Building Bridges - A Eurovision Podcast For The Rest Of Us (Sebi, Jan and Dave)

In this episode, Jan had the privilege of speaking with Anna Sahlene, who is vying to get back to the Eurovision stage. She last represented Estonia on home soil in 2002, and now she's back in Eesti Laul with her new single "Love Me Low"! In the interview, Anna reflects on her Eurovision journey from 1999 to today, her current projects and goals post-Eesti Laul, and conveys her gratitude to her fans for their continued support. All that and more on this special episode of Building Bridges!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we sit down with SCARLET to talk about their exciting journey in Melodifestivalen, their new song "Sweet n' Psycho," and their dreams of representing Sweden at Eurovision. They share insights into their creative process, the importance of staying true to their sound, and the overwhelming support from fans. Tune in for an inspiring comeback story about music, ambition, and breaking boundaries in the industry!

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, we hear from the man hoping to bring Latvia back to the Eurovision Grand Final after almost a decade! Dons tells us about "Hollow", what the 2024 Eurovision postcards might look like, and if he might have a future in politics!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

Which Eurovision winners left the biggest impact? In this episode Sebi, Jan and Dave are going back in time and take a look at all the Eurovision winners throughout history, with the very hard task of picking a favourite winner of each decade.

01:03 - 1950s

05:02 - 1960s

12:10 - 1970s

18:41 - 1980s

25:44 - 1990s

33:42 - 2000s

40:03 - 2010s

49:06 - 2020s

56:32 - Game

In this episode, we celebrate the start of Belgium week on the podcast! We've got four Eurosong interviews for you this week, and we're kicking things off with a lovely chat with Le Manou! She will compete in Eurosong with her entry "Fille à papa". During our conversation, Jan and Dave find out what the Eurosong artists are talking about in their Whatsapp group, hear a snippet of her covering J'aime la vie, and some of her favourite Eurovision memories growing up in Belgium!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave talk with Melodifestivalen royalty KLARA HAMMARSTRÖM from her pad in Las Vegas! Despite the distance from Sweden, she is still fully focused on her Melfest performance, and we actually caught her in between rehearsals for her new song On and On and On. During the interview, you'll hear more about her personal vision and determination to win Eurovision, the creative process behind her new song, and her desire to inspire others — particularly young women — to embrace their individuality and pursue their dreams confidently.

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave chat with Mathilde SPZ, Chris Archer and Slam Dunk, one of the front runners of this year's Melodi Grand Prix with their banger "Woman Show". Find out more about Mathilde's dream of making it to the MGP stage, the unique story of how "Woman Show" came into being and why it is called the party song for introverts.

In this episode, Jan and Dave spoke with a British artist who is trying to get to Malmö, but via Eurovision's smallest nation. In the first of two special San Marino episodes, Aaron Sibley tells us what it's like to go back to Una voce per San Marino for the second time and what he plans for his performance of Human in the Final. Dave also does his best to explain how UVPSM works in a nutshell (spoiler: it's not as simple as you'd expect)!

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

Sebi, Jan and Dave take a look at the six countries that have automatically qualified for the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. They discuss the entries from Italy, Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom and last year's winners Ukraine.

1:34 Italy

6:37 Germany

13:35 France

21:07 Spain

26:11 Ukraine

31:28 United Kingdom

39:30 Escalation / Quiz

In this episode, Jan catches up with two of the remaining artists set to compete in FANVision 2024, part of Eurovision Weekend, set for Hamburg from July 12th-14th. These artists will represent their home OGAE clubs during the big Eurovision GALA, set for the evening of Saturday, 13th July. This episode features:

🇲🇹 OGAE Malta's Martina Fenech

🇮🇹 OGAE Italy's Jessica Lipari

If you missed Jan's chats with the other 12 artists, go back and check out Episodes 89 and 90! Jan will be on location in Hamburg this weekend to capture all the fun live, so stay tuned for another special episode from Eurovision Weekend very soon!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

This week is all dedicated to Sweden and the amazing final of Melodifestivalen 2023. Will Sweden be able to achieve its seventh Eurovision victory? Sebi, Jan and Dave go through all the 12 finalists and provide a lot of statistical data.

In this episode, our bridge to Finland's UMK extends across the Gulf to Estonia as Finnish-Estonian duo Mikael Gabriel & nublu stop by for a chat! As they prepare for the UMK Final on Saturday, the tell us a bit about what to expect, and how politics will unexpectedly play a role in their performance. Plus, we debrief after the first Super Saturday of the Eurovision selection season!

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com! We're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we are delighted to have a special guest with us: it's Karin Björklund from the 12p Podcast in Sweden!

The four of us sat down to discuss what happened in the busy world of Eurovision on Saturday night, including a deep dive into Heat 4 of Melodifestivalen, the Final of Söngvakeppnin in Iceland, and the Semi Finals in Germany and Portugal — as well as an impromptu discussion of Italy's new Eurovision "choice".

If you understand Swedish (or you're trying to improve your Swedish) be sure and check out the episodes of 12p for yourself, and be sure to drop the podcast a follow on Instagram!

For more information about what we discussed in this episode, you can check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, we have a quick look at this week's big Eurovision news before diving into our chat with the wonderful ANANDA! The young multi-talented artist from Split tells about her music, her past as a dancer, and what it's like to compete in Dora this year with THREE songs as both an artist and a songwriter! Our Jan actually met Ananda at a Eurovision party this summer, and we know you'll love this wonderful chat as we find out a bit more about what to expect from Dora 2025!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave give their reviews and predictions for Melodifestivalen, Söngvakeppnin, Festival da Canção, and Dora since it's the last 'Super Saturday' of the 2024 Eurovision national selection season. Did we get it right, or are we full of crap?! Get in touch and let us know your thoughts!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

The next guest in the Building Bridges studio is Victor Vernicos, the 16-year-old hopeful for Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.Dave and Sebi had a lovely chat with the talented singer and tested his Eurovision knowledge in an exciting quiz.

Germany is choosing their representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool this Friday, so Sebi, Jan and Dave are taking a closer look at the competition. However, as always, their music tastes couldn't differ more!

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Andreas Lundstedt, best known as a founding member of Alcazar and a Melodifestivalen icon. Andreas shares his journey from childhood dreams of performing to gracing the Eurovision stage multiple times. We discuss the evolution of his career, the magic of Alcazar, and his latest and TENTH Melfest appearance with "Vicious"! Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with passion, music, and a touch of disco magic!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

Sebi, Jan and Dave talk about the current drama in Poland, after Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję 2023 ended very unexpectedly. This and more scandals from other national finals will be discussed.

In this episode, Sebi and Dave chat with Iceland's sweetheart, Hera Björk! She's back on the pod to give us some dos and don'ts on red carpets ahead of the MALMÖHAGEN party, and she opens up about the highs and lows of coming to Eurovision in the age of social media. PLUS we have BIG pod NEWS to reveal at the end of the episode! Check out the show notes for more on our interview with Hera!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we lighten the mood a bit after some heavy, emotional episodes, as Melanie Wehbe is back on the pod to tell us all about things we might have missed behind the scenes at Melodifestialen this year—PLUS—we talk about her second year in a row as part of the Danish delegation to Eurovision, as she was a writer on this year's DMGP winning song "Hallucination"—AND—Melanie hints at her new single which will be dropped very soon. All that and more in this episode as we chatted over coffee about all things Eurovision - this is a fun one you won't want to miss!

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this bonus episode, Jan met up with Karin from the 12p (tolv poäng) podcast at a café in Stockholm (hence the eclectic background noises you'll hear in the episode) to debrief after what was overall a wonderful Finalen to Mello 2025!

If you understand Swedish (or you're trying to improve your Swedish) be sure and check out the episodes of 12p for yourself, and be sure to drop the podcast a follow on Instagram!

For more information about what we discussed in this episode, you can check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, we go through the running order to find out if anyone can take down Marcus & Martinus, and if so, who might do it! Nu kör vi!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave ponder what to expect from each of Melodifestivalen's five Heats, taking a closer look at the 17 NEW acts who will fight for the song bird trophy for the first time in 2025.

We’ll find out which artist is back for an 11th Melfest appearance, which artist used to turn the letters on France’s Wheel of Fortune, which artist got Loreen to write their song, and which former Melfest host is back for the first time as an artist – all that and more on this episode!

But before the boys dig into Melfest, they wrap up their thoughts on the Montesong final from Wednesday night in Podgorica.

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we continue our weekly series featuring our reviews and predictions for the 37 songs competing to win the 69ᵗʰ Eurovision Song Contest. To help us out, our surprise special guest this week is none other than Dimitry Pompée, co-host of the Eurovangelists Podcast. He joined us for this episode for what ended up being our longest episode EVER, but it's a damn good one, as we examined at the entries from:

• 02:29 🇦🇱 Shkodra Elektronike — "Zjerm"
• 11:38 🇦🇿 Mamagama — "Run with U"
• 19:26 🇧🇪 Red Sebastian — "Strobe Lights"
• 28:59 🇭🇷 Marko Bošnjak — "Poison Cake"
• 37:39 🇨🇾 Theo Evan — "Shh"
• 48:38 🇳🇱 Claude — "C'est la vie"
• 57:05 🇳🇴 Kyle Alessandro — "Lighter"
• 1:05:50 🇸🇲 Gabry Ponte — "Tutta l'Italia"

Let us know on our social media what you think of our comments and reviews of the songs. You can also find Dimitry's Eurovangelists Podcast streaming on Maximum Fun and their socials on Instagram, and Bsky.

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, we react to Thursday's sudden announcement of the running order of Eurovision 2025's two Semi Finals. Who got the best spots, who got the worst spots, and who might qualify based on the averages since the producers began picking the running order in 2013!

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

It's the middle of national final season and Sebi, Jan and Dave are taking a look at the selections that are about to find their winners this weekend.

01:34 - Czech Republic

12:07 - Ireland

25:04 - Norway

It's a Bonus Episdode ... auf deutsch! Als heutigen Gast begrüßen wir eine Telnehmerin des Deutschen Finales 2024 - Marie Reim!

We'll be back with new episodes in English very soon! Until then, get episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave discuss all the latest hot Eurovision news. Besides chatting about their favourite songs in the national finals of Spain, Croatia, Norway and Moldova, there are also some more serious topics around this episode. Are AI and autotune coming to Eurovision? Are all the returning artists a good or a bad thing? Is Eurovision, as we know it, coming to an end?

In this episode, you'll hear our penultimate Eurosong interview. Jan had the pleasure to chat with Grace, winner of The Voice of Flanders 2021, who is set to compete in Eurosong for the first time, in the hopes of winning the Belgian ticket to Basel! During the conversation, we find out how winning The Voice changed Grace's career, more about her Congolese heritage and its influence on her music, her motivation for entering Eurosong this year, and much more!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we speak to bookies' favs GÅTE as they rush to change the lyrics of Ulveham with less than a week to go before the Grand Final of MGP 2024, and reflect on all the success they've had so far! Also, Sebi and Dave also take us back through the busy weekend in the world of Eurovision National Selections across the continent!

We were so excited at the Melfest artist announcement, we thought we would share our thoughts in this small extra episode! Who do you think has the best chance of representing Sweden on home soil in May? Get in touch and let us know your picks! We'll be back with a regular episode on Monday with another interview!

The winners of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023, The Busker, visited the Building Bridges studio and chatted with Dave and Jan. Just when the two hosts thought that everything went well, they realised that the audio of the Maltese boys was missing. Can Building Bridges fix this situation?Find out what The Busker told them about Dance (Our Own Party) and their preparations for Liverpool in this episode.

In this episode, we welcome back RED SEBASTIAN, Belgium’s Eurovision 2025 representative, as he shares his journey from his Eurosong victory to preparing for the big stage in Basel. He discusses his whirlwind experience, growing recognition, and the hard work behind his performance. Plus, he teases surprises for his staging and reflects on Eurovision’s impact on his life.

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave take a look at the voting numbers from the juries, televoters and semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Besides diving into the numbers, they also give their personal thoughts on this year's results, as well as the upsetting disqualification of Joost Klein from the Netherlands.

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

This week, Building Bridges welcomes a very special guest. Class Grenayde, who has been the bassist of Lord Of The Lost for more than 15 years, spoke to Sebi, Jan and Dave about the band's Eurovision application, Unser Lied für Liverpool, their tour, Iron Maiden and of course the honour and pressure to represent Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.

We're back with the third of four interviews this week with artists from Heat 3 of Melodi Grand Prix 2024! The delightful Annprincess recently visited our studio to converse about her upcoming performance of Save Me!

Her impressive journey from Liberia to Norway and her content about mental health inspired all of us.

In this episode, Jan and Dave build the pod's first-ever bridge to Poland, as they chat with the enchanting Sonia Maselik! She will compete in the upcoming Polish Eurovision selection (Wielki finał polskich kwalifikacji) with her new release "Rumours". Sonia opened up about her previous attempts to represent Poland at Eurovision as well as the personal story behind her 2025 entry "Rumours". She also outlined her vision of her staging ideas, as she plans a performance which focuses on vibrant, colorful visuals and avoids overly complex choreography.

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we sit down with brothers Danyil and Valentyn of ZIFERBLAT (Циферблат), Ukraine’s representatives for Eurovision 2025, to discuss their journey to the contest and the significance of their song, Bird of Pray. They open up about their deep connection to music, the pressure of representing their country during a time of war, and their hopes for the future. Join us for an emotional and inspiring conversation about resilience, their art, and the power music can have on the Eurovision stage.

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave examine the latest in Eurovision news, and what that means as we cautiously head into the 2025 national final season. While we finally get news that Australia and the Netherlands will join us in Basel, Moldova, Poland and Armenia are keeping things very hush hush. Be sure to get in touch with us via our social media below and let us know your thoughts about the upcoming Eurovision season!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we come to terms with the end of national final season, as we discuss the events of the last seven days with our special guest Tamara from Eurovoix!

Jan was back this week, albeit very tired from a late night at Melodifestvalen in Stockholm, and Dave was sick (again), but with Sebi, and Tamara's help, we looked back at a surprisingly busy week in the world of Eurovision:

• 02:29 Austria releases JJ's song for Basel
• 11:26 What the hell did the United Kingdom choose this year?
• 18:17 Czechia drops the studio version of 'Kiss Kiss Goodbye'
• 24:22 Melodifestivalen wraps up in Stockholm
• 34:01 The "M-E-S-S" that was the San Marino Song Contest
• 52:39 Festival da Canção fizzles out in Portugal

You can follow even more Eurovision news from Eurovoix, especially the articles written by Tamara, which you can find here!

For more information about what we discussed in this episode, you can check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, join us as we chat with ZOË MË, Switzerland’s Eurovision 2025 representative who is about to represent her country in her hometown! We learn about her journey from songwriting as a child to performing on one of the world’s biggest stages. She shares the inspiration behind her song Voyage, the excitement of keeping her Eurovision secret since December, and her passion for bridging cultures (and bridges) through music. Don’t miss this deep dive into her artistic world, influences, and what’s next for her after Eurovision!

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

Luke Black from Serbia visits Dave and Sebi in the Building Bridges studio to talk about Eurovision, his connection to Konstrakta and his tour through China. He also reveals why his stage name is black, why he is Loreen's horse boy and what the deal with the lobster is.

LIVE from Malmö, in this episode Sebi walks around the press center of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, just moments after Semi Final 2 ended. Hear what Anni from ESC Factful, Richard from Songestivalkoorts Podcast, Tural Abdullah from Demokrat.az, Olivier from 'Eurovision 'Made in France'', and Erbu from ESCape News thought of Semi Final 2. Plus, Sebi grabbed quick moments with very excited members of OGAE Greece and Georgia's public broadcaster just after Martina and Nutsa qualified!

For more info and Eurovision content live from Malmö Arena and Press Center, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi talks to Sissal, who is one of the finalists of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025 with the song "Hallucination". Sissal talks about her way into the Danish music scene as a Faroese singer, the story behind the creation of her song and why she thinks that she would definitely be able to bring Denmark back to the Eurovision Grand Final after five years.

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

The first Heat of Melodifestivalen 2023 went down in Gothenburg and Sebi tells Jan and Dave how the show went down behind the scenes. They also discuss the new Eurovision entries and the first Super Saturday of the season!

1:27 - Speed News

4:05 - Melodifestivalen

13:26 - New Eurovision Songs

21:51 - Dansk Melodi Grand Prix

27:23 - Eesti Laul

32:19 - Dora (Croatia)

36:55 - Supernova (Latvia)

41:13 - Selecția Națională (Romania)

In this episode, Dave can't sleep from the shock of the result in Una voce per San Marino! He turns to Facebook to see how the fandom are reacting to Megara's win over Loredana Bertè, and reads out the top comments!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Dave and Sebi finally see some good stuff upon the horizon of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Not only are they fairly impressed by the Finnish selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, but they are also excited to listen to Loreen's song for Melodifestivalen.

01:20 - Speed News

03:39 - Lithuania

05:56 - France

09:47 - Australia

14:11 - UMK

32:14 - Poland

35:42 - Melodifestivalen Heat 3

40:50 - Live Reactions to Melodifestivalen Heat 4

In this bonus episode, we are honoured to invite the first ever "Head of Eurovision" on our humble podcast - we speak with David Gloesener who works for RTL in Luxembourg. He's overseen the 2024 Luxembourg Song Contest, and he's back in charge of the show again for 2025. Jan and Dave chat with David about what to expect from the second edition of LSC, and we peak into the crystal ball to find out what Luxembourg might have planned for the future — and for their potential sixth Eurovision win!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Building Bridges welcomes Sudden Lights from Latvia in the podcast studio, They talk to Sebi about theri song "Aijā", their victory at Supernova 2023 and their plans for Liverpool.Unfortunately the sound is not as good in this episode - We apologize for that and hope that you can still enjoy the interview!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave take a peek into Montenegro's return to the Eurovision Song Contest, as they chat with one of the artists in the running to get Montenegro back to its first Grand Final since 2015 - it's the lovely Đurđa from Kotor! She is one of the 16 artists competing in Montesong, and this marks her first Eurovision national final performance. After we politely asked her to pronounce her name for us, she went on to explain the meaning behind her song "To ljubav je", and what we might expect from the live Montesong show on 27th November!

Several times during our chat, Đurđa refered to "less is more" - a phrase that explains not only her beautiful ballad, but also her approach to staging. We'll know very soon if her gamble will pay off and send her to Basel!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we dive into the vibrant world of SHKODRA ELEKTRONIKE, a project blending traditional Albanian music with modern electronic sounds. Our guests Kolë and Beatriçe joined us from their homes in Italy to discuss the inspiration behind the project, the challenges of preserving cultural identity while experimenting with modern production, and the role of nostalgia in their music. We also talk about the evolution of Albanian folk influences and how electronic elements bring a fresh perspective to these sounds.

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave conclude their reviews on the 2024 Eurovision songs, as the full line-up is complete with the songs from Armenia and Azerbaijan out. With all the songs released, come a lot of specualtions, regarding the ideal running order for the semi-finals. Furthermore, some social media comments tell us, which songs the TikTok followers view as overrated,

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave meet Kaleen, who will represent Austria at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with We Will Rave. Kaleen told the guys about the selection process in Austria, her staging plans for Malmö and her outfit mishap at the PreParty in London, which she handled very gracefully. Tune in for an amusing episode with Kaleen and Building Bridges. Check out the show notes for more on our interview with Kaleen!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we speak with Kyle Alessandro, an 18-year-old artist competing in MGP 2025 with his song Lighter. Kyle reflects on his early passion for music and dance, sharing memories from his time with Umami Tsunami and his journey as a solo artist. He discusses the deeply personal inspiration behind Lighter, rooted in his mother’s battle with cancer. Kyle also talks about collaborating with Adam Woods, his love for Eurovision, and his unique musical influences. He leaves listeners inspired with his resilience, creativity, and ambition to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this special episode, our 50th, we talk all things 'Damdiggida' with KEiiNO as they try to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time. Curious about the trio beloved by all Eurofans, we tried to get to know them better with some unconventional questions. Find out which member of KEiiNO is the messiest on tour, who is the pickiest eater, who has a song competing in the Malta ESC, and who is the BIGGEST Eurovision fan!

In this episode, we chat with EMMY, a Norwegian-born singer who will represent Ireland in Eurovision 2025 with her song 'Laika Party'. She discusses her unexpected win, the inspiration behind the song, and differences between national selections in Ireland and Norway. We also quiz her on Irish Eurovision history, talk about her TikTok presence, and discuss her glow-up plans for her performance in Basel.

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave chat with Marko, better known as Baby Lasagna, who is one of the fan favourites of Dora 2024, the Croatian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Find out the meaning behind Baby Lasagna's unique song, how he deals with the stress and anxiety of his sudden popularity and what to expect from his performance on the Dora stage.

Voyager from Australia visit Sebi, Jan and Dave to talk about Eurovision in this interview. But are they here to build or to burn bridges? One thing is for sure: The band's final words made everyone very emotional.

In this episode, Tim Schou catches up with the Building Bridges hosts about his upcoming performance at the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2025. He takes us back to his first Eurovision participation in Düsseldorf 2011 as the front singer of A Friend In London and his time as a solo traveler in California.

Find out the story behind his song "Proud" and which Danish singer is Sebi's doppelgänger in this funny episode.

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, we build a bridge to Belgium, where we meet Gustaph and talk about his phenomenal 7th place in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, as well as his new song "Already Know" and him meeting next year's Belgian Eurovision entrant Mustii.

In this episode, Sebi and Dave get to chat with MISTRA, who will participate in Heat 3 of Melodi Grand Prix 2024 with "Waltz Of Death". MISTRA is perhaps an unlikely duo — Benedicte Adrian, a pop goddess and represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1984, who has joined forces with a true pioneer of metal music in Norway, Anders Odden.

Who The Hell Are Teya & Salena? Sebi has an answer, as he got the big pleasure to meet the Austrian duo for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and recorded a small bit of their conversation. Meanwhile back in the podcast studio, Dave and Jan discuss the song and everything else that happened this week.

In this episode, Sebi had the amazing opportunity to talk with the iconic July Jones who is making many fans very happy with her return to EMA in Slovenia in 2025! As she looks ahead to her 2025 entry "New Religion" she reflects on her journey so far, including her performance at EMA 2022. July Jones tells Sebi about the personal growth she's done and how she's reinventing herself as an artist, and her desire to inspire others, especially younger and queer audiences, by breaking barriers and showing that diverse voices can thrive in music.

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Australia’s Eurovision 2025 representative GO-JO joins us to talk all things Milkshake Man! From collaborating with Sheppard to the meaning behind the song, GO-JO shares insights on his creative process, staging plans, and the excitement of stepping onto the Eurovision stage. Plus, we test his French a little bit, share in his childhood Eurovision memories, and a whole lot more fun. Grab your milkshakes and get ready—it's time to come together and check out this amazing episode!

For more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this week's episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave discuss what should happen with the juries in the future editions of the Eurovision Song Contest. Is the current hate against the jurors appropriate? Should the voting system be changed? All that and more will be discussed. Don't forget to share your opinion in the comments and leave a review!

Welcome to the second of four interviews this week with artists from Heat 3 of Melodi Grand Prix 2024! Today is all about MIIA, an artist from Kragerø who we had the pleasure of speaking to recently, despite the best efforts of her naughty cat! After her huge hit "Dynasty", MIIA is now attempting to represent Norway in Eurovision with "Green Lights".

In this episode, Jan chats with Eesti Laul 2025 hopeful FELIN about her upcoming performance of "Solo Anthem" in Estonia. Felin is an artist who enjoys creating visually and musically impactful performances, so we find out what she might have planned for the Eesti Laul stage in February. Felin also She highlighted the importance of addressing topics such as gender equality and 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights in her music to inspire and empower others, and where her musical journey might take her next!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Jan catches up with another six of the 16 competing acts for FANVision 2024, part of Eurovision Weekend, set for Hamburg from July 12th-14th. These artists will represent their home OGAE clubs during the big Eurovision GALA, set for the evening of Saturday 13th July. This episode features:

🇫🇮 OGAE Finland's Jarrko Timonen

🇩🇪 OGAE Germany's Mikal Johansen

🇸🇮 OGAE Slovenia's Joel Loyo

🇱🇺 OGAE Luxembourg's Mara

🇵🇱 OGAE Poland's Dolce Pindy

🇩🇪 EC Germany's Call Me Survivor

If you missed the first six acts, check out Episode 89, and stay tuned for Part 3 when we will speak with more of the competing artists!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this little bonus episode, Dave and Sebi take a look at Festival di Sanremo 2023 and talk about their favourite songs. They discuss everything from Blanco's on-stage temper tantrum to Marco Mengoni's chances in Liverpool.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Running Order, looking at what our guts and the stats tell us about who might qualify from the Semi Finals! We also proudly reveal that we're teaming up with the MalmöHagen Team to cover the 7th and final pre-party before Eurovision starts, so be sure and get your tickets before they sell out if you'll be in Copenhagen on Saturday, 4th May!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Jan and Dave spoke with BOOOM!, a band from Slovenia trying to win the Sammarinese ticket to Malmö. They survived the auditions and rounds of Semi Finals to make it to the Grand Final of Una voce per San Marino! This energetic young trio explain their long journey to this point and what they have in store for the Finalissima!

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Jan and Dave chat all things Eurovision with LEEZ, one of the eight contestants competing in Belgium's Eurosong 2025! In this episode we find out if her brother Metejoor will be involved in her Eurosong performance, what she might have planned for her staging, and some of her favourite Eurovision memories, including when she participated in Belgium's JESC 20 years ago!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, the boys catch up with Aiko who is set to represent Czechia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Aiko tells us about how life has been under the Eurovision microscope, how she created the themed stagings that will lead her from the pre-parties to the big stage in Malmö, and what big prize she has her sights set on for after the Contest! Check out the show notes for more on our interview with Aiko!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

Romania's Theodor Andrei joins Building Bridges this week. Not only does he talk about his own Eurovision participation but he also comes out as a big and passionate Eurovision fan and sings his favorite entries to Dave and Sebi.

In this episode, we chat with the bookmakers' winner of UMK 2024 - the lovely Sara Siipola! She's been heralded as Finland's rising star, and her song Paskana just might catapult her to the big Eurovision stage in Malmö!

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave finally review the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.0:35 - Denmark: Reiley "Breaking My Heart"2:28 - Armenia: Brunette "Future Lover"4:48 - Romania: Theodor Andrei "D.G.T. (On and Off)"7:22 - Estonia: Alika "Bridges"9:59 - Belgium: Gustaph "Because Of You"13:08 - Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou "Break A Broken Heart"15:08 - Iceland: Diljá "Power"17:09 - Greece: Victor Vernicos "What They Say"19:28 - Poland: Blanka "Solo"21:39 - Slovenia: Joker Out "Carpe Diem"24:39 - Georgia: Iru "Echo"26:53 - San Marino: Piqued Jacks "Like An Animal"29:26 - Austria: Teya & Salena "Who The Hell Is Edgar"31:48 - Albania: Albina & Familja "Duje"33:56 - Lithuania: Monika Linkyte "Stay (Ciuto Tuto)"35:55 - Australia: Voyager "Promise"

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave live react to the reveal of the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Furthermore, they celebrate the beginning of the new Eurovision Year and talk about their wishes for the upcoming season in Basel.

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we welcome the first contestant of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. Jan has had the honour to be Raiven's first English-language interview about her Eurovision participation for Building Bridges.

Meanwhile, Dave and Sebi chat about the latest Eurovision news, including the songs of ESCZ and Eesti Laul 2024 as well as the list of 37 countries heading to Malmö next May.

In this episode, we are delighted to have another special guest with us: it's the king of Eurovision social media content creators — Shawn aka worldvishawn!

While Jan was away at the Final of Dora in Croatia, Sebi, Dave, and Shawn compared notes on the latest in Eurovision's selection season, including:

• 02:12 Shawn's connection with Iceland's Söngvakeppnin 2025
• 08:26 The Netherlands and Australia's song releases
• 14:20 Denmark's DMGP results
• 21:23 Abor & Tynna win Germany's Chefsache 2025
• 27:07 Heat 5 of Melfest in Sweden & our predictions for the Final
• 34:37 Semi Final 2 results from FdC in Portugal

If you are not one of the 300+k people that follow Shawn on TikTok, check out his amazing content and drop him a follow!

For more information about what we discussed in this episode, you can check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave analyze the line-up of the 69ᵗʰ Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. Putting their personal preferences aside, they are trying to make a realistic prediction of which songs will advance and which will be eliminated in both semi-finals.

They continue with predicting the winner of the Grand Final, as well as the potential dark horses of the competition.

Let us know on our social media what you think of our comments and predictions!

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, we talk to the guys from Brother Apollo who will open Eesti Laul 2024 on Saturday. The band was hand-picked for a spot in Estonia's Grand Final and were truly shocked! They also tell us how they want to open the show with a 'bang' ... literally! Plus, Dave's head is spinning as we're sandwiched between two Super Saturdays - so much news, so little time!

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

Jan met the Slovenian Eurovision representatives Joker Out and interviews them about their Eurovision participation. Sebi and Dave analyze the results of last weekend's Super Saturday, discuss the seven new songs and their favourites of the Lithuanian final Pabandom iš naujo! 2023

1:18 Speed News

3:46 Slovenia

4:52 Joker Out Interview

9:05 Italy

11:07 Romania

13:45 Denmark

17:08 Croatia

24:20 Malta

27:37 Estonia

30:41 Latvia

33:29 Pabandom iš naujo! 2023

38:38 Melodifestivalen - Heat 2

43:09 Our current Top 3

47:11 Game

In this episode, Jan and Dave collect their thoughts and discuss what it was like to be on the ground at Eurovision 2024 by looking at this year's Contest as if it were Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We look at what made this year's edition great, but also what made it stressful and, at times, miserable. We end with our hopes for Eurovision 2025 in Switzerland.

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we sit down to talk to Jesse Markin who is set to make his UMK début in 2024. He's no stranger to the music industry in Finland, but he did ruffle some feathers when he said he might not go to Eurovision if he wins. We ask him about that, plus lots more this week, including our predictions on who will win Vidbir, MGP, MESC, and in Benidorm - we were right, or did we make fools of ourselves?

Get the episode notes and more Eurovision content on our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Dave fights a sore throat as Sebi joins him for this year's first Supernova interview! We're back in the Baltics talking to ADELINA who is in it to win it in her first attempt to get to the Eurovision stage! She's currently living in London (listen for her accent!) but is hoping to represent Latvia at Eurovision in Basel — the country where she was born and grew up. Can her retro futurism vibes get her the Supernova win? We'll find out on 8ᵗʰ February!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave review the 15 songs that are set to perform at the first semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. They share their individual thoughts on each song and also give a prediction on which 10 songs will make it to the desired Grand Final.

01:10 - Cyprus

04:07 - Serbia

07:18 - Lithuania

09:01 - Ireland

12:11 - Ukraine

14:23 - Poland

17:02 - Croatia

18:29 - Iceland

20:05 - Slovenia

23:23 - Finland

24:34 - Moldova

25:59 - Azerbaijan

27:58 - Australia

30:19 - Portugal

32:58 - Luxembourg

34:28 - Our 10 Qualifiers

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Sebi, Jan and Dave discuss the Eurovision songs from the Big 5 countries, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as the host entry from Sweden. Besides critical reviews and bold predictions, Jan delivers a poetic reading of the Spanish entry "Zorra".

1:46 - United Kingdom

5:56 - Germany

8:59 - Sweden

12:50 - France

15:41 - Spain

19:48 - Italy

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, we begin a new weekly series featuring our reviews and predictions for the 37 songs competing to win the 69ᵗʰ Eurovision Song Contest. To help us out, we recruited Dean, founder of ESCScot to join us for this episode, as we look at the entries from:

• 03:21 🇪🇪 Estonia: Tommy Cash - "Espresso Macchiato"
• 10:24 🇮🇸 Iceland: Væb - "Róa"
• 15:31 🇵🇱 Poland: Justyna Steczkowska - "Gaja"
• 22:18 🇵🇹 Portugal: Napa - "Deslocado"
• 28:02 🇸🇮 Slovenia: Klemen - "How Much Time Do We Have Left"
• 34:13 🇸🇪 Sweden: KAJ - "Bara bada bastu"
• 42:16 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Ziferblat - "Bird of Pray"

Let us know on our social media what you think of our comments and reviews of the songs. You can also let Dean know by heading over to ESCScot on TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter (X).

For more information about this episode, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com as well as our social media profiles on Instagram, X, and TikTok!

Thank you so much for listening! We'll be back with another episode very soon!

In this episode, Sebi and Dave get the chance to chat with Melodifestivalen participant and three-time Eurovision songwriter Melanie Wehbe. Her song "Sand" performed by SABA will represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. In this interview, Melanie spills some off stage secrets from DMGP and Melodifestivalen 2024, where she was also a part of. Furthermore, she tells us about the Danish preparations for Malmö.

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, Dave chats with Melodifestivalen newcomer Adrian Macéus to find out about his entry Vår första gång and his preparations for the big stage for Heat 1 in Luleå! This 19-year-old already has quite the CV, and his Mello participation will mark a significant milestone in his short career. Adrian's song for Melfest début focuses on navigating the highs and lows of relationships by reflecting on their beginnings. All that and more in this episode!

For more info and Eurovision content, including more information about this interview, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random Eurovision TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!

In this episode, the selection season is fast coming to a close, and in the last week seven new songs dropped, most of them in a 24 hour period! We break down our favourites, and David Hughes from the reorderboard swings by to share his thoughts on his home country's 'dizzying' entry!

For more info and Eurovision content, check out our website at buildingbridgespod.com and we're always updating our Instagram and Twitter accounts, plus we love posting fun, silly and random TikToks, so we'd be thrilled if you followed us on social media and left us a review!