Singer Barbara Pravi.
-
Alexia Abakar
Eight solo artists, three duets and a trio are in the running for
Eurovision France, it's up to you!
, the French selection for Eurovision which will be broadcast on January 30 on France 2.
Barbara Pravi is in the running with the song
Voilà
.
"I said to myself that if I ever showed up for Eurovision, it had to be with a song that I could wear, that was of value to me, of which I would never be ashamed", she says. at
20 minutes
.
This year, twelve songs can hope to represent France at Eurovision Song Contest in May.
But there will only be one elected.
They will be decided on the evening of January 30, on France 2, within the framework of
Eurovision France, you decide!
presented by Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini.
Until then,
20 Minutes invites
you to discover every day the artists who, solo, duo or trio, are involved in the competition.
This Tuesday, it is Barbara Pravi who lends herself to the game of the interview.
The 27-year-old singer already gravitates in the Eurovision galaxy since she co-signed two songs for France at Eurovision Junior,
Bim Bam Toi
and
J'imagine
with which Valentina won the trophy in November.
Today, it is with
Voilà
, that she would like to bring the cup home.
How did you come to music?
I started music almost six years ago.
I think I have a lucky star watching over me.
I was a waitress, I didn't know how to get there, I didn't know anyone.
However, music is an environment where you have to have a certain network.
I spent my first salary to produce a music video for a song I did with my coffee buddies.
She had 20,000 views in a few days and I was spotted by [the record company] Capitol like that.
I released a first EP and after that things went step by step.
You worked on two Eurovision Junior titles, it was logical that you presented yourself at Eurovision period?
With hindsight, it's easy to find some kind of logic, but at the start, I didn't have that planned.
It was Igit, my co-writer and co-composer on the two Eurovision Junior songs, who asked me why I wasn't trying.
I think I was scared, serious.
I mean I was so aware of the issues, of what it represents, of the media coverage, etc.
that I told myself that if I ever showed up for Eurovision, it had to be with a song that I could wear, that was valuable to me, that I would never be ashamed of, that I would not have afraid of defending with all the pressure that comes with singing it live on TV ...
This song is "There".
What are its assets for Eurovision?
I don't really know what its strengths are.
What is certain is that this is a song that is true.
Finally, true for me: when I sing it, every time, I am almost in a trance.
I put a lot of emotions into it and I think it shows.
In what I wanted to present, there was only that which could count: I want that it touches, that it is fair.
Are you going to see reactions to your song on YouTube, on social media?
Not at all.
Every time I've released something, I've never done it.
I am very close to the people who follow me on Instagram for example.
I respond to 90% of those who write to me - the other 10% are those who write to me at times when I have no time at all and when I forget.
I have a very close relationship with the public. I even created an email address.
On the other hand, I have no desire to go and watch what is being said.
I know YouTube and the like aren't necessarily places where people are necessarily caring.
They're hidden behind nicknames, they don't really care and are unaware that they are talking to a human being.
Obviously, you can love or not love.
I do what I can to give what I am the moment I give it, but I prefer not to put extra pressure on myself.
What will your performance in "Eurovision France" look like?
It'll be pretty straightforward.
It's not a song you can imagine dancers on or that sort of thing.
As it is a vocal performance, bodily - physically, it engages: for three minutes, I have ants from the tips of my toes to the tips of my fingers - I didn't want us to be “disturbed” by something other than that.
I imagine things with Chinese shadows behind, plays of light - they are very strong at France Télés for that.
I want modernity in sobriety.
Apart from your participation in Eurovision France, what are your projects?
If all goes well, I'll shoot the video for
Voilà at the
end of January.
This will be the first sequence of a short film around three titles.
I hope I can release the other two songs in February.
In addition to
There
, there will therefore be
The Day After
and
The Man and the Bird
.
I am also preparing another project which is not yet certain but on the right track: on Instagram, I do “prayers” which are songs that I do all alone at home on Garage Band, which is the software. the most rotten in the world (smile), and that I only record with my iPhone headphones.
I am mixing and mastering five “prayers” and I would like to release them on numbered vinyl.
Justice
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