Interview: Timebelle

Switzerland may have had a rough run over the recent Eurovision Songs Contests, despite giving the world the musical genius of Mélanie René in 2015, but all that could change in 2017 as the pop-tastic Timebelle take to the stage for them. We caught up with the trio to find out more about them...

For those not in the know, tell us a little about yourself...

We are Miruna Manescu, Samuel Forster and Emanuel Daniel Andriescu and together we form Timebelle. Our music is basically pop music with different influences, depending on our moods. Sometimes it can be balcanic, sometimes it can be funk, sometimes it can be even latino. We have different personalities the three of us so we must somehow satisfy each one of us.

What appealed to you about entering Eurovision?

Eurovision is not something that happens every day and surely you don't get elected to represent your country at Eurovision every day. It's a one of a kind event with a special public, very passionate and we always imagined ourselves performing on such an impressive stage, in front of the biggest audience, feeling their energy and hearing them singing along with us.

How did you feel when you found out you would be representing Switzerland?

We felt extremely happy. As Emanuel always says, our name never sounded as good as the moment when Sven Epiney said our name outloud as the winner of Swiss National Final.

Your song is called Apollo, tell us about it...

"Apollo" is in the Greek mythology the god of art. So when we sing in the chorus "i follow you, Apollo" is equally saying "I follow you art, I follow you, music". The message of the song is to follow your dreams. Even if that dream is a job, a career, the love for a woman or a man, a dream from your childhood, just follow your dream and make it happen.

What is the best feedback you have received as yet?

The best feedback we've received until now was the public singing along with us in the concerts during the Eurovision Promo Tour. We were in Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Madrid and all of them, absolutely all of them new all the words from "Apollo". This was fantastic!

Have you listened to your competitors yet? If so, which is your current favourite?

They all have beautiful songs and there are lots of different genres which makes everything even more interesting. Our favorite is Salvador Sobral from Portugal, from the first time we listened to his song we were mesmerized by him.

Have you spoken to any past entrants? If so, what advice have they had?

We haven't spoken to any of them, no. Unfortunately Switzerland hasn't qualify in the final these last two years which puts extra pressure on us, but how our song tells it "ain't no fun in easy".

What is your favourite Eurovision entry of all time?

"Heroes" by Mans Zelmerlöw and "Euphoria" by Loreen.

What do you hope to achieve with your appearance at Eurovision?

We've achieved so much already. So many friends, connections, experiences which enrich our whole musical careers. But we guess our highest hope is to please our fans with our music even after Eurovision is over.

What is success for you in the contest?

Success for us is to make a great performance of which we can be proud of. After we finish the whole performance to be able to look in the mirror and say "hey, you did good. Be proud. " That is success. If this brings us in the final, even better. If we get a good place, fantastic. If we win, that is ideal, of course.

Lastly, if you could duet with one past entrant, who would it be?

We would make a duet with Abba. That would be incredible. Or Celine Dion.