19-year-old Ingmar (Ingmar Erik Kiviloo) is one of the 20 candidates who will try their luck at this year’s Eesti Laul, the Estonian national selection for Eurovision 2024.
As you first read on OGAE Greece, the young Estonian will compete for the ticket to the stage of Malmö Arena, with his song Dreaming . But first, he will have to qualify from the semi-final on January 20th.
Our OGAE Greece editor, Panagiotis Naris, contacted him for an all-around interview. So let’s see what Ingmar had to say about it all!
Hi Ingmar. How are you feeling today?
Hello, thank you for asking. I’m feeling great, just came from working out at the gym. I like to start my mornings the same way every time, getting up early, doing push ups straight away and heading to the gym for a workout. Then when I have my obligatory tasks out of the way, I feel great and ready to tackle whatever comes in my way.
Tell us a little about yourself!
I am 19 years old, born and raised in Estonia. Currently living in the United States of America, I moved there in late August of 2022 to study at Berklee College of Music. Music has been a huge part of my life throughout everything so far. When I was three years old, my mother put me singing into a kids choir. At six years of age I started learning classical violin and during the years until I left to study in the US, I won many classical music competitions internationally and also in Estonia. I started writing my own songs and taking singing seriously in 2020 when people were in lockdown from Covid. I decided this was the time for me to really dedicate myself to something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. Most of my days and time are dedicated to writing music and practicing my instruments, singing. Besides violin I have studied organ, piano and I play the guitar and drums as well. I have also given myself a promise to write one song every day.
What’s your music about? Do you have any music inspirations?
Most of my songs are about experiences I’ve had in my own life. I feel that every songwriter should put emotions into their songs that they have actually gone through. The listeners will feel that and resonate with the authenticity of those feelings.
This year you participate in Eesti Laul with your song Dreaming. Tell us a little bit about your entry.
This current song “Dreaming” that qualified for “Eesti Laul 2024” is about how we should never give up on our dreams. As little kids we tend to dream very big, but as we grow older people around us start putting our dreams down, or we ourselves tend to think smaller. I believe that should change and people should always try to be optimal and to work hard in order to achieve their true desires.
In general, are you a dreamer? What is your biggest dream?
I would say that I am definitely a big dreamer. One of my biggest dreams was to move to the United States and that has now been achieved. I have various huge dreams regarding my future. I will dedicate my life to music, I will write my own songs and perform them. I’ll keep my biggest goals as secrets and as surprises, but I can say that I want to build my music career in the US and move even further from there.
At the age of 17, you’ve participated in an Estonian show where you’ve got the 6th place. How did this experience worked for you? Any important lessons that you’ve got?
At the age of seventeen I participated in the “Estonian Idol” television show and that was my first experience performing as a singer on live television for tens of thousands of people watching. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge in giving interviews on camera and how to perform on stage and on television. It really opened many doors to me in the Estonian music scene. I gave two tours across the country with a few famous artists from Estonia after that show. Two of them have represented Estonia in Eurovision before (Koit Toome and Uku Suviste). My music started being played on radio stations and I was able to create good looking music videos for the songs that I recorded.
Back to this period of your life, have you heard some other songs from this year’s Eesti Laul? Do you like any of them and how do you see the competition this year?
Yes, of course I have listened to all of the songs that I’m competing with this year. I find the quality very high and there are a lot of interesting songs. I like many of them as well, for example I find the song by 5miinust and Puuluup very interesting. I love the sound of the Τalharpa, which is a traditional folk instrument of Estonia in addition to the electronic sounds they have in their song.
What does Eurovision mean to you? Do you like watching the show?
I’ve liked watching Eurovision since I was a little kid. It has always been like a tradition to watch it and it sort of reminds me of the olympic games just for music. Although you can’t objectively say that one song is better than the other, because people’s taste in music is very different. What one person thinks is the best song ever the other might find terrible and that’s just how it is.
Which is your favorite Estonian entry and which in general?
I really liked that Måneskin won in 2021, I love that band and Eurovision introduced them to me and to the whole world. From Estonia, I think one of the best songs and entries for Eurovision has been the song “Kuula” by Ott Lepland in the year of 2012.
Any future plans for you after Eesti Laul?
My future plans are to keep working on my dreams and to never quit. I’ll keep writing music and aiming for the big stages.
Have you ever been to our country, Greece? If so, did you like it?
I have been to Greece. In 2019, I participated in a classical violin music camp with many great professors. It took place in the Athens Riviera and we also went out to discover Athens. I loved it, beautiful architecture, weather, amazing food and people. Fantastic beaches as well, I’d love to go back one day.
Finally, would you like to give a message to the Greek fans and members of OGAE Greece?
In response to this question, Ingmar was very happy to send a short video for all of you! Enjoy him!
We would like to sincerely thank the extremely sweet and extremely talented Ingmar for the wonderful interview he gave us and wish him good luck at this year’s Eesti Laul! Special thanks to OGAE Greece editor-in-chief Reena Konstantopoulou as well as Spyros Kalogeropoulos for their valuable contribution!
Below you can listen again to Ingmar ‘s entry, called Dreaming !
Stay tuned to OGAE Greece for more news and interviews!
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 is one of the 20 candidates who will try their luck at this year's Eesti Laul.){kind=link}