In last year’s Melodifestival, Maria Sur received a lot of attention as she moved to Sweden from Ukraine barely a year earlier after Russia’s invasion.
Then she competed with the contribution “Never give up”, which was about her story and continuing to follow her dreams, regardless of setbacks.
This year’s contribution still has the same powerful attitude, says Maria Sur. But now she wants to convey the message of respecting yourself. She hopes that whoever listens will feel more confident.
– I don’t just want to be associated with the story, so it really means a lot to me this year to show who I am as an artist, she says.
“Makes me really happy”
Since the fall of 2023, she has been studying Swedish at SFI while studying music remotely at the University of Kiev.
She says that it means a lot to her that she gets to perform in Melodifestivalen again.
– I am so happy that Sweden gives me these opportunities. I have been supported here as a Swede and I have received so much love – and that makes me really happy.
Have you considered performing in Ukraine’s version of Melodifestivalen?
– I thought about it, but I started building my career here in Sweden. Now would not be a good time to do it.
Last year, Maria Sur told SVT that she still had family left in Ukraine and that she had not seen her father in eight months. Hear how the situation looks to her now in the clip.