Supernova 2018 in Latvia is taking shape and is set to release the show’s participants in January 2018.

After a thorough selection process, including a online voting and a live jury hearing on Sunday 5 November, the selection committee of Supernova 2018 has made their choice. From among more than 30 candidates, the finalists for Supernova 2018 were chosen.

The participants will be kept secret until mid-January 2018, but will start working with the producers of the show at the end of November 2017.

Jury reveal their thoughts

DJ Rudd, head of the Supernova 2018 jury, stated:

It must be admitted that some of my favourites were not from the live streams of February. But this is also the task of the jury – to offer as many angles as possible, from which to look at performers and at the submissions as a whole, as objectively as possible. In my opinion, this year, the arrangements are quite good, but there is a lack of a good song. It will definitely be interesting to watch the fight between experienced and new performers.

Jolanta Gulbe, jazz singer and vocal pedagogue, adds:

Among the participants were a number of distinctly talented and promising young artists. There were also unexpected surprises when it seemed that there was nothing special in the recording, but the image changed completely in the ‘live’ way of seeing and hearing. It’s a pleasure to see a new strong generation of musicians who are endowed with both good voices and the ability to create their own songs that can speak and defend their views. This is the perfect combination for such a person to become a powerful competing musician.

Music journalist and Eurovision enthusiast Toms Grēviņš says:

It’s no secret that Supernova is always a place where you can suddenly find out about never-before-seen performers and new lyrics, at least I pay much more attention to them. It’s nice if without a good song and a good vocal at the microphone it’s just a nice person with whom you can talk both publicly and privately – I’ve met several great people in the first three ‘Supernova’ seasons. Female solo-performers have mostly won in Eurovision. And in general, solo artists, rather than groups, win. This is the first thing I would recommend to everyone to remember. Secondly, for all who are waiting for the second victory of Latvia, I would recommend to think about whether we are ready to receive such a show at the moment in Latvia and to get the maximum return from it, both emotionally and financially!

In mid-January 2018 we will know which artists will venture to follow in the footsteps of Triana Park.