Armenia surprises with their artist announcement as they select the duo Ladaniva as their representative for 2024. There has been speculation on whether they would be the Armenian pick, but today we got a final confirmation from the Armenian broadcaster (AMPTV). The song will be released at a later date.
Who is Ladaniva?
Ladaniva is a duo consisting of the Armenian vocalist Jacqueline Baghdasaryan and the French multi-instrumentalist Louis Thomas. Starting in 2019, Ladaniva embodies multiculturalism by blending various musical influences to create a unique sound. They have been known for fusing Armenian folk melodies with other traditional forms including maloya, Balkanbeat, and reggae, even drawing inspiration from certain Arabic and African rhythms.
They have experienced a decent level of success since their beginnings in 2019. Most notably songs such as “Kef Chilini” and “Shakar” have managed to hit 29- and 14 million views respectively on YouTube.
The duo’s name, Ladaniva, was inspired by the off-road retro car brand, symbolizing their adventurous spirit and multicultural journey. The two stumbled upon the name when they discovered that both of their fathers owned the same car while living in Armenia and France, the Lada Niva.
In an interview to Eurovision’s website, Armenia’s head of delegation, David Tserunyan, puts a few words on what to expect from Ladaniva:
“This year we’re thrilled to present a unique and multi-cultural entry that will make everyone dance their hearts out and carry a meaningful message with a fun and light spirit! Jaklin and Louis create songs from everyday life experiences, and soon you will hear the story of a free girl – breaking societal stereotypes”.
Ladaniva will look to improve on Brunette’s 14th placement in last year’s final. Armenia. Since its debut, Armenia has managed their highest placement of 4th place two times, first in 2008 and latest in 2014. The country has also gotten success away from the contest as the 2021 representative, Rosa Linn became a massive viral sensation after she participated in Eurovision with the song “Snap”. It currently has over 940 million plays on Spotify.
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