With Supernova fast approaching this weekend, we got to speak to another of the artists in the Latvian selection this year. Enter Līga Rīdere, a former X Factor participant and veterinarian who is hoping to make waves with her Supernova entry “Būšu tepat”.
Hello Līga Rīdere!
First of all thank you for your time talking to us. How are you? Can you introduce yourself? What can you tell us about yourself?
Thanks for caring, I’m alright! I am very happy that I have entered the Supernova semi-finals. These few months I work hard to present my song “Būšu tepat” (or in English “I will be here”) in Supernova as best as possible. I’m a beginner in the world of the music industry. My active path to music started in 2017 when I participated in the first season of the Latvian X Factor. I didn’t expect to be in the live shows or to reach the second place of this show. Before I started to realize my childhood dream of becoming a singer, I was full-time mom for two little boys.
Your song that you will be presenting for Supernova is “Būšu tepat”. What can you tell us about the song?
“Būšu tepat” is about the relationship between a man and a woman. Here I’m telling the story, that every person has a past that influences decisions and actions in the present, and also in the future. The woman believes in the future of the couple and promises to wait for her partner who is still looking for his personal path in life. This song is a promise to my husband.
What was the inspiration for the song, and did you write it specifically for Supernova and Eurovision?
Just at the beginning of last year I started writing my lyrics and mostly they are about my life and my feeling. The text of this song I wrote in the summer for music that a friend gave me to use. At first I only planned this song as part of my debut album, but then my manager advised me to take part in the Supernova. And I got into the Supernova with this song – one story of my life; “Būšu tepat”.
What is your impression of the Eurovision Song Contest in general? Do you watch it every year? What is your favourite entry?
Since childhood I have always liked to watch Eurovision and to find out about new songs that stick with me. Some for me are Loreen – “Euphoria”, Jamala – “1944” and Aminata – “Love injected”. A little dream has already come true, someone outside Latvia has heard my voice and story.
Do you think performing at the Eurovision Song Contest will have a positive impact on your career?
Performing at the Eurovision Song Contest would be a positive impact on my career. I started with small dreams, but I also dream about big ones. And the big ones are the opportunity to perform in front of an international audience!
What is the best bit of advice you have ever been given?
The best advice has been the wish from my X Factor mentor to continue singing and meeting the right people on my way of music. And I think that the best advice is to believe in yourself, to trust your inner feeling.
What’s the one thing that might surprise people about you?
I am a veterinarian. Before the singer’s career I worked as a self-employed farm animal veterinarian. I am a girl from the countryside who likes to sing not only in the farm, but also on stage!
Can you tell us about your first experience with music?
In childhood summers, when I was grazing the cows, I sat on the water barrel and sang there because it had good acoustics. But for the first time on stage I went out when I was 17 years old. On the stage I felt as a singer only after the X Factor at age 30.
Thanks for your time. We wish you the best of luck for the upcoming competition. Maybe we see you in May in Tel Aviv!
Līga Rīdere will compete with “Būšu tepat” in the first semi-final of Supernova, Latvia’s selection for Eurovision 2019. #YOU can catch Līga’s performance this Saturday (26th January) as she hopes to qualify for the Supernova final.
Līga Rīdere can be found on social media on Facebook and Instagram.
Who do #YOU want to represent Latvia in Eurovision 2019? Share your thoughts with us on our forum HERE or join the discussion below and on social media!
