Ingars Vilum is best known as the bassist from Brainstorm, who are best known to Eurovision fans for their 3rd Place Finish at Eurovision 2000 with “My Star.” This year, Ingars is competing as a composer with his Dziesma 2013 entry “Give Me A Try” by Ivo Grisnins Grislis. Ingars tells us more.
ESC UNITED: First off, congratulations of your success in Dziesma 2013. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a songwriter.
INGARS: Some time ago I determined as an aim to right one song per day. It was giving me great opportinity to improve my skills of songwriting. This song was one of favourites which was a keeper.
ESC UNITED: How would describe your song “Give Me A Try”?
INGARS: It is lyrical song about love, kept in soft rock style telling about the person who would be brave enough to do all the things to defend his love. Even in the most crazy way!
ESC UNITED: What led you to deciding to submitting “Give Me A Try” to Dziesma 2013?
INGARS: I’ve been doing it for several years. I hope it is the winning one this time!
ESC UNITED: So where were you when you found out “Give Me A Try” made it? What was the first thing you did?
INGARS: I was at home between my concert tour in Russia with ”Prata Vetra” or ”Brainstorm”. It was a nice surprise as always, when my song was selected from over one hundred which where presented. To celebrate, I opened a bottle of french red wine ”Beaujolai”!
ESC UNITED: Since you are not performing “Give Me A Try,” how did you find Ivo Grisninsh-Grislis. How did you know she’d be the right choice for your song?
INGARS: It is already 6th year for me of collaboration with a singer Ivo Grisninsh-Grislis. He has approved his talent when got the 3rd place in national selection. He has sexy voice and this might be a goal!.
ESC UNITED: Now that we are a few days away from Dziesma 2013, how are you feeling? How are you and your team preparing for your Semi-Final?
INGARS: I just arrived from the rehearsal with a band. Everything seems all right. I hope people will catch the message and song will continue it’s way.
ESC UNITED: What do you believe is the key to winning a song contest like Dziesma or Eurovision?
INGARS: Personally I think, it is song itself, and show elements has to be only as an additional factor to give more colours to the performance!
ESC UNITED: Do you have any favorite Eurovision songs?|
INGARS: Honestly, last year’s winner song “Euphoria” is my favourite one and it approves the tendency that all the Eurovision songs has became more and more contemporary and possible candidates to compete in international music arena.
ESC UNITED: What advice would you give to anyone interested in songwriting?
INGARS: Try, try, and once more, try!
ESC UNITED: Any closing thoughts you would you like to share with your fans?
INGARS: Our team is glad and feels appreciated about every fan who likes our song. We hope that there are people who has caught our message of the song. So, be it!
ESC UNITED: Ingars, it was a pleasure to talk with a great Latvian musician and and we wish you and Ivo the best of luck this weekend at Dziesma 2013.
Catch Ingars’s song at Dziesma 2013! “Give Me A Try” will be performed by Ivo Grisnins Grislis on February 8, 2013.
Roy van der Merwe
February 5, 2013 at 06:05
Maybe we have a BRAINSTORM again for Latcia, just this time as a composer. MY STAR is a great song and I still want to have the original LATVIAN version.