Interview with Jernej Dermota

Jernej Dermota, a young man, who is building his musical career with persistence. He is taking it easy and he took a few minutes to chat with us.

1. You were chosen to compete on EMA 2007. Is it true that you needed a couple of days to believing in it?
I have always watched the Eurovision and our pre-selections EMA. And I always wanted to apply to EMA. Last year I applied with a song “Vse ali nic”. Aleksander Masevski from Skopje, wrote it for me, but I was not accepted. I was disappointed, because the song is really good. When I heard about the unofficial EMA 2007 results, I was shocked. There are people who didn’t understand my joy, but my dreams came true. It was like everybody knew before I did, it announced on the radio. I didn’t believe it until I didn’t saw the official results on the internet page. Finally, my name was written among the performers.

2. A little bird told us, that to perform on EMA is the only wish you have so far. So you have accepted the fact that you will not win?
Slovenija is a small country with al lot of musicians and with just a couple of festivals. As a musician you sooner or later apply to EMA, but it is very difficult go get chosen. Like last year, only the popular performers, got through. But this year happened something that should Have happened a long time ago. The judges picked the songs and not the performers. I do not think about winning, I just want to go to the finals.

3. Your career took off in 2005, when you performed on Slovenka popevka. How did that performance influence your career?
When I heard the news about my performance on Slovenska popevka I imagined that a new door opened for me. The door to the musical world. But I was disappointed in the end, I was just a musician, that got a few good reviews and interviews in a couple of magazines. I was without a team, who would stand beside me and supported me on my musical path.

4. But the turning point was on a festival, closed for the public, called Gradevizija, which is presented by OGAE Slovenija
I heard a lot about your festival in the last years. But  I never applied. I forgot about it or I didn’t have the courage to apply. But after Slovenska popevka, the wish of performing on stage got bigger. So I applied. For some time I didn’t know if I would actually perform on Gradevizija, because of my performance on Slovenska popevka. But I did, I sang two songs  “Saving all my love” and the winning song“I have nothing”, both were sang by Whitney Houston in the past. I almost cried of happiness, when the audience applauded during the song. It was wonderful.

5. Did the victory on Gradevizija opened many doors for you?
I could say that. I’m very grateful to the “Gradevizija” and it’s members, and I will never forget that. One of the judges on Gradevizija was Frenk Nova, who called me up one night and asked me, if I wanted to sigh with his new label Enterfrend. I was so happy. We started to make and record songs. So the song “Dal bi ti vse” came along, but it was only the back-up song for the “Melodije morja in sonca 2006 ” festival. But after that, the new song “Priznaj, da me sanjaš”, was song of the week on many radio stations. And finally there was the song which entered EMA 2007 the song called “Moj planet”.

6. You will be the first member of OGAE Slovenija to stand and perform on the EMA stage. We will all keep our fingers crossed for you. Is it your wish to win and go to Helsinki this year?
You better keep your fingers crossed. But like we said the chances for victory are small. There are going to be some popular performer there, and in our country the public picks a winning performer  not the winning song.

7. Can you tell us any details about the song, performance, choreography? Is it known yet who will be with you in the project?
The song is interesting  and “crazy”. The lyrics are great and is good in every way. One of the back-up singers will also be my manager Frank Nova. That’s all I can say and you will get all the details, when I perform.

8. What are you future plans? Are you going to apply to the only festival you haven’t performed on, I’m thinking of the “Melodije morja in sonca” festival?
Yes there aren’t to many festivals left, to go to. MMS is the only festival beside EMA and Slovenska popevka I haven’t been to, and I will apply to it next year. But Slovenska popevka is the most special to me, because to sing with an orchestra in something wonderful. I would like to do that again. Otherwise, I will record songs which will be played on radio, I will apply to festivals, charity concerts and bigger events.

9. Jernej, we wish you a lot of success on stage. And as our member we would like to see you in the finals of EMA 2007 and of course in Helsinki. We know you do your best.
I will and first of all I will enjoy myself on EMA stage.

Thank you for you time and this interview.