At the Eesti Laul 2024 semi-final on January 20, five artists will get one step closer to a chance at representing Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest this May.
As the live show gets closer, we are excited to share an exclusive interview with singer-songwriter Cecilia, who stormed this year’s selection with the high-energy, dark pop track “FOMO.” She’s among the 15 artists competing in the semi, performing second to last.
“FOMO,” named for the term “fear of missing out,” is about channeling the spontaneous, daring and fun-loving side of yourself that is often pushed aside when life gets busy or difficult.
“FOMO” is a song you won’t want to miss out on. Check out the music video and read our Q&A with Cecilia below.
What was it like to find out your song had been chosen for Eesti Laul this year?
It was a big surprise for me! I always had the feeling that “FOMO” would be chosen, but after I submitted the song I didn’t really have the time to focus on whether I’d be chosen or not — I totally forgot about it.
You’ve also competed in Eesti otsib superstaari (Estonia’s Idol franchise competition). What was that experience like, and how did it prepare you to continue your music career?
The most important thing that I learned was to trust myself and show off more. I definitely played it too safe. Even though I didn’t get to the finals, it helped me a lot. I’m not that nervous about live performances anymore, and I made many good friends who are very close to me until this day.
Can you tell us about your relationship to Eurovision?
I don’t remember the last time I didn’t watch Eurovision! For me, it’s always been a friends’ event. We all come together to watch it. I usually don’t really listen to the songs before the contest because I want to have the first impression based on their performance. And then afterward, I’ll get my favorites and listen to my favorite songs nonstop.
If you had to pick a few Eurovision songs to cover, what songs would you choose?
My all time faves are: “Zitti e Buoni” by Måneskin, “Soldi” by Mahmood, “SloMo” by Chanel, and “Fuego” by Eleni Foureira.
Can you tell us the story behind your song, “FOMO?”
I think it’s one of the easiest songs I’ve ever written, the process was so fun and easy. We made the first demo in my backyard when me and Sander Sadam (producer and co-writer) were tanning. He got bored, made the production, and then I listened to it, and we went to the studio the next day to finish it. I wanted this song to have edgy and dark sounds, but at the same time, I wanted it to be feminine and sexy. The meaning of FOMO changed a couple of times while I was writing it. I ended up writing about a piece of myself that I was missing at the time — the crazy, fun, outrageous, spontaneous side that was lost during a busy schedule. I’m really picky about words and didn’t want it to be something I can’t relate to. So I just remembered the feeling I had, and the things I’ve experienced for the past months. After that, it was so easy to put everything into words.
The music video for “FOMO” looked amazing. Can you tell us what that experience was like?
It was so fun but also one of the hardest things I’ve done for a long time. It was really important for me to put together a strong team who can understand the song and my vision, to give the feeling of FOMO to people trough the video. I am sooo happy that I was able to make the video with my closest friends, who are soo talented and who I trust 100%. I felt so much more chilled thanks to them.
We had two long shooting days, a lot of pressure but it was all so much fun as well, because everyone on the set were good friends so it was a great balance of having fun and working. We had a lot of complications – 2nd day was postponed a week, had to change locations, had to start filming 8am instead of 3pm etc etc. A lot happened but we all worked it out without any panic, everyone was so in to do the project which made the process so easy and enjoyable.
Can you describe what you have in store for the stage performance in 3 words?
A lot of energy, a lot of camera angles, and a lot of lights.
The astrology enthusiast in me wants to know about the line “God made me an Aquarius to make my life luxurious.” What are some of your most Aquarius-like personality traits?
I hate being told or instructed to do something, I’m really independent, sometimes even too much. And I’m really spontaneous, love to do everything on the spot and I usually don’t plan my time more than a day or two ahead.
Who are some of your favorite artists or bands to listen to?
I listen to so, so many artists, but my all time favorites that I never get tired of are Beyoncé, RAYE, Charli XCX, Tate McRae, The Weeknd, Jack Harlow, SZA, and Doja Cat.
Can you tell us a little about yourself outside of your music career? What might fans be surprised to know about you?
I am very chaotic as a person and I start to tell very stupid jokes every time I get nervous. And I don’t know how to cook but I love to clean.
What other plans do you have in store for the new year? How can fans support you?
I haven’t planned anything specific, but I have a lot of music coming out, which is really, really exciting! Listen, share it and tag me when you listen to my music. I love to see that people are listening to my songs and relating to them. That makes me feel so happy!
Do you have a final message for ESC United readers?
Thank you so much for your support, it means the world to me! Don’t stop, because I have so much more coming up!
What did #YOU think of “FOMO”? What are your favorite Eesti Laul entries this year? Let us know on social media @ESCUnited, on our Forum, or on Discord!
