Malta: Interview with Firelight’s Richard

Firelight will be representing the Mediterranean Island of Malta in Copenhagen in May with their song ‘Coming Home’, and will perform in the second Semi Final on the 8th of May, in hope of reaching the final on the 10th of May.

 

After meeting with Richard Micallef (Richard Edwards), the Lead Singer of Firelight, an interview was arranged in order to give some insight to band.

 

First of all would you like to tell us a bit about Firelight?

Firelight is a relatively new Maltese country folk pop band, formed in June 2013.  I am the lead singer. I’m also the author and composer of “Coming Home.”

I am 31. Music is in my blood. My father is a well-known singer in Malta and just about all his family are entertainers. I play the Appalachian mountain dulcimer, acoustic guitar, and percussion. I am joined in Firelight by my sister, Michelle Mifsud, on the piano, and brothers Wayne William, as backing vocalist, and Daniel Micallef on the acoustic guitar. Additional band members are Tony Polidano, on the upright bass, and Leslie Decesare on the drums and harmonica.

Could you tell the readers a bit about your song ‘Coming Home’?

“Coming Home” is a mix of pop, rock and folk, rolled into one. I believe people will be able to relate to “Coming Home” in many different situations and think it should be especially poignant for the thousands of emigrants who travel across Europe for work, spending months away from their families.

Firelight have participated in the Maltese National Final once, and you won it! How does it feel to represent Malta in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest?

Good. In fact, I would say very good. We are thrilled to represent Malta in Copenhagen.  It is a dream come true, not only it is a great opportunity to be on the big Eurovision stage but also the opportunity will unlock a lot neww doors for us especially since we are also launching a new album which is also called “Coming Home”.

Over the years you have participated separately in the Maltese selections but never won. Did this year feel different before the final? Did you have a feeling it may be you who would represent Malta?

I first entered the Malta Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 as part of the group “The Mics”.  Since 2010, I took part as a solo artist and came as close as first runner up in 2011. So, it’s been a long time getting here. I wasn’t confident of victory this year because there’s a lot of good competition on the Maltese music scene. But it was still very exciting to win.

Your performance in the National Final was amazing! Will the performance change at all for Eurovision in May?

We have expanded the line-up. Both my brothers are now in the band so we will be a six-piece on stage. One thing is for sure; we will be giving it our absolute best in Denmark.

Tell us about your time in X Factor with Simon Cowell?

In 2005 I took a step away from home to venture in the UK music industry. While in England I got the chance to perform alongside Leona Lewis, Ray Quinn and other X Factor contestants. I got the thumbs up from the legendary Simon Cowell on the judge’s panel and made it to the final 80.  It was a brilliant experience.

Have you heard any of the other country’s songs yet? If so, which would you say are the best?

We’ve heard a few but until you hear them all it’s hard to evaluate the competition. There are bound to be some impressive acts but we hope that our rather different mix of pop, rock and folk will help us stand out.

Do you have a message for the readers of ESCUnited.com?

You at ESCUnited do a great job bringing together fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, and your readers are the people who make the festival so special. Our simple message is: we hope you enjoy our song and please vote for Malta, vote for Firelight, vote for Coming Home. If you do that we can welcome you all to our beautiful island in the Mediterranean May next year. We want you all to come.  Keep following Firelight at www.tvm.com.mt/eurovison or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/EurovisionSongMalta

 

Lyric Video for ‘Coming Home’:

[vsw id=”bVcgkzwWlSs” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 We would like to thank Richard for taking the time to speak to us and wish Firelight a lot of luck in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in May!

The official Music Video for ‘Coming Home’ will be released tomorrow (14th of March) between 1-2pm CET. We will bring you the video when it becomes available.