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.