For Ukraine, Eurovision is about more than just winning – although that is exactly what they did last year.
And it’s always a big task to come back and try to win again, especially when your country is at war.
But those hopes rest on the shoulders of electronic duo Tvorchi, who will enter their track Heart of Steel for this year.
They described their selection to represent Ukraine at the contest as a “shock”, adding they were “happy to present something new and something different for Ukraine in Eurovision”.
Andrii and Jimoh have said previously their song is about the dangers of nuclear war – a clear signal to those in Moscow.
They have also revealed they drew inspiration from the siege of Mariupol, and specifically the defence of the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works.
They told Sky News the song can be described in three words – “strength, confidence, and positivity”.
“We want to inspire all people around the planet to be stronger, be more confident, be more positive.
“We show that a lot of people have troubles in their lives… so we want to say no matter how bad the situation is, just be in a good attitude, stay strong, go forward and everything will be okay.
“Look at Ukraine – we are fighting. The situation is not good, but we are doing that, we don’t give up. So take this as an inspiration.”
Pic: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett
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The pair met by chance, literally on the street
The pair met in Ternopil, in eastern Ukraine, where they both studied at pharmacy college.
Since then, they’ve released a number of tracks in the country, going on to have success there.
“It was a random day, I was coming back from football, and I was going back home,” Jimoh, who was born in Nigeria, told Sky News about the pair’s chance meeting.
“I remember passing Andrii on the street and I remember he… just like tapped my shoulder from the back. I was like, ‘What’s going on, bro?’.
“He was like, ‘Oh, I want to, practice my English’.
“I also I didn’t know much Ukrainian at that time… and I said, ‘Okay. I would like to learn Ukrainian as well’.”
He added: “I guess the synergy kind of looked worked out pretty well… we figured out we can make music together.”
Andrew Hutsuliak and Jeffery Augustus Kenny formed the band while at medical school. Pic: Eurovision
‘I don’t think they are people’
When asked what their message was to Russia, Andrii told Sky News: “They don’t deserve any words.
“They are just happy when their missiles hit civilian buildings. People die and they laugh.
“I don’t think they’re people.”
Despite winning in 2022, the contest simply could not be held there – something Tvorchi understands.
“Every time you think, ‘maybe the next missile to come in [to] your family or your friend or even your pet’.
“We would be happier if this can happen in Ukraine, and we didn’t experience the war and full scale invasion.
“But, we want to say a huge thanks to the United Kingdom for hosting it and for all the support we receive – this means a lot to us, to the whole country, and we’re very thankful for everything.”
Tvorchi perform in the grand final on Saturday 13 May.
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