In the interview, the Upper Austrian native of Ried im Traunkreis talks regarding feel-good pop, her private shyness and the question of why she would prefer to go home before the award ceremony.
You have already gained some professional experience with the song contest. Did you always watch the ESC as a child?
On the streets: When I was a child, I never watched the song contest. My family was more at home in the folk music business. My grandmother is Hanneliese Kreißl-Wurth. That’s why I only stumbled across the ESC in 2016. Back then I saw the show in Sweden and thought: What is that? This is really something big. In 2018 I was a stand-in for the first time, i.e. a substitute for the artists during rehearsals. And acting there on stage in the same set-up was the spark that ignited everything for me. Then I knew: This was so much fun, I wanted to do it myself.
That was at a time when you didn’t have any of your own music…
The character Kaleen didn’t even exist! And yet the ESC was on my agenda in the years that followed. For example, I took on the position of stage director at the Junior ESC in Armenia. And for some countries I was creative director. So my life path has repeatedly intersected with the ESC. I’m really happy that I can now be on stage as an artist! A circle closes.
What will be completely new for someone who created his debut album entirely himself is the external influence. Are you afraid of it?
I got to where I am now by myself. But in view of the big story that is now coming my way, it is certainly right to expand the team. But I know myself: I will have a lot of say. I already have very clear ideas regarding what the whole thing should look like in the end.
Picture gallery: Austria’s song contest hope 2024: This is Kaleen
Kaleen (Photo: ORF/Rankin) Bild 1/7
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Your song – the title of which is still being kept secret – is written by some of the Swedish ESC experts. Did you also compose yourself?
I didn’t co-write the song. But I now know exactly where I stand and what I want. At the moment there is still a rough version. And in the next few weeks we will be traveling to Sweden once more to work on the final details. The song contest is its own universe – if you work with people who have experience with it, you can make a good song that is tailored to the ESC.
Knowing your previous music, it can be assumed that you won’t start with a sad ballad…
It won’t be a ballad, and I won’t be sitting in front of a mic stand in a ballgown. (laughs) It’s going to be a techno-inspired, very fast pop number that’s easy to dance to. We want to throw a big party on stage.
Do you have any personal role models?
Beyoncé has inspired me a lot as an artist and a person. What she does is incredibly professional and incredibly energetic. Full pot, full of energy, that’s exactly mine.
How much is Kaleen an artificial character, a stage persona that differs from the private Marie-Sophie Kreissl?
These two personalities definitely exist! (laughs) I’m a 180 degree turned person at home. Something happens to me on stage. I’m standing there, I’m sexy, I’m confident – it’s a role that just comes to me. And at home I’m more of an introvert. Actually, I’m shy.
So far you’ve always stood for feel-good pop. Can you expect the same in Malmö?
For me that defines pop: it has to be happy and radiate positivity. I think it’s great when a genre can trigger that in a person and not bring them down. This also fits my personality as a dancer, which is very, very strong.
So you won’t proclaim world peace on stage…
I want people to have a great moment with me on stage and not to create a political movement in the world. I don’t see myself as a person who has this task.
As a person, do you ultimately care regarding the voting results?
As a dancer at championships, I always wanted to go home before the award ceremony. Even though I was mostly successful anyway. None of this gave me anything. And that’s how I want to go to the ESC: I want to do the best I can. But what comes next as a result is secondary.
