Six Quick Questions With Jamala

Last week we wrote about the new single, ‘Solo’, from Ukrainian vocalist Jamala. The song’s release was accompanied by a package of seven remixes, from top producers, including Slim Jim, Steve Mac, These Machines, and Damon Hess. We wanted to know some more about Jamala, so Lisa asked her Six Quick Questions.

Thanks for talking to us Jamala! You’ve just released your latest single, ‘Solo’. It’s a brilliant pop song, we love the vibe, and it’s empowering as well – being strong enough to say you can do it on your own. Can you tell us a bit more about it? 

Thank you for such a high appreciation. Adis Eminic, who wrote the lyrics, seems to have rendered the feelings of millions of girls who were in the shoes of the girl from the song. I’ve had such an experience either.

You’ve also released a remix package to go with ‘Solo’, with seven remixes of the track! How did that come about, and what’s your favourite?

Bryan Todd controlled the preparation of remixes, he is a producer and composer of Solo song. He selected remixers. It is hard to say who of the remixers is my favourite. It might be Slim Tim.

You’ve been in the music business for close to a decade, you’ve got 6 albums, 18 singles, and you sang at the UEFA EURO football championships in 2012…but you really came to international attention and made news all over the world with your win in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 – have you found that has been a help or a hindrance to your career? Is there anything you would have done differently if you’d been able to have your time over again?

Winning Eurovision boosted by career, for sure. It couldn’t be do it, hundreds of million of people in the world saw my performance. After the victory I had a shower of offers to perform, participate in festivals, TV shows, commercial contracts. I think the scent of the victory is felt even now, in 2019. Regarding your other question, I would not have acted differently at any stage of my career. I will reply with the words of an American poet and composer Paul Anka that he wrote for Frank Sinatra:

“Regrets, I’ve had a few

But then again, too few to mention”

With Eurovision approaching, do you have a favourite to win?

I don’t follow Eurovision so closely, not being as a great supporter as one could assume. A British web-site ESCPlus covering Eurovision news addressed me to make my own Top-10. I listened to all participants, though I didn’t find an absolute winner. I was last sure about the winner in 2017, when it was Salvador Sobral.

What’s next for you after ‘Solo’? Will you be doing any more acting, or are you strictly concentrating on music right now? 

I never say never, but all our plans are now connected with music. The plans are huge, ambitious, so I don’t think of acting. I would love to star in ‘Game of Thrones’, but all the parts are already taken, and the last season has already started ☺

What question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview but nobody ever asks?

How come you still don’t have a Grammy Award? I’m kidding. Or not kidding… ☺

You can listen to the original version of ‘Solo’ here, and the remix package here. Find Jamala online on her Official Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.