Hello Chanel, it is a pleasure to speak with you and have the opportunity to ask you some questions about your participation in the upcoming Junior Eurovision.
Congratulations on winning the Maltese National Final and thus having the honor of representing your country in JESC 2020, let start with the questions!
Many thanks! And thanks for this interview! 😊
In the context of the situation we are currently experiencing due to COVID-19, how are you and how is your family?Well, I miss my friends, parties, singing competitions … but we are ok, and I am still having fun with my family, and that’s what’s most important in life – family!
In three words, how is a perfect day for Chanel?
Music, reading and cooking
Do you like cartoons? What is your favorite character?
Yes, I love cartoons and my favorite character is Belle from Disney.
How does someone at your age live and experience the music?
Music means a lot to me; I like to watch AGT, BGT and The Voice. My favorite is pop music, but I also like to listen to musicals and sometimes funk. My playlist on Spotify includes Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Anne Marie, Demi Lovato, Maroon5, Jess Glynne, Ava Max, Rihanna and many others!
I also enjoy my weekly lessons with vocal coach and mentor Ms Claire McCartin; and piano lessons with my cousin Aleandro, who is also one of the composers of Chasing Sunsets!
You have had the opportunity to participate in local competitions and win some festivals in Italy, Lithuania and Latvia. How were those experiences?
Lithuania was my first experience abroad so I will never forget it and I placed first in my category! This gave me the opportunity to make friends with Michela Pace (ESC Maltese participant 2019). It was also freezing cold! But we had an amazing time!
Italy’s competition was very nice too, and I made a lot of new friends – Maltese who were with us, and also participants from other countries! I was happy to be chosen for the Final Gala night, winning my category and placing 4th amongst all participants in this contest.
Out of the three Latvia was the most unforgettable. The venues where I sang were awesome, I also placed first here in my category and was a Grand Prix finalist, with a few points away from winning the Grand Prix!! 😊 Riga Symphony organised lovely events for us and outings, I loved all of it!
From an early age you have shown love for the piano, what does this instrument make you feel?
It makes me feel happy and when I start to play I never want to stop. During this period because of Covid, I am not attending lessons but I practise a lot at home, sometimes trying to write my own music.
How did the idea of participating in the Maltese national final for the JESC come about?
I always wanted to have my own original song, so I thought JESC is a good excuse to start working on something of my own and put it out there in public! Apart from the fact that I have been watching JESC and ESC since I was 3 years old and it was always my dream to be part of it one day!
What do you remember from that moment when you were named as the Maltese representative for JESC 2020?
I was at home with my family, playing with my little brother, when my mum read the news on the internet and started shouting! We cried and screamed together jumping and running around the house! Then there were a lot of calls and never-ending texts!!
Tell us the story behind “Chasing Sunsets”, what do you want to express with it?
Chasing Sunsets message is about chasing your dreams no matter how far and impossible they might seem at times, we need to be free to explore, because that is what life is all about.
As is evident this edition of Junior Eurovision will be very different, can you tell us about the staging and your expectations in your performance?
Regards staging that it is definitely a surprise 😉 so follow me on Instagram to know more! But I’m working hard to give a great performance to make Malta proud.
How are you preparing for such an atypical edition in the history of the younger brother of Eurovision?
A lot of rehearsals for vocals and performance, time at the studio and preparing for interviews, mostly online. Of course, I would have loved to meet the other participants, so I am checking out their songs and new music videos coming up and sometimes chatting with them as well to try to make the most of it.
Eurovision and Junior Eurovision are festivals that have a large number of fans in Latin America, did you know that, what do you think?
Actually, I didn’t know that, it’s pretty cool!
Do you know any country in our continent or would you like to bring your music one day?
Well google is a life-saver! 😊 but the ones I like the sound of are Costa Rica, Chile and Peru. My mum has been to some of these places and she tells me about the lovely beaches and friendly people – so I wish to visit some day and bring my music too!
Do you dream of collaborating with a Latin artist?
Of course! It would definitely be Camilla Cabello.
Finally, any message you want to share with JESC fans in Latin America?