Alain meets Kurt Calleja
INFE Network in cooperation with INFE France, has begun a new chapter as far as Eurostars concerned. Alain Dhallewin, from INFE France has started his journey, bringing you the most interresting interviews from Eurostars.
We hope you enjoy it.
This first interview starts in Malta, where the talented Kurt Calleja, who represented Malta in Baku with the song « This is the night » and has accepted this : our first invitation.
A great smile on a charming guy… here’s what we talked about last monday…
A.D. : Happy New Year Kurt !!
K. C. : Happy New Year to you too !
A.D. : What did you do for new year’s eve Kurt ?
K.C. : I had a show in Valetta, the capital city, there were about 25,000 people, it was very good, we had a good time, had a selection of music, people were dancing and singing and celebrating the new year.
A.D. What can you tell me about your current events especially regarding music ?
K.C. : I got a song called « Boomerang », which we launched at the end of the summer. I’ve been performing around Malta with it and we were nominated at the Malta Music Awards which is a big show in Malta and I’m nominated as best solo artist with this song and for the Best Music Video with This Is The Night
A.D. : What have you been up to since Baku ?
K.C. : I’ve been extremely busy, doing lots of shows, went back to Amsterdam after Baku to sing at the gay pride, then I performed at Loreen’s concert in Malta and finally the band and I performed at the Malta Independance Day Anniversary, so it’s been a very busy summer you know, big clubs, big audiences.
A.D. : Who are you Kurt ? Tell me please…
K.C. : I’m a maltese guy, passionate about performing, cooking, I love movies, I’m a very determinated person, when I want to do something, I create a picture of it in my mind and I go for it, you know ?
I love my family and friends so so much and I cannot forget in how many ways they were there for me during difficult and less difficult times. I think, recently I’ve changed a lot, from the point I was chosen as Malta’s Ambassador. It was a very long journey, because you are always learning, meeting people, discovering yourself, people who love you, who love you a little less… but on the whole it’s been a good journey,
A.D. : When can you say that you actually became an artist? I mean when did everything really begun ?
K.C. : As a kid, I always loved singing, but I never took it seriously. For me it was just an excuse to miss lessons (because I used to sing in the school choir). At some point I said to myself – Why can’t I sing instead of going to work ? So I guess when I was 16, I took my first singing lesson, and from that day, everytime some opportunity came up I always went to do my best. However I have been singing as a professionnal for last 3 years now.
A.D. : Were you an actor before?
K. C. : As a teenager, I used to do a lot of theater, some dancing, but growing up I focused more on singing, I was on two TV series in Malta, very popular, it was last year, before I got the right to sing for Malta at Eurovision. But now it’s music, music, music, I play piano and guitar, learning music production, I can write my own songs now… Honestly it’s been so busy last year, I mean I went to record in London, in a studio called ROKSTONE STUDIO, where WESTLIFE, ONE DIRECTION & SUSAN BOYLE amongst many others record – and the following day I was back home in Malta rehearsing for a show after having been interviewed on a number of television shows about it all. So it has been great !
A.D. : What did Baku mean to you before performing at the Eurovision Song Contest ?
K.C. : You see when we won, I took an interest in the country. I couldn’t wait to see the place. I was constantly looking on the net what is there to see in Azerbaijan. About a week after I won the maltese selection, the team and I went to Azerbaijan to perform and I fell in love. We are supposed go back to Baku to perform again this year.
A.D. : What do you listen to? What kind of music ?
K.C. : Big variety of music, dance mucis, classic music, my favorite artists at the moment are JESSIE J, BRUNO MARS, WILL.I.AM, ONE DIRECTION, THE SCRIPT AND RITA ORA. The more you listen to different types of music, the more you can learn and write different songs.
A.D. : What makes you wake up in the morning ?
K.C. : My day is so full, I mean… during my lifetime, I want to use my time, and especially my fame and popularity to inspire people, to help make a change in their lives, you know ? Make them believe that if you really want something, you can do it, you can change.
A.D. : Is there an album ready for 2013 ?
K.C. : Oh yeah, have songs that have been recorded and more songs are on their way, it is supposed to be ready in March.
A.D. : Where are your music producers from?
K.C. : Our band manager represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 20 years ago, his name is William Mangion (with the song « This Time »). We are our own producers, but we use the above studio in London.
A.D. : Have you got a message for your french fans ?
K.C. : I would like to thank all those french people who send me such great messages, honestly, I would really love to say « Merci Beaucoup », it does mean a lot when your music is appreciated in another country, and especially in a country like France where there are so many great artists. And I take this opportutity to wish you a pleasant 2013, full of lots of love and lots of succes, may all your best wishes to come to life this year.
A.D. : You’re a great artist Kurt, EUROIDOL INFE France and INFE Network would love to thank you for taking on your time to do this interview. Please consider yourself as a permanent guest.
K.C. : Merci beaucoup, bonsoir.
(except Isis Gee, who ended on the last position in the final). There is still very political voting, even we have 50/50. The only non-political voting past last few years I remember was when Alex Rybak won. He was the winner from the very beginning!!!
