"Music was my refuge from the difficulties": Interview with Eden Elena, winner of "Next Star for Eurovision"

Ethiopian difficulties ("Mother didn't let me see the difficulty"), the repetition of the question ("To this day I sing 'lament' to God") the fear of being killed as Kobe Marimi ("People always say things") and the art used as a refuge in her life. Interview with Eden Elena, winner of "Next Star for Eurovision"

"Music was my refuge from the difficulties": Interview with Eden Elena, winner of "Next Star for Eurovision"

"I don't know how this default happened, that no Yemenite would represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest," laughs Eden Elena, the recent winner of the last Eurovision Star, "Well, apparently I deserved it." Elena recorded some records: the first winner of the "next star" whose family is from the Ethiopian community, and also the first artist to win two Israeli reality shows - the "Ex Factor" was the first to recognize. Talking to her the morning after the win, Elena talks about the difficulty of Ethiopian immigrants ("Mom was hard but she didn't let me see"), repeating the question ("To this day I sing 'Ichah' to God") about the fear of being killed like Kobe Marimi ( Even if the song is good people will always say things ") and the music and dance that has always been a refuge in her life.

It is said to have been a very successful season of "The Next Star" and were very strong competitors. Why did you win?

"Apparently the audience loved me, and I was good, and I tore myself up. I worked on every full song. I came forever."

A common opinion in networking and critique of the finals was that the performances of your competitors, younger than you, on the first live show were far less favorable than the performances in the pre-recorded shows. They didn't seem to be under pressure. On the other hand, your performance was more accurate and professional. Your experience played in your favor?

"I don't know, I heard their performance and I have to say that everyone's performance was great. They gave Fate crazy. Did they have any difficulty? I can't speak on their behalf. True to my experience with the music trend and Ex Factor."

After a hyperactive season, the "Next Star" final was a boring and bad performance

"Mom didn't let me see the difficulties she went through." Eden Elena (Photo: Ortal Dahan)

Eden Elena The Next Star (Photo: Ortal Dahan, PR)

There is a question mark as to whether "The Next Star" will retain its success after the Israel Representative's Award is taken away, even because some contestants may choose not to go to a competition that does not win the Eurovision show. After Ex Factor, would you have made another reality without this award?

"No, no. I didn't go to the Next Star because it's a reality show. I came because it's Eurovision, one of the biggest things there is today, one of the biggest stages in the world today. Another station in the way of my career that I had to pass, must."

The finalist you lost, Gaia Shaki, told an interview to Walla! A culture she never anticipated at Eurovision. And from your point of view, Eurovision was a dream come true?

"The Eurovision was a dream, but I realized it was a dream after Kobe Marimi's season. I told myself, I must, I must come to this."

If you mentioned Marimi. He has suffered many negative reviews, sometimes really badly. Are you worried about absorbing deadly reactions like him and saying you failed the country?

"There is this concern, but I trust myself and I trust the people who accompany me, no matter what - it will be good. Even if there is a good song and a bad song, people will always say things, talkbacks will always be. That aside. Kobe was fine with that. He was full of purpose, and I take it from him. I got to meet him and he was just a magic, magic guy. Well done to him, really. I think Marimi was crazy. "

"I used to be jealous of others. Today I accept myself, even the less good parts"

Fears of being absorbed by Katy Marimi. Eden Elena (Photo: Ortal Dahan)

Eden Elena The Next Star (Photo: Ortal Dahan, PR)

Neta Barzilai said last night in the "Next Star" finale: "Sometimes the decision to go to Eurovision can also be ruined."

"Okay. I don't put it in my head because once you put it in your head - you give it the option to happen. Thought creates reality. No matter what it is, for me everything is positive."

At what moment in this "Next Star" season did you experience emotional flooding or crisis?

"After I performed 'Hi Quiet.' It was the hardest moment because of the reactions and all the reds from the judges. It was very difficult to get it suddenly in the boom. It was manic time, to make it to the finals. I had to be the most on it, and I felt I was not successful, I was quite disappointed "But in the next song I have already given my head, I managed it and reached the final."

The Israel Representation Award at Eurovision now leaves the "next star". And given the fact that "Ex Factor" was the first to recognize you, and there is a concern that the plan will not stay online, perhaps the conclusion is that the corporation will buy "Ex Factor"?

"Make it cooperative!"

Moran Aharoni: "I keep telling myself that I'm streaky, but I don't feel that way."

"I came to win." Eden Elena (Photo: Ortal Dahan)

Eden Elena The Next Star (Photo: Ortal Dahan, PR)

You've said before about not having an easy childhood - parents divorced when you were two years old in a bad divorce, as you would say, the relationship with dad is not maintained, you were a single mother to a single mother. How did the difficulties in childhood manifest and how much of the art served you as a refuge?

"The truth is that music and dance have always been my refuge. There are a lot of situations in my life that I feel bad about, and they always have a very specific song that accompanies me. I was terribly small in divorce. I had a hard time, but I didn't really know what it was. And my aunt was like a father to me, and she was my sister. "

Many Ethiopian immigrants have faced difficult challenges in Israel. Did your mother also experience this?

"Yes, Mom was hard, but she always found a way to look at things in a positive way, she always laughed at things and always smiled. Mom never let me see it was hard, never."

"I do not know how this default happened, that no Yemeni would represent Israel in the Eurovision." Eden Elena (screenshot, arch 12)

Next star Eden Elena (photo: Rainbow 12, screenshot)

At what moment did you draw great power and special encouragement from a particular song?

"When I came back around with a question, there was a song that accompanied me, Shuli Rand's 'Lament,' which to this day is with me.

What is your most significant insight into your participation in "The Next Star"?

"Always stay positive, no matter how black everything looks."

And where will you be in ten years?

"Making music I love, and doing well with God,"

"If I was ousted from the next star a year ago, I would have crashed"

"The truth is that music and dance have always been my refuge." Eden Elena (Photo: Ortal Dahan)

Eden Elena - Hamal (Photo: Ortal Dahan, official website)