Esctoday had the opportunity to interview Juliana Pasha, the Albanian representative at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. We spoke with Juliana about her Eurovision experience and about her future plans.

Hi Juliana. First of all I would like to thank you for taking part in this interview.
Juliana: Hello! You are welcome

You represented Albania at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. How did it feel to represent your country at this big event?
I was proud that I got the opportunity to represent my country at 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. Being on that big stage in front of so many people feels amazing. It feels also great to compete among so many worthy representatives. I was happy to have those fantastic American backing singers and the famous violinist player on stage with me. At least, I am satisfied by the fact that Albania was praised for our performance.

Which where the biggest surprises for you during Eurovision.
The wonderful organisation, thereception byso many fans but the biggest surprise for me was to see hundreds of Albanian flags eld by the people that came to support me in the arena. I felt so happy and surprised by their support.

Which songs from Oslo you still prefer to listen?
I like Ukraine very much. I also like Belgium and Malta that unfortunately didn’t reach the final.

If you had the chance to do a duet with an other representative, who would you choose?
The singers I really would like to do a duet with are: Hera Bjork from Iceland, Vukašin Brajic from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Filipa Azevedo from Portugal.

Albania has only managed to reach the top 10 once, even if the country sends an experienced singer like you. What should Albania do in the future to achieve better results?
I think everything has its time. Albania is small country and still new in Eurovision. We must be thankful for what we have achieved since 2004. The fact that we have reached the top 10 in 2004, means that participating countries have given us a hand to go forward. Now we have to work hard to reach high levels that other countries have already done.

How did Eurovision affect you career in your homeland after the contest?
For the first time an Albanian entry on youtube had so many views and that gave me more popularity when I came back. I have been congratulated by everyone on my performances. Still when I meet people in Albania and abroad they say to me they felt proud about my performance in Oslo. They song has been played a lot on the Albanian radio and television stations and it has reached a few international charts.

I have heard you are working on an album with Christian songs. When is it going to be released?
I’m still working on my album with Christian songs which was supposed to come out sometime in October but since I decided to take part in Kënga Magjike, the album will come later. I am also going to be part of a new musical program Me & you on Top-channel tv.

Are you going to take part this year at Festivali i Këngës? If you have the chance, would you like to represent your country again at the Eurovision Song Contest?
This year I’m not going to participateat Festivali I Këngës 49. I still want to enjoy the echo of the first prize that I won last year. Of course I would like to represent Albania again if I get the opportunity.

You areparticipating this year in Kënga Magjike 2010, the biggest event in the country that will take place on 17th, 18th and 19th November. Once again a duet with Luiz Ejlli, where did this idea came from?
Our first duet had a great success and with that song we won the second prize at Festivali I Kënges 2008. Pirro Cako, the lyricist of It’s all about you, is the composer of this new song. He proposed us this song and we accepted it with pleasure.

You just presented your song to the public and itreceived so many postivereactions by the public.Can you tell us more about this new song?
It’s a powerful ballad called Sa e shite zemren, what means How much did you sell your heart. The song is about the weakness of human nature that tends to pursue vain things, forgetting the true reason of life which is love.’ Without love, you would be nothing, just a handful of ash’. That's what the song says. I like these lines so much because they give the essence of the whole message of the song.

The last question. Do you have a message for the Eurovision fans and especially for the readers of Esctoday.
I hope that you soon will listen to my new work onwhich I’m working very hard so as not to disappoint you. Thank you all for the great support you have given me during the Eurovision Song Contest.
God bless you!

Thank you very much Juliana for this interview. The team of Esctoday wish you all the best and good luck in Kënga Magjike.

Juliana Pasha & Luiz Ejlli – Sa e shite zemrën

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tCdHMZ8Bms