Earlier this year, Gianluca was selected to represent Malta in the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the track Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat. Despite being a newcomer to the scene, he managed to finish second in the tele-voting portion with the jury overwhelming giving him their vote of confidence. In recent days, Gianluca has given several interviews to media outlets all over the continent in support of his participation but nevertheless, he had to have a break last week in order to record the postcard which will precede his performance at the Eurovision Song Contest.

This years' edition of the international spectacle is taking place in Sweden and the organising committee thought it best that the postcards feature each artist within their respective daily routine and thus a crew of camera persons followed Gianluca around recording every little detail which they will edit and finally create the introductory postcard. Tomorrow will be performed during the first part of the second semi-final, in position number #6 to be precise. St.Vincent de Paue Hospital and Wied Iż-Żurrieq were two specific locations which the crew shot but nevertheless, the events varied from his profession as a doctor, to rehearsals with his band as well as a family picnic.

The director of photography, who was a part of the crew present spoke very highly of both Malta and Gianluca stating 'It is really interesting to see a singer who is a doctor and follow him in his real everyday life, see his charisma with the patients and also to see him rehearsing with his band and being with his family. Malta is extremely beautiful. We saw the islands from the sky. I am not only jealous of the weather but also because of the country, the people we have met are really nice, the nature is amazing and the architecture is so unique'. The crew then left for Spain in order to shoot the postcard of El Sueño De Morfeo who will be representing their nation in the final of this years' Eurovision Song Contest. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news.

Source: Television Malta

SVT, host broadcaster of this years' edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in conjunction with the European Broadcasting Union and the Reference Group have revealed their verdict with regards to the running order as decided by the producers of the showcase. This will be the very first time that the draw has not been done in a random manner but nevertheless, the countries were drawn into their respective semi-finals and also the first and second part of the running order based on the results of the allocation draw which took place earlier this year. The only draw that had to be done in a random order was that for the host country of Sweden so that the producers could not inflict it in any wrongdoing, and as a matter of fact, was drawn in sixteenth (16th) position within the final.

Tomorrow, co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat with vocals provided by Gianluca on behalf of Malta was drawn to perform in slot number #6 noting that the country had been drawn in the first half of the second semi-final for the second  consecutive year with This Is The Night performed by Kurt Calleja having to start at slot number #4 last year. Yesterday, in an interview with our colleagues from Eurovision Ireland, it was revealed that Gianluca will be flying to Malmö, Sweden alongside the team that accompanied him on stage in Malta as well as his sister, Dorothy Bezzina who will be accompanying as a vocal coach. Marry Me by Krista Siegfrids will be performing prior to Malta on behalf of Finland whilst following us will be Samo Shampioni performed by Elitsa & Stoyan for Bulgaria. The full running order can also be seen below.

First Semi-Final (14th May)

1. Austria
2. Estonia
3. Slovenia
4. Croatia
5. Denmark
6. Russia
7. Ukraine
8. The Netherlands
9. Montenegro
10. Lithuania
11. Belarus
12. Moldova
13. Ireland
14. Cyprus
15. Belgium
16. Serbia

Second Semi-Final (16th May)

1. Latvia
2. San Marino
3. F.Y.R. Macedonia
4. Azerbaijan
5. Finland
6. Malta
7. Bulgaria
8. Iceland
9. Greece
10. Israel
11. Armenia
12. Hungary
13. Norway
14. Albania
15. Georgia
16. Switzerland
17. Romania

Gianluca, the artist who will be representing Malta in the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Malmo, Sweden with the track Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat has been relatively busy in these past couple of days with a number of foreign interviews which the editorial board of escflashmalta.com has been skimming through. One of the most intriguing elements that we have picked up is definitely the fact that the team that accompanied Gianluca on stage will be retained for the performance in May which is a step in the right direction noting that the package itself is what the jury and the public decided upon.

Infact, whilst the main vocalist is Gianluca, he is aided by Kenny D'Ugo on the ukelele, Gabriel Cassar on bass, Chris Tate on drums as well as Louise Ann Bugeja Tate and Samaria Bezzina who are exclusively acting as backing vocals. Gianluca is currently juggling his daily routine of medical work alongside those of being the Maltese representative at this years' edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Within the next couple of weeks, he will be flying over to The Netherlands for the EurovisionInConcert as well as the United Kingdom for the annual London Preview Party. During another particular interview, published on EurovisionIreland, it has to be noted that our vocalist is being given vocal lessons by his sister, Dorothy Bezzina who also took part in this years' Malta Eurovision Song Contest with the track Starting from the End composed by Magnus Kaxe to the lyrics of Gerard James Borg. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news as soon as it becomes available and remember to purchase your copy of Tomorrow on iTunes.

Source: EurovisionIreland, Kris Micallef (Image)

One of the most powerful means to get messages across is through the medium of music and that is essentially the main reason behind the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest but nevertheless, moving away from the international competition, Malta is known to have a solid backbone within the music industry, one which took years to develop. 89.7 Bay is the leading radio station in the country and has always sought to help promote the local music scene, something which got the editorial team at escflashmalta.com thinking and finally to the realisation that promotion is the key behind success. Weekly the aforementioned station takes a look at the ten most request songs from local artists and put them in a chart show, hosted by Nathan D.

As summer approaches, several artists might be tampering around with the viable dates of music releases but thus far it seems that things are slightly quiet. A new entry in position number #10 this week is none other than the track Joy performed by JJoy and featuring the vocals of Andrea Britton. The renowned disc jockey does not need a lot of introduction having also been awarded with the best dance tune or remix at the Bay Music Awards for the track Love Hangover featuring the vocals of Kelly Stelfox. Taking My Heart, performed by Carlo Gerada and featuring Jan Cortez, a former chart topper finds itself at number #8 at the moment and on the the way out of the chart but nevertheless, someone who is climbing up is a newcomer by the name of Evita M whose track Luxurious has been well received. The former Malta Eurosong 2009 participant is looking to re-invent herself based on this particular track.

Alex Alden, a guest during the Malta Eurovision Song Contest semi-final has also been doing the rounds in recent weeks and now finds herself going down at number #7 with her debut track Dancing Alone which she performed impeccably to the jam packed audience at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre. Just above at position number #6 is the band Bletchley Park with the track Planets Move Faster. The group were nominated for three Malta Music Awards in the beginning of the year and look to continue building on their success with their Jagged House Records album, My Body Fighting. Gianluca is representing Malta in this years' Eurovision Song Contest but that does not mean that Funk Initiative are having some time off with their latest single Architects at position number #5 at the moment. Tomorrow had also made the official top thirty of the station and therefore, this shows the support from the leading radio station.

I have to say that the tracks in this weeks' top four are just stunning, beginning with number #4 featuring none other than the newcomer Joe Roscoe whose track How I Feel About You has been setting an extremely difficult tone for the local music scene. Think of Ed Sheeran meeting Jason Mraz and that is the product that has been created. Just above the talented singer/songwriter at number #3 comes the comeback of the group, Skimmed who have ditched their alternative rock for their new single Ronnie. The track has really been embraced by the music industry and feels like the group might have found a niche which they should experiment even more. The top two positions are currently occupied by two leading females who have the utmost respect from the escflashmalta.com editorial board with number #2 being filled in by When It's Time performed by Claudia Faniello and number #1 by Ira Losco and her song The Person I Am which features guest vocals by David Leguesse.

Source: 89.7 Bay

Earlier this year, Gianluca stole the hearts of the nation and the professional jury altogether as he won the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with the track Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat. The idea of the promotional tour is to spread the message of the song across, although this is something which is being done extraordinarily well with the preview video of the track which was produced by Duane and Angie Laus, commissioned for the project by the Public Broadcasting Services. The comments have been really positive by the foreign fans of the competition and one will be hoping for the best come this years' edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013.

In the beginning of March, Gianluca was invited to attend the national final in Armenia where Gor Suyjan alongside his band known as The Dorians were given four options for the Eurovision Song Contest with the final choice of both the public and the jury being Lonely Planet co-written by Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath. That was only the beginning of the promotional tour for Gianluca though because on the 13th April, he will be performing during the Eurovision In Concert held within The Netherlands. This is an annual party which is seemingly a rehearsal for the annual international competition due to the involvement of several participating countries.

Earlier today, our friends and colleagues of escXtra exclusively confirmed that the representative for Malta will be one of the artists performing during the London Eurovision Preview Party, joining the likes of Natalia (Austria), Koza Mostra (Greece), Zlata Ognevich (Ukraine), Alyona Lanskaya (Belarus) and Krista Siegfrids (Finland). Gianluca will represent Malta with the song Tomorrow in the first half of the second semi-final during this years' Eurovision Song Contest. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news about this years' participation within what has been described as the biggest non-sporting event in Europe.

Source: escXtra, Kris Micallef (Image)

#Lionkink is an upcoming production being organised by the Students Council within the University of Malta with the main aim being to serve the purpose that despite being the highest form of Educational Institution, individuals have the right to express themselves through the art of performance. The KSU Students' Fest has become an annual tradition for students at the University of Malta and beyond and this time round, it seems that the expectations are running high especially by tackling one of the most famous movie musicals created by Disney, known as The Lion King. The rewording of the title is vital to the modernisation of the show and the script will surely capture the attention of everyone present. 

escflashmalta.com is proud to support the project for the third year running and the editorial team had a chance to catch up with Andrea Attard, the Public Relations Officer of the Council who states that 'the cast, the crew, the whole team is such a talented group to work with. At KSU, we believe that everyone has to work together as a team in order to achieve a positive final result', going onto add that 'whether or not you've seen the musical version, #LionKink is a must see'. The show is organised with the uttermost quality and this is seen through late night rehearsals because after all this is 'an event made for the students, by the students'.

Indeed, we have been through the roles cast for this years' edition of the Students' Fest and we are pleased to reveal that amongst those performing, there will be; Keith Zammit from the recently defunct band, Relikc as well as Gianni Selvaggi from the group; Sky City. One other notable individual in the chorus is definitely Rachael Tedesco Triccas who backed Davinia Pace in this years' edition of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in third place with Betrayed. #Lionkink will be staged between Friday 12th April and Sunday 14th April at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall within the University of Malta and tickets can be purchased here. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for more news in due course.

Source: Andrea Attard (Public Relations Officer - KSU)

One of the most lucrative markets in the music industry is based in the United Kingdom for the simple reason that homegrown artists have successfully exported music abroad. It is not straightforward to achieve success but one vocalist whose extended play entitled Fools managed to crack the top hundred in the past couple of months was the British/Maltese, Lauren Aquilina. On the 23rd June, she will be turning eighteen and when one puts things into perspective, it is truly an honour to know how far a seventeen year old can get too with pure determination. She has been busy performing across the country recently but nevertheless, she is a proud supporter of charity and is currently doing her bit as well with the release of a special original track entitled Wanderlust.

Lauren Aquilina is a singer/songwriter who resides just outside of London in the United Kingdom but comes to Gozo, Malta's sister island every year to meet up with the rest of her family. As a matter of fact, in a recent diary page posted online she states that Malta 'is a small but beautiful island with lots of hidden caves'. Wanderlust, the brand new track has been specifically written for Comic Relief, a British charity founded in 1985 in response to the famine in Ethiopia. Several renowned personalities have been known to contribute during the day and it is very much the British version of what the Maltese know as L-Istrina. You can visit her official website, where you could listen and also get your free copy of Wanderlust but remember to donate to Comic Relief, a truly admirable cause. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news on Lauren Aquilina.

Source: Official Facebook Page

Ira Losco, one of the leading female artists in the local music scene has been credited to achieving a lot of success but what makes stand out from the rest is the element of being humble about any of the projects she takes on. The past couple of months have been somewhat of a revival for the iconic figure having been somewhat missing since the release of her remixes album entitled Mixed Beats back in 2009 but many have come to learn that she has been working extremely hard on perfecting her new record, with the idea that despite achieving a status over the years, there is still an image to keep up and being true to ones self will always remain important.

Ira Losco has always remained grounded and that is surely one of the elements why she has succeeded over the years because whether performing at the Eurovision Song Contest, or with Claudio Baglioni, she is still the same individual, one who is honouring her country. Following the success of What I'd Give, winning the Best Video Award at the Malta Music Awards whilst also allowing Ira Losco to be recognised as the Best Artist in the eyes of the DJ's during the Bay Music Awards, comes a brand new studio album entitled, The Fire produced and mixed by Howard Keith of Jagged House. An official launch event took place last night at Villa Bologna in Attard, a gala supported by Jugs and Island Caterers which was extremely well attended by various members of the press. 

Personally, I feel like the title of the brand new album speaks volumes about the comeback with Ira noting down in just one way that there is something which re-ignited the spark towards making music. As a matter of fact, when speaking about The Fire, Ira stated that 'there was a time when I didn't want to write anything. I was overcome by fear and I was reluctant to bare my soul. Then when I started writing, I had no inhibitions, I didn't set myself any parameters. I definitely have an album I am proud of.' Whenever Jagged House come up with a brand new album, they send shockwaves into the industry and with Ira Losco just releasing her sophomore single off this album entitled The Person I Am featuring David Leguess, one would understand what I am referring to.

During the launch event, a visibly emotional Ira Losco thanked everyone for the input within this record and for supporting her throughout the years. She also gave a resoundingly stunning performance of a couple of songs during the evening accompanied by the people who have come to garner attention as her band including Peter Borg on Electric Guitars, Alex Mallia on Acoustic Guitars, Ivan Borg on Bass Guitar, and Steve 'Cannibal Muscat' on the drums. Other people who were involved within the album where Adrian 'Ir-Russu' Brincat on the Trumpet and Simon Vella on the Violin. The brand new album could be bought either through iTunes, Jagged House, Ira Losco's Official Website, or even Exotique. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news as soon as it becomes available.

Source: Jagged House, Emil Calleja Bayliss (Image)

In the past two days, the European Broadcasting Union was receiving the songs that will be competing in this years' edition of the Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Malmo, Sweden. The design of the stage was also presented whilst Sweden was drawn in sixteenth (16th) position within the final in order to clarify the idea of the producers' draw and not give the home country an unfair advantage. We would like to invite you to the weekly Ultimate Eurovision Experience. Apart from the means of FM Radio in the Netherlands on FM 106.8 and the audio stream from the studio via www.radiointernational.tv and on Digital Cable 781 & cable 88.1Mhz in the Netherlands, the show will also be web-televised via the Radio International TV Channel from the studio and linking up the many international Eurovision fans and friends and play your requests and read your messages out on air. The simulcast will be from 2000 – 2300 hours CET when fans can join in and chat amongst each other via the Chat Room and request their favourite Eurovision entry.

One of the most impressive national selections to take place in the lead up to this years' edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was surely the one in Malta which yielded twenty-four (24) semi-finalists brought down to sixteen (16) finalists out of which the eventual winner was the song Tomorrow performed by Gianluca with music and lyrics by Dean Muscat and Boris Cezek. The songwriters of the winning entry had the opportunity to qualify with another two songs for this years' Malta Eurovision Song Contest, one of them being the beautiful, charming ballad entitled Perfect Day with vocals provided by Janice DeBattista. The female artist has a lot of the resonance that Chiara is known to bring to the stage and considering that this was the first experience for her within the competition, making the final and achieving tenth place was definitely meaningful. We spoke to Janice about her career as a solo artist as well as her involvement within two bands, one being Salt and the other being Scarlet Sally.

This will be the first of three interviews which are airing on this weeks' edition of the programme which is set to commence at 20:00 CET and to run for a total of three hours. As a matter of fact, the second interview is with Christopher, the lead male vocalist of the band Takasa, which was formerly known as Heilsarmee. They will be performing the song You and Me during the second half of the second semi-final alongside Malta. The European Broadcastign Union has a rule against brand names hence why they had to change the name of the group along with their whole image. A brand new music video was shot in order to accomodate the brand new image. The final interview this week will be with Dusan Svilvar who was the first runner-up of the Beosong competition held in Serbia. Despite the second place, he miseed out by around five thousand votes which was the closest possible to Moje 3.

Radio International is always keen to present songs during the show apart from the weekly features and therefore, collaborating the two ideas together will see the emergence of Eurovision UnverCover whereas tracks performed at the Eurovision Song Contest will be covered by other singers. The actual tracks will be played first followed by the cover and this will make things interesting. Apart from this feature, there will be new material played on the show by a number of former representatives including Jedward. All of the latest news is also covered during the weekly broadcast noting resources from escflashmalta.com and escXtra where Luke Fisher, the Editor makes a weekly round-up. A round up of the national finals thus far is set to be conducted by Alasdair Rendall. Follow the show through the official website and also send your requests through the contact link which is found on the aforementioned website.

Source: Team of Radio International

Gianluca, the artist who will represent Malta in the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the track Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat will be making a television appearance alongside his band this evening. On the programme Close Up hosted by Pierre Portelli on TVM 2, Gianluca will be revealing the deepest and darkest secrets of his life with his collaborators and team doing more of the same to each other in what has been coined as a reflection into the real life of the performer.

According to the host, Pierre Portelli, the 'light hearted programme turned out to reveal a very serious and scary background story'. You can watch the programme on the official website of the Public Broadcasting Services. Malta will be performing in the first half of the second semi-final alongside countries such as Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, FYR Macedonia and San Marino. The draw is yet to be determined but the producers of the competition revealed that they will be able to make revelations by the end of this month, with the European Broadcasting Union stating that they 'want every song to shine' and thus a careful assessment needs to take place which results will be out by the 29th March 2013. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news.

Source: Pierre Portelli Official Facebook, PBS, Kris Micallef (Image)