a group of talented Estonian songwriters. They have an artist but she doesn’t want to do it anymore.” He said they had been scouting all over Estonia, and most of the singers they knew were already competing. 

I didn’t even understand the question. I was like, “Do you need a background singer?” I had never even been to Estonia. It was like jumping off a cliff without a parachute, but I was like, “OK, I’ll do it!” There I was, understanding I was going to represent a country I’d never been to, that had only been a free country for a little over a decade. This was a big chance to show Estonia to the rest of the world. Even though I was young, I understood this was not just any performance. I immediately started to learn more about Estonian history. I wanted to do my best to be an advocate for the country.

I’m equally as grateful for Estonia as I am for the Eurovision community for taking me in as one of their own.

Did you watch Eurovision growing up or dream of going when you were younger? Do you have any memories of the show? 

We watched every year, but I had never really dreamt of it until I was older. I always wanted to be an artist, and grew up with parents who were musicians. I grew up in a small town, so maybe I thought Eurovision was for someone else — that it happened in the capital, and we lived in the countryside. 

I have two big memories from my childhood — first, when Carola won Melodifestivalen. It was called the “Carola effect” when she won with “Främling” in 1983. She was 16, and the whole country was crazy about her. I was 6, and I wanted to be Carola so bad.

The second memory was when Monica Törnell and Lasse Holm performed the duet “E’ de’ det här du kallar kärlek.” Monica was from my little town! I was like, “Oh my gosh, somebody from our hometown actually won Melodifestivalen!”

What are some songs that have stuck with you as favorites throughout your years in the Eurovision scene? 

I love that it’s so broad. I enjoy something delicate and intimate like “Amar pelos dois” (Portugal 2017). I also enjoy when everything falls into place, like Loreen going to Eurovision twice. I love seeing when an artist is in the zone.

I love Conchita Wurst. “Rise Like a Phoenix” had a message that rose above Conchita herself. It meant a lot for people to see such a beautiful person onstage embodying the masculine and feminine at the same time. 

And I also love divas like Chanel (Spain 2022), and Hurricane (Serbia 2020-21). Serbia has a lot of good songs too, like “Molitva.”

Do you have any final message for fans who are reading? 

I have released some new music, so if you like my music from Eurovision and Melodifestivalen, check out my new stuff too! I am an independent artist, so I would be so happy if you share the songs with your community. Do what you can to spread the love! 

Anna Sahlene will perform “Love Me Low” this Saturday, February 15, at Eesti Laul 2025. Watch on ERR. 

Do #YOU want to support Anna Sahlene’s path to Eurovision? Who are #YOU cheering on in Eesti Laul? Let us know on our forum, or visit us on Facebook, X(Twitter), Instagram, Youtube, and Discord.