Hello The Roop,

It is a pleasure for us to talk to you and to be able to know a little more about your history and how the way to Eurovision has afected your career despite the cancellation of the festival and all the events that are surrounding the world now…. for the the Eurofans in Latin America (and beyond) here we go:

OGAERLA: What emotions define you as musicians and people?  

Vaidotas: Optimism.

Robertas: I feel mixed emotions. I fell sadness but after all I know that everything will be just fine.

Mantas: Fun. Everything you do has to bring joyful emotions.

OGAERLA: What does The Roop represent in the world of music and how do you live music?

Vaidotas: My goal is to inspire people to live their lives to the fullest. So I do it through the music.

Robertas: I think we are just ordinary guys with very big dreams.

Mantas: Music is a huge part of my life. I play music and I listen to music when I don’t play.

OGAERLA: You have been together since 2014, even Vaidotas has already worked as an actor and television presenter. How did you decide to unite your talents to create The Roop?

Vaidotas: It came naturally.

Robertas: We are together since 2010. For four years we were paying and creating some songs. And always have been dreaming about how one day we will play our music in a stadium.

Mantas: I played in several different bands since 2004. I knew Robertas from school years – he was the one who invited me to join this new band the guys were already working on in 2010 or 2011. So I did and this is where we are now.

OGAERLA: It was not until 2015 that your debut album “To Whom It May Concern” was released, what feelings filled you when you saw that your work was ”bearing fruit”?

Vaidotas: I was happy, because it took time to create that.

Robertas: Fun thing is that after releasing our first album in 2015 we expected much more attention to our music than we receive. We had no money and no proper human resources to promote our album and singles. We always spent money to make a good record and make good videos for singles.

Mantas: I don’t want to sound very depressing – releasing an album is always a celebration – but if we talk about our first record, there was this feeling that by the time it was released, some songs were morally outdated to us. Despite that we still play several songs off our first record in our live shows and we still love them.

OGAERLA: The first attempt to represent Lithuania in Eurovision came in 2018 when you participated in the Eurovizijos with “Yes, I Do” and you get third place in the grand final. How was that first experience with Eurovision and what feelings you got realizing that your musical proposal was so well received?

Vaidotas: This first attempt gave us strength and lifted our self-esteem. People started asking us to participate one more time. We knew, that we’d come back again.

Robertas: We gained more confidence since then. We realized that we can be first. We felt that our music is liked by people. And that was the biggest victory for ourselves.

Mantas: We went into our first Eurovision Selection without expectations, we didn’t know what was going to happen. Making it to the grand final was an amazing result, we felt like winning. We didn’t win the competition, but we were winners to ourselves and to our new fans.

OGAERLA: In this year “On Fire” came into your lives and with it the opportunity to represent Lithuania by winning the country’s preselection. How was the song born and what was the potential that you saw to participate again in the preselection Lithuanian?

Vaidotas: We were working on this song since March 2019. I remember myself thinking that maybe the lyrics and that message could be different, not related with me. But if not with me, then with who? And the decision was made right – to sing about true, not imaginary life.

Robertas: Song was born from our hearts and minds. Like all songs, I guess.

Mantas: As Vaidotas said, it took a while to finalize the song. Its first version was totally different from the end result. It has been redone many times. But when we put “On Fire” together in its final form, we knew it was perfect for Eurovision. The song name “On Fire” was around for several years as a fun joke (reference to popular phrase “The roof is on fire”), and one day Vaidotas said to me – why not use it?

OGAERLA: After winning locally you started as great bookmakers (for the first time in the country’s history) to win Eurovision. How did you handle this great favoritism?

Vaidotas: To be fair, we had no time to celebrate. There was plenty of tasks to do. I felt calm and focused.

Robertas: I was feeling on fire since then 🙂

Mantas: It was fun for our fans to follow, but we did not pay too much attention to it – there was a lot of work to be done still. Being calm and focused allowed us to win National Selection and that’s how we wanted to continue approaching this episode of our careers.

OGAERLA: Unfortunately, the feeling what many people had was confirmed, the cancellation of Eurovision due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How did you feel about it? Did you feel lost the opportunity to bring Eurovision to Lithuania?

Vaidotas: Yes, we lost that opportunity, that’s the fact. There will be no Eurovision for that song and maybe even for us. But we have to move on. But what’s good is that people all around the world started to love “On Fire” song. It’s just the beginning.

Robertas: Maybe, just not in 2021.

Mantas: Yes, that’s the saddest part – Lithuania could’ve done it this time.

OGAERLA: Several of the countries are confirming for 2021 those who would represent them next May. Do you expect and wish to be confirmed by Lithuania by 2021?

Vaidotas: Will we participate in the National Selection? We do not know yet. We haven’t made the decision and I don’t think we will any time soon.

Robertas: we already know LRT decision that we only have a ticket to the final of National Selection. But will we participate – we will decide later.

Mantas: We are not even thinking about next year. We’ll see when time comes.

OGAERLA: Days after the cancellation, the EBU announced that the songs from 2020 to 2021 could not be used. Are you agree with this?, have you thought about possible topics for your new candidacy if you represented Lithuania next year?

Vaidotas: First of all, I do not think, that cancelling Eurovision was the best decision. We live in XXI century, so we could have had another solution.

Robertas: There is no one good answer or decision. Everything is complicated now.

Mantas: I do hope that the organizers considered all options and that this is be best they could come up with. It really hurts because we invested a lot into this particular song, just like others composers. Maybe the decision is good for people who would be in the arena watching the show, but definitely not for composers and participants.

OGAERLA: How are you taking the measures of your country to face the Coronavirus? What advice do you give to people who follow you?

Vaidotas: At this time we all can learn something new, so just try to make the best of this situation.

Robertas: Stay home, wash your hands and don’t stop dreaming.

Mantas: I am taking health measures seriously, sitting at home all the time.

OGAERLA: What story is behind “On Fire”?

Vaidotas: One of the problems which is still broadly tolerated in this world is ageism. What I mean is people are too often judged based on their age and not their abilities. So, with this song we try to fight this status quo.

Robertas: Main idea of the song is that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Age is not a problem. Laziness might be a problem.

Mantas: You are never too old to invent, learn, see, visit or try something new.

OGAERLA: Could you tell us which are the Lithuanian proposals (that has represent your country in ESC) you like the most?

Vaidotas: I really liked Skamp “You Got Style”.

Robertas: InCulto – “Eastern European Funk”.

Mantas: Same as Robertas – “Eastern European Funk” by InCulto.

OGAERLA: Eurovisión has a large number of admirers in Latin America. Have you visited any of our countries? 

Vaidotas: I would love to! I have never been to Latin America. Hope to visit it after quarantine someday.

Robertas: No, I didn’t, but I think it would be a great journey to you guys

Mantas: The closest to you I have ever been was USA, but I never visited any of the Latin America countries. Would really love to, though, and one day I am pretty sure I will.

OGAERLA: Would you like to bring your music to this continent?

Vaidotas: Of course!

Robertas: There’s no doubt.

Mantas: We would love to come and bring it ourselves, not just online.

OGAERLA: What Latino artists would you like to collaborate with?

Vaidotas: We know many Latino artists, because they are worldwide famous. But lately I came across Nella. Her music is a mix of past and present. I like it.

Robertas: Carlos Santana

Mantas: Shakira. I always liked her, because her hips don’t lie 🙂

OGAERLA: What message do you want to give to the people who are reading this interview?

Vaidotas: Stop underestimating yourself. No one is perfect! Take your life into your hands. Now.

Robertas: I hope you are safe sitting home with your family. Please take care. Soon all will be alright.

Mantas: Support your local artists, they really need it during this crisis.

Interview: Christopher Estrada

Traduction: Alberto Delgado