Alvan and Ahez in the "euphoria" of their tour of Europe before Eurovision

• On May 14, 2022, Alvan and Ahez will represent France in the Eurovision final in Turin (Italy), with the song

  Fulenn

  .

• The quartet takes part in recent days in concerts abroad bringing together several artists who will compete in Eurovision.

• “We didn't expect that at all!

  It's really unbelievable.

  It's very intense, we try to keep up with the pace, ”says Sterenn Le Guillou, member of Ahez, at

  20 Minutes

  .

From our special correspondent in Amsterdam (Netherlands)

“We sleep four hours a night, but we hardly complain!

That tells you how cool it is, ”slips Alexis Morvan, alias Alvan who, with the Ahez trio, will represent France at Eurovision in a month in Turin (Italy).

The quartet is in full tour of the "pre-parties", that is to say concerts bringing together more than twenty artists who will participate in the competition.

This Saturday, it was in Amsterdam (Netherlands) that

met Alvan and Ahez, two days after he and they performed in Tel Aviv (Israel) and a week after their appearance on stage in London (England).

These shows are a kind of appetizer of the Eurovision bubble that awaits them in Italy, but above all a good opportunity to get to know the other candidates and the public.

“We didn't expect that at all!

It's really unbelievable.

It's very intense, we try to follow the rhythm”, confides Sterenn Le Guillou, member of Ahez who, to qualify this whirlwind, speaks of “euphoria”.

"Abroad, no one expected a piece like ours"

"We finally come to meet people, which we had not been able to do until then", rejoices his sidekick Sterenn Diridollou.

“We feel this support, this strength that comes from this community that we discover, which is very powerful.

We can feel its energy”, emphasizes Marine Lavigne, third member of Ahez.

“Abroad, nobody expected a piece like

for France.

We are very proud because it is really a very different proposal from that of Barbara Pravi last year, ”says Alvan.

“Many people associate French songs, romantic ballads, etc. with France.

but we show that French music is not just that.

That we sing in Breton, it challenges, it makes people talk, ”supports Sterenn Le Guillou.

Our Eurovision file

During the two-hour slot allocated for interviews, Saturday afternoon in Amsterdam, the French team had little respite.

Every five to ten minutes, the microphones of the traditional media or sites fed by enthusiasts of the contest, waltzed in front of their table.

What make you forget the inconveniences that occurred at the concert in Tel Aviv a few days earlier.

Alvan and the two Sterenns (Marine couldn't make the trip) had to struggle with sound feedback problems and with the fact that the musician's ukulele was "forgotten" backstage.

"I thought it was a blessing in disguise.

In the end, it will create added value for the scenography in Turin”, philosopher Alvan.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves because we want to do well”

"It's frustrating for us, who are used to much longer concert formats, to only have three minutes for our performance and to have to deal with these little sound problems... We put a lot of pressure on ourselves because we want to to do well, to interpret this song at best, to represent our country.

So we take the times when we don't feel very good to heart.

But it's not dramatic, it happens to all artists”, puts Sterenn Le Guillou into perspective.

Alas, a few hours later, during the

event , on the stage of AFAS Live in Amsterdam, technical glitches were again in the game for several artists, including the tricolors.

“When we arrived on stage, we had the instrumental in the

[called in French “intra-auricular headphones”, species of earpieces offering each artist sound feedback] – which the group We are lent to us Domi, representing the Czech Republic – at very low volume, then at very high volume all of a sudden!

A blow to catch tinnitus, Alvan lamented with

.

And then, the suitcase containing my stage outfit and my ukulele having remained in Tel-Aviv, I had to improvise a second time.

Fortunately, our super stylist Lia came to Paris the day before to find me some things to wear in Amsterdam.

»

These technical problems – and in particular an unfortunate feedback – did not go unnoticed by the audience, but the public did not make a drama out of them.

“People were really on top, they were very warm, they created a great atmosphere for us and for all the artists.

We were able to meet them during the after show.

We took lots of pictures with them.

It was really very cool and it helped us to say to ourselves “It wasn't the best performance, but if people liked it, that's cool”.

»

“There is a European trad multiverse!

»

The next and last European stage before the competition in Italy is scheduled for Saturday in Madrid (Spain).

The French are particularly expected.

In the Spanish selection, a trio of Galician singers, Tanxugueiras, singing in their regional language, had obtained the favors of the public but, sacked by the votes of the jury, had not been able to validate their ticket for Eurovision.

" We can not wait to be there !

assures Alvan.

The disappointment with the non-selection of the Tanxu was enormous.

Some are very happy that France is represented with a somewhat similar project, in the regional language.

Marine, who has lived in Galicia, knows this group well.

“At the time, they had a more traditional proposition,” she says.

Fans compare us to the Marvel multiverse, but yes, there really is a European trad multiverse!

Once the Spanish stage is over, Alvan and Ahez will enter the home stretch until the Eurovision final on May 14.

Barely four weeks to refine the scenography, which should remain in the spirit of that proposed to

, and to work on the vocal harmonies, in busy diaries.

“For example, we have entire mornings of choreography rehearsals and afternoons devoted to singing, informs Sterenn Diridollou.

The rhythm is very intense.

We will sleep on May 15!

»

Culture

War in Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra, on tour in Europe before Eurovision, campaigns for the end of the conflict

Culture

Eurovision 2022: Songs and favourites… What you need to know about the competition

• Culture

• Eurovision 2022

• Alvan and Ahez

• Behind the scenes of Eurovision

• Music

• amsterdam

• Brittany