Due to upcoming plans for an international career, Amaya (aka Maja Keuc), who was supposed to participate in EMA 2017, the Slovene national selection for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, has decided to withdraw and not participate in the contest.

Amaya represented Slovenia in Eurovision 2011, reaching the 13th final place with No one, which is Slovenia’s best placing since reaching the same position in 2002. Her debut album, produced by the Swedish Cow Pow Studios along with South Korean producers is currently under work.

“I would like to be home but everything happens for a reason. Following the recent events, my agents and I decided to go in a different path for my career. I’m not declining an option to participate in EMA again in the future, but right now it is the time to do something else which I believe that I should follow. I wish good luck to all the contestants and I believe that this year’s EMA will be great!”, says Amaya.

EMA 2017 is made of two semifinals with eight participants in each. Amaya was supposed to participate in the first semifinal on 17 February, but her withdrawal will not affect the number of participants. “We are in final discussions with artists and authors who will be invited to participate in EMA 2017 instead of Amaya”, said Mario Galunič, the head of entertainment at the Slovene broadcaster RTVSLO.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for more news regarding EMA and Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.