OGAERLA: How did Anna start in the world of music?

A.O: I’ve always had a passion for music, ever since i was a child, my dream was to study music, which I managed to do and be able to work with talented people, record songs and perform in front of big crowds. I really feel blessed I had the opportunity to make a start in this field and I hope I can expand my career, outside my own country.

OGAERLA: What is music for you?

A.O: Music plays a huge part in my life… it lives inside me, it’s everything, together with my family. They are the two forces that give me strength and power to carry on, dream and create goals I want to achieve.

OGAERLA: What emotions define you as a musician and a person?

A.O: I would say vulnerability, modesty and love but at the same time surprise and anticipation. It depends on the periods of my life and how I feel at that time…

OGAERLA: You studied at the Academy of Music, Theater and Plastic Arts of Chisinau. What vision did you have of music before studying and what do you have now that you are in the industry?

A.O: I have always wanted to study music because I wanted to be able to learn everything from the start and then expand my knowledge on it. I believed that the studies would make me feel more secure and ready to use my talent, when the right time would come, in my life. I still feel the same… that every day I work with music, I learn more, it helps me more and makes me better. Of course, having some years in the business now, the benefits and experience I have gained made me love and appreciate my work even more and realize that I have chosen the right thing for me.

OGAERLA: What do you think are the main obstacles faced by a musician and singer during his career? (If you want, you can talk specifically about the Moldavian music industry).

A.O: For me it’s important to have a specific vision and walk your own path in the industry, no matter if the people want to place you in specific music boxes, if you know what I mean. From the beginning, I wanted to build my very own personality, of course based on my own music taste, having my personal international music icons but still be myself, have my own voice. I believe this is the difficult part for us performers… manage to create an original artist without being a copycat.

OGAERLA: What musical genres characterize you and what artists inspire you?

A.O: Good music comes from so many different styles. Jazz, Soul, Rock and Pop all have been an inspiration to me… The voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Tina Turner are some of the ones that speak to my heart and soul and definitely inspire me.

OGAERLA: How was the opportunity for your name to appear among the participants of the “O Melodie Pentru Europa”?

A.O:  I took part last year, for the first time because I always wanted to participate in the contest and hopefully win the right to represent my country in the Eurovision Song Contest. It didn’t happen in 2018 but this year, after I was given a great number of songs, I found the one that clicked from the first hearing and said to myself that I want to return to “O melodie pentru Europa”.

OGAERLA: The day of the grand final you took the first place in jury and second in televoting giving you the right to represent your country in Eurovision, what was the first thing you thought at the time of winning?

A.O: I was just stunned… I was so thrilled, I believe everything was paused in my mind, the moment they announced that I had won… I was so full of emotions, no words can describe the feeling… I was unbelievably happy and touched.

OGAERLA: Eurovision: has it always been a goal or did it suddenly cross your way?

A.O: Yes, It’s been several years that i had this goal… to be able to represent Moldova in Eurovision. I was waiting for the right moment and the right song… it happened this year and I’m extremely grateful and happy for that.

OGAERLA: “Stay” is the song that you will perform at Eurovision 2019, what story is behind the lyrics and what is the message you want to send with it?

A.O: The story of the song is what caught my attention and touched me the same way the melody touched me, when I first heard it. I’m a person that doesn’t give up easily and always fights for the people and things in life… this is what the song is about… No matter the difficulties and hurdles we may come across, we need to fight for the ones we love and want to keep in our lives. You always need to express your emotions to the one you have next to you and speak out your truth. We may fall but the next moment we need to stand up and continue. That’s the whole point in life…

OGAERLA: How do you imagine your staging on the Eurovision stage?

A.O: At this moment we are talking about our options, regarding our stage presentation, on Tel Aviv. i cannot reveal more but we want to create a certain story that fits the song… We want to be able to present a beautiful and memorable show for the viewers. There is a team of very talented people behind the whole idea and we’re working together to deliver a great show.

OGAERLA: It was recently confirmed that the Moldovan double representatives Sunstroke Project will be part of your candidacy. What is this support specifically meant by them?

A.O: There was a false rumor, sometime ago, regarding Sunstroke Project and their involvement in our entry. The guys want to give us their support and be by our side throughout this journey but they won’t be involved in any creative part or onstage with us. One thing certain is that we have their full support and guidance for what we’re about to experience in May.

OGAERLA: Precisely thanks to them in 2017, Moldova had its best historical position in the festival and last year DoReDos was part of the top 10, do you feel any pressure to maintain this good run?

A.O: Moldova has a 2-years in a row of great results in the contest, which surely puts pressure on us but this something any artist would feel, in my position. This pressure is creative, though, as it makes us want to give our very best on stage, in terms of performance and presentation. Of course we would love to continue this strike, so we will focus on everything we need to do to achieve this.

OGAERLA: Could you tell us which is the Moldovan proposal that you liked most in Eurovision?

A.O: The entries by Natalia Barbu, Nelly Ciobanu, Pasha Parfeny and Sunstroke Project are some of the ones I liked the most.

OGAERLA: Eurovision has a large number of fans in Latin America, have you visited any of our countries?

A.O: Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to do so yet, but it’s a visit I would like to do, someday. Cuba, Brazil and Mexico and places I would love to go to.

OGAERLA: Which Latin artists would you like to collaborate with?

A.O: Maluma, Juanes, Celia Cruz and Marc Anthony are artists I admire. I’ve always loved Gloria Estefan’s voice and songs, too. Of course, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez are iconic as well… 

OGAERLA: Finally, a message you want to give to the people who are reading this interview?

A.O: I would like you to know that I am happy that I was given the chance to speak to you and I want to thank you for your love and support. I’m so grateful that I’m given the chance to sing in Eurovision but also make my song known all over the world, though this platform. It’s a once in a lifetime chance and I would love people to sing along to my song and keep it in their hearts and souls for years to come. Thank you so much, once again OGAE Rest of the world