The latest news on the Maltese selection process for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest has been released this evening by the country’s national broadcaster, TVM, as 30 entries have passed the first phase of the nation’s selection.

Back in July, TVM made an open call for entries for the upcoming Maltese national final, Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC), in which artists and composers from across the nation were eligible to submit their entries for the country’s 2018 Eurovision selection.

From 129 to 30 entries in phase one

Having received 129 entries in total, each submission was presented to members within the national broadcaster and have since been shortlisted to a total of 30 entries.

The current shortlisted features the following:

1. Abire Sekkaki – Casablanca love
2. Aidan – Dai laga
3. AIDAN – See you
4. Avenue Sky – We can run
5. Brooke Borg – Heart of gold
6. Christabelle Borg – Taboo
7. Dan – If only
8. Danica Muscat – One step at a time
9. Deborah C – Turn it up
10. Deborah C & Joseph Tabone – Human
11. Dominic Cini – Picture I draw
12. Eleanor Cassar – Back to life
13. Ishmael Grech – Good times
14. Jasmine Abela – Supernovas
15. Kelsey Bellante – Super woman
16. Kevin Paul – Great adventure
17. Kimberley Cortis – Monsters
18. Kurt Anthony – You will find me
19. Lawrence Gray – Love renegade
20. Malcolm Pisani – Kiss
21. Matthew Caruana – Call 2morrow
22. Mikhail Attard & Cherylis Camileri – Breaking point
23. Miriana Conte – Rocket
24. Nicole Azzopardi – Mixed feelings
25. Petra Whiteford – Evolution
26. Raquel Galdes – In my mind
27. Rhiannon Micallef – Beyond blue horizons
28. Richard Joe – Song for dad
29. Stefan Galea – Closer
30. Tiziana Calleja – First time

Over the coming weeks, the shortlisted entries will once again be assessed and a final total of 16 songs will be finalised and chosen to compete in the final of MESC in February 2018.

The official Maltese entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be determined via a 100% public televote.

Malta in Eurovision 2017

Last year’s Maltese representative, Claudia Faniello, was selected via MESC in order to represent her country in the host city of Kyiv with her entry Breathlessly.

Faniello had been trying to represent the nation every year since 2006, with her dream of competing at the Eurovision Song Contest becoming reality in 2017.

With the nation being drawn to compete in the second semi-final, Malta received high praise from the jury, gathering 55 points in total. However, the nation failed to receive any points from the public televote.

Recognise any names in the first shortlist from previous editions of MESC? Who would you like to see on stage in Lisbon in Eurovision 2018 for the island nation of Malta?