Special - The Olia Tira interview | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

Olia Tira is a young singer from Moldova. She was born in Germany by Russian parents and now she studies at the Music Academy. She has released her first album in 2005 titled “Your place or mine?” . She has aleady tried twice to represent Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 and 2007.
She has already submitted , Always will be, a rock song for next year’s Moldavian national final, hoping this time to finally get the golden ticket for Belgrade.

Hello Olia, first of all tell us something about your career.

My music career started with little children concerts in the back yard of my house. But my professional career started when I was 14 years old. It was then when I participated to the first festivals and concerts and I also started working with canto teachers. I was very lucky to meet interested people who invested on me their soul and they helped me to form my career. Now, I am a student at the Music Academy. I have already released one album and my songs are played on radio and TV stations.

You participated two times in the Moldovan national final in 2006 and 2007. Now, you are trying for the 3rd time, do you feel more mature and more experienced now? Do you feel luckier this time?

Of course I was different 2 years ago. I am more realistic now. In the 2006 NF there was a scandal. The jury didn’t choose a winner and with no respect for the regulations, they organized a second final with other participants in order to promote them. There might be such kind of surprises this year too but TeleRadioMoldova holds all the rights for the NF and they make the final decision. My duty is to participate and sing for my fans. Now I believe in me more than ever and I have other projects to do besides Eurovision although participating in this contest is every singer’s dream including me.

You have already submitted a song for the Moldovan national final, tell us something about the song.

My song is titled Always will be. It is a pop rock song and it fits my character. It is not a Eurovision style song but after Lordi won no one really knows which song really fits the contest. The message of the song is “I will always love you the way you are”. It is a hard melody, an aggressive rock that might shock but this is me! Now, about a special show on stage, I will think of something if I win the final, isn’t that logical?

You have already released your first album. Tell us something about it.

My first album is titled Your place or mine?. It was released by the independent record label “Nordika Multimedia” in December 2006. All the songs of the album are written by Ruslan Taranu, a musician and composer that worked in Paris. When I first listened to the songs for the album I thought: "God, are they going to understand that kind of music in Moldova? It is not O-zone or Akcent”. But by listening to the songs more and more, they became like my second skin! After I put the song on myspace site I had lots of positive reactions. I realized that I have lots of fans and I am not the only one that I feel this kind of music. It is true that my songs’ fans are very special and they have a music culture. I have  also been supported by the guys from Zdob si zdub (2005). I also have one song featuring Roman Lagupov-the vocalist of the band- which I really feel obligation to him.

You were born in Germany and you were raised by a Russian family. Has this affected your music style? Do you have musical influences by the West European kind of music or your Russian and Moldovan roots have influenced you more?

I really listen to different styles of music. From S. Wonder , G. Benson and Beatles to Nickelback. Every music style leaves a fingerprint on me and from these traces I build my own style. It might change one day. It’s natural. I grow up, I meet people and I become more mature. What I am now has European roots, even Anglo-saxon. But the Russian and Moldavian music and specially the classic one is my favorite.

 

In the past 5 years you participated in several festivals. Tell us something about this.

I have participated in several festivals and concerts as a special guest and participant. But the most important festival for me is the International music Festival “Faces of friends” that takes place in the city of Cahul. It is a little city in the south of Moldova. In this festival lots of international and Moldovan artiststook part, such as O-zone, Zdob si zdub, Dan Balan band and Alternosfera. For 3 days the city of Cahul becomes the Moldavian capital of cultures. Thousands of people come here to party in a friendly atmosphere full of music. In this festival I took my first steps which were important for my career. In this festival I also  met my producer.

Now you live, study and work in Moldova. How do you spend your free time? Do you have any hobbies?

I am a student at the Music Academy and all the time is spent to my studies. I want to take everything from my teachers. I also spend time in the studio, concerts and festivals. So, now music is my profession and my hobby.

What will you do if you win the Moldovan national final? What are your next steps?
 
Oh, I have to win first…

Do you have any messages for the readers of esctoday.com?

Lovely esctoday.com visitors. Thank you for loving music. I really appreciate you for this. Music unites us. I know that among you I have lots of fans and many that don’t like what I sing. But, believe me that this kind of music comes from my heart. I respect you the way you are! Merry Christmas!