As we continue to get closer to the Supernova semi-final on Saturday February 3rd, we’re happy to bring you another interview – this time with the Latvian music project Saint Levića!
The band is a collaboration between lead singer and songwriter Santa Danelevica (of which the project is aptly named after) and music producer Petro Strokov. You may remember Danelevica from her participation in Supernova 2017 with the song “Your Breath” which finished in 4th in the final.
Hello there Saint Levića, welcome to ESCUnited for an interview! Why don’t we start by having you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey there, really nice to get in touch with you. I’m Santa Danelevica, the lead vocalist and songwriter for the project St. Levića, where I’m musically backed by Petro Strokov, our music producer. We’re in the selection for Eurovision 2024 representing Latvia with our track “Tiсk-Toсk”.
Now for those who aren’t familiar with your music or discography, how would you describe your sound or musical style? Are there any genres, artists, or trends that influence you as an artist?
Our music is getting ready to hit the spotlight, and this year we’re aiming to finally drop at least 6 new songs in various languages. Some of these tracks have already found their audience, as we’ve performed them at our solo concerts. It’s tough for us to pin ourselves down to just one music genre right now, with so many unreleased songs on our hands. But once we release them, we’ll be able to truly commit to a specific style.
And I noticed that there is also a Saint Levića Lab that you run in Riga – how did this vocal lab come about and what is your favorite part about running the studio?
I’ve been running my vocal studio for almost 5 years. I teach vocal skills and music basics to both beginners and professional singers in riga centre, helping them to unlock their potential and broaden their minds. Our studio is growing, and for the second year now, I’ve been teaching alongside the famous Ukrainian singer Constantine. In fact, our next song, a collaboration with him, is set to be released at the end of February.
My studio is my independence, a creative haven where new songs are born. I cherish it deeply. I often find myself working here around the clock, completely lost in the creative process.
Surely you don’t spend all of your time performing music, so what are some things that our readers would be surprised to learn about you like secret passions or hobbies?
I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but for the past two years, my main interest has really been music. Sure, there are other activities in my life, but they either help fund my music or are directly related to it. For example, last year, I organized a Baltic tour for the Tina Turner tribute show – Typically Tina. Then, I set up a major concert at the Dzintari Concert Hall in Jūrmala, Latvia, for opera singer Joyce Didonato and her “Eden” performance with an orchestra. I love organizing, planning events, and helping other artists, perhaps that’s my true hobby.
And speaking of the last two years….our readers might be surprised to learn that the songwriting process for your entry started all the way back in November of 2022. What was the songwriting process like and what motivated you to ultimately submit the track for Supernova?
We aimed to create a song for Supernova with a powerful message and top-notch arrangement, so we really took our time with it. Our team went through a lot of big topics before we all agreed on the main idea. We gave Petro the challenge of telling a life story in the song by his music, and he was excited to bring this narrative to life. This is why the song’s mood shifts so much – it’s a reflection of how life changes.
On YouTube you mentioned that you are ready to “challenge the norms and leave a lasting impression” with your Supernova entry. Can you tell us more about the meaning and message behind your song and what norms you’re hoping to challenge with it?
We acknowledge that our song “Tick Tock” stands out from the Eurovision standards. We love taking risks and understand that not everyone might get it, but we’re confident we’ll find our audience. We’re immensely grateful to the organizers for giving us this opportunity and hope to bring our vision to life, though I can’t give away any spoilers.
Our song is all about introspection and reflection. It’s a call for listeners to ponder over the passage of time, understand the roles they play in their lives, and realize the importance of living genuinely. We wanted to convey not just the inevitability of time but also the significance of cherishing and utilizing every moment we have.
We’ve got a short wait until you will be on stage for the Supernova semi-final. Without giving too much away, what can our readers expect to see from you during your performance?
Sure, we can’t spill all the details, but I’ll let you in on some. We’re working on an exciting directorial setup with decorations, aiming to create a 3-minute film. As we sincerely believe that our song needs to be seen as much as heard, we’ve decided to visually showcase it.
Now my curiosity has peaked, I can’t wait to see it live! Now of course we have to also talk about Eurovision while I have you! Do you remember your first memories or encounter with the song contest and can you tell us a bit about them?
First time I saw it, I was just channel surfing, expecting cartoons, and then bam – there it was. Crazy outfits, wild music, and a whole lot of sparkle. I thought, “What is this, a music show or a space party?”. It was so weird, but I couldn’t look away. Now I’m going from watching it in my living room to actually being in it. Who knew my cartoon hunt would lead me to Eurovision? Life has a weird sense of humor, doesn’t it?
As we close out, if our readers want to connect with and support your musical career ahead of or after the selection – where can they find you?
Most of my social and creative life is on Instagram. I’d be super grateful if my listeners followed me there at @st.levica to keep up with my journey. Also, it’s no secret that being an independent artist is tough. If anyone feels like supporting our project financially, we welcome donations at https://gogetfunding.com/saintlevica/ .
But hey, every listen on digital platforms and every view of our YouTube video at https://bnd.lc/ticktock means the world to us. Thank you for all the support!
Last question, do you have any final words or a final message you’d like to send to the readers of ESCUnited?
I’m really surprised by the questions and your approach to interviewing an artist. This is the first interview for Supernova where the interviewer has tried to learn as much about me as possible. I’m truly grateful and wish huge success to your news portal.
A big thanks to all the readers who took the time to read till the end. See you in the semi-finals, and hopefully, in the finals too!
Awe you are so welcome! Thanks so much for your time today – we wish you the best of luck in the Latvian national selection! 🙂
If #YOU want to support Saint Levića’s pathway to Eurovision 2024 make sure you tune in to the Supernova semi-final on February 3rd and vote!
