There will be eight performers at this year's Ema song contest on the 28th of February. Foto: Artist's personal archives
There will be eight performers at this year's Ema song contest on the 28th of February. Foto: Artist's personal archives
At the beginning all eight performers will present their songs, which will be followed by a first round of voting. Later a three-member expert jury will select the best two songs. Those two will qualify for the so-called 'superfinale', in which both artists will present their song one more time. TV viewers will then vote and choose the winner, who will represent Slovenia at the 60th Eurovision Song Contest between the 19th and 23rd of May in Vienna. Foto: MMC RTV SLO
At last year's Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen Tinkara Kovač made it to the final. However she ended up in the bottom half of the final night. Can Slovenia make it big this time? Foto: Jani Ugrin

Alya received the news of making it to this year's Ema song contest just before going on stage in Qatar. Jana Šušteršič found out during lectures in Valencia. Martina Majerle and Neno Belan celebrated the great news abroad, while others at home.

On the 28th of February there will be five newcomers at the Ema song contest - also taking into account Neno Belan who will be performing in a duet with Alya. Alya is otherwise the most experienced of all of this year's performers, when it comes to performing solo at the Ema. She has already performed solo five times at the song contest. Her first appearance on the Ema stage was in 2003 with the song Exploziv(no). Her biggest success came a year later with the song Fluid, when she came in third. The last time she performed was in 2009 in a duet with with the song Zadnji dan. Now she's back at the Ema, once again in a duet, but this time with Belan.

Last year Rudi Bučar won the Festival of the Melodies of the Sea and Sun, as well as the Slovenska Popevka song contest. He now returns to the Ema stage for a third time. The last time he performed was last year together with the Elevators and the song Tja. Bučar described this year's song: "It's a song with Istrian folk lyrics. The melody is also like that. The song combines hints of Istria and the Balkans."

Raay and Marjetka Vovk are also back for a third time (after 2008 with the Turbo Angels and 2010 with the Tangels) but this time under the name Maraaya. "The song which we will perform at the Ema is a mixture of indie pop with elements of soul. It might even have elements of neo-soul. And of course a catchy tune. The lyrics are written by Charlie Mason, who was also the co-author of the song 'Rise Like A Phoenix’, with which Conchita Wurst won the Eurovision song contest last year in Copenhagen," explained Vovk.

It will be the seventh time for Martina Majerle at the Ema, but only second time as a lead vocalist. She already represented Slovenia at the 2009 Eurovision song contest together with the Quartissimo quartet. The Croatian singer with Slovene roots has mostly been performing at the Ema as a back-up singer, but now we'll see her take to the stage with a solo performance. "The song has a slow rhythm which is backed with a powerful melody. It enables the voice to shine at its fullest. The lyrics are fitting for a female and revolve around a typical everyday story, which we hope people will identify with," said Majerle.

Newcomers at the Ema
It will be the first time at the Ema song contest for Clemens, I. C. E., Jana Šušteršič and Tim Kores - Kori. "We prepared a song which is light and fun. Those of us who took part in the making of the song love it so much that we can't stop listening to it. We hope for a similar reaction from our listeners," is what Klemen Mramor, the man behind Clemens, said about their song.

The members of the I. C. E. band described their 'hot iron' with the following words: "Striking. Funky. Passionate." Meanwhile, Jana Šušteršič admits that she fell in love with her song from this first moment she listened to it. "I'm so excited about the possibilities this song gives to my voice and energy. I feel and believe that the people with which I'm collaborating with honestly and completely sense my energy and sensibility. I've had that feeling from the very first moment. I can't wait to share all that with the audience," said the singer.

Below you can read about the performers' reactions when they found out that they were chosen among the eight finalists at this year's Ema song contest.

Alya: I found out the great news when I was in Qatar, singing the anthem for the Handball World Championship... I received the news just before going on stage, so my happiness was even bigger! I am very happy and honoured to perform at the Ema once again, this time in a duet with the renowned Croatian composer and singer Neno Belan. We look forward to our performance and hope the audience will enjoy our song as much as we do (laughter). Foto: Artist's personal archives
Clemens: I was so surprised when I found out. I still can't completely grasp it. I truly wished for it and I can't wait to present my song to everyone that follows the Ema song contest. Foto: Artist's personal archives
I. C. E.: What we could over hear the telephone line was: "Sipaj u čašu!" ("Start pouring the glasses!") Foto: Artist's personal archives
Jana Šušteršič: I just returned to my university in Valencia and when I found out I was having lectures. Of course, as a good student, I never check my phone during lectures, but all of sudden it started vibrating and wouldn't stop. It really wasn't 'fair' that I couldn't jump and scream out of joy. I had nothing else to do but hit my head, smile, and say to myself: "Yeessss." I'm so happy and proud of the wonderful group of people I've been collaborating with. If I had the magic stick, I would wish for it be the end of February already! My friends joke and keep saying that my time has not arrived: Whatever I start doing I finish it and end up winning… From their mouths to God's ears. Foto: Artist's personal archives
Marjetka from the Maraaya duet: We really believed in the song we submitted, even though you can never be sure when it comes to these open calls. You can always be surprised and you don't know what the competition's like... However, when we did find out about our selection, we gave each other a really big high-five. We really worked hard on the song we chose to submit to the Ema song contest. Foto: Artist's personal archives
Martina Majerle: I have to emphasize that I am above all happy and touched, to have been chosen out of the 145 artists and submitted songs. When I read my name, a cry of joy spread across the room. I'd like to thank all the members of the jury for their decision. Performing at the Ema is a real honour for me. I have special feelings for the festival. I've performed here seven times as a back-up singer and I've even won with the Quartissimo quartet. I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the other finalists as well and wish them good luck and a good performance. I'd also like to congratulate the author of my song, the unrepeatable Andrej Babić. He won me over when he first played me the song. Foto: Artist's personal archives
Rudi Bučar: I was happy. Foto: Artist's personal archives
Tim Kores - Kori: For the first couple of seconds I couldn't believe it, and then it came to me: "I'm actually among the chosen ones!" From that moment on, all I do is breathe, sing and move for the 28th of February (laughter). Foto: Artist's personal archives