Austria's JJ on his performance: "It will be an insight to my soul"

Since Austria's debut in Eurovision back in 1957, the country has managed to win twice: Udo Jürgens in 1966 and Conchita Wurst in 2014.

Conchita's victory sparked negative reactions from the anti-woke segment. The prejudice towards the drag queen wasn't unanimous, and up until today she's mentioned as a crucial inspiration for so many that have come afterward.

That includes JJ, this year's entrant for Austria, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch and will perform "Wasted Love" in Basel.

JJ is 23 (about to turn 24) and mentions Conchita Wurst as an inspiration, or in other words a "mother." Therefore, the 2014 edition was a special one for him:

– It's been a dream of mine to sing in Eurovision since Conchita's victory. It was so impactful and made me watch Eurovision ever since, he explains.

– It was the very first time I properly watched Eurovison, and until this day I still have the images in my head of the two hosts saying "We've done the math. There's no way that anyone could win. It's Austria!" It melted my heart.

According to the bookmakers, JJ is one of the favorites to win Eurovision this year. How does this affect him?

– It would be the biggest honor of my life to bring back home the trophy and Eurovision to Austria. If that happened again, I'd literally be sobbing on the floor, JJ says.

How do you cope with the expectations?

– It's crazy, he admits.

– I get goosebumps every time I think about it. I am so honored that people respect and love my art form and how I want to present it. It's heartwarming to see how lovely everybody's been. I am so happy that I get to experience this.

A lot can happen before we know who'll be on top of the podium in Basel, but one goal has already been achieved: to sing with his idol Conchita. As part of the Eurovision segment "A Little Bit More," JJ and Conchita joined forces for a mashup of their Eurovision entries. It was obviously something major for Johannes:

– That was so fun. I never in a million years thought that I would be singing this mashup nor that I'd shoot a video with Conchita, he says.

– It's an incredible honor and she's a mentor to me, and has made it clear that if I need anything I can always give her a call. She said she'll always be here for me and support me in any way. I feel really lucky.

We go beyond Eurovision and to JJ's beginnings. Eurovision's been an ambition since 2014, but what about the music dream? When did it begin?

– Oh, since I was a kid that I'd already be singing – or trying to sing – whenever a song I liked was playing on MTV or VH1. I'd wait for my favorite music videos, he recalls.

– Later, when there were karaoke parties at my place, that's when I realized I wanted to perform all the time. Hannah Montana was the one that implanted in my head that I wanted to be a popstar.

The road to Eurovision

Well, he's certainly having the best of both worlds "chilling out, taking it slow" until Eurovision to then "rock out the show." Speaking of which, we're less than 20 days away from the song contest and the pre-parties are over. We've heard the song, we've seen the music video, but we're about to see the live performance. JJ shares a few details on what to expect:

– I can say that it's going to be very intimate. I'll be alone on stage and it will be very personal, JJ says.

– The audience at home and in the arena will have an insight to my soul. They will feel the emotion that I've felt while I was going through the experience I sing about in "Wasted Love."

Will the music video inspire it?

– No, those are two completely different products, but it is curious to see how they both go hand in hand because they're similar in the storytelling. The boats, water and rain elements are going to be part of the staging as well so it's fun to see that everything worked out without planning.

"Wasted Love" is a slow pop-opera song that culminates in a techno beat toward the end. The lyrics tell the story of an unrequited love and is indeed personal to JJ, who called former Austrian representative Teya (Austria 2023) to help him pen the song:

– 2024 was a really rough year, I had a tough time, he says.

The boats, water and rain elements are going to be part of the staging.

– I decided to text Teya and I told her that I wanted to write a song about my experience to Eurovision. She agreed and invited me to go to Berlin.

The studio session took place and JJ stripped out his feelings to Teya:

– She gave me a hug, and within 10 minutes the lyrics were done. The same happened with the producer, Thomas. I poured my heart out to him while he was playing melancholic chords and it just happened naturally.

At the end of the session, the song was completed and it was unanimous: it was a Eurovision song. The entry was eventually delivered to the Austrian broadcaster, ORF, who was accepting submissions:

– I wasn't part of any songwriting camp, it was an external submission. They asked me to audition, and the potential entries were sent to music experts in Austria and OGAE fan clubs throughout Europe. Once all delivered their douze points, I was the winner, he explains.

Staying true to yourself

With the pre-parties completed, the next stop is Basel. JJ is ready, not only to perform but to meet his Eurovision friends again who have now delivered a bunch of fun memes:

– It's going so well with them. At the pre-parties, we were all already hanging out and we were like 30. We got to know each other and you could tell that there was so much friendship going on, everyone was so nice.

As stated before, winning Eurovision is JJ's ultimate goal. While he's thankful and grateful to be representing Austria, he admits it'd be a great honor to be one of the people in the Hall of Fame after winning the contest:

– But, even if not, just to be part of this great journey and bubble has been so amazing and something I'll never forget.

What do you want to be remembered for?

– My authenticity. For being myself and just fun, someone with a quirky energy because at the end of the day you don't have to take everything too seriously, he says.

– And, of course, my voice and performance, but being true to yourself is always important.

JJ will perform "Wasted Love" during Eurovision's second Semi-final aired on 15 May hoping to land a spot in the Final.