Sissal from Denmark: "We've changed everything for Basel"

On one hand, many artists that do Eurovision are fans of the contest while some are not. Sissal, on the other hand, who is set to represent Denmark with "Hallucination", let's just say... She's one of us.

She's watched the show since she can remember as well as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and throughout our conversation, she just keeps on delivering facts: she knows all corners of Eurovisionworld 🥰, she knows a 2003 Junior Eurovision Song from Croatia ("Ti si moja prva ljubav") and recalls Ruslana's "Wild Dances"... The later was less impressive.

Sissal is funny, charismatic, has an amazing English and is just the second act coming from the Faroe Islands that gets to represent Denmark in Eurovision after Riley (Denmark 2023).

– It's a big dream come true, she starts by saying.

– I've always watched Eurovision and always have been a fan.

She goes on:

– I actually submitted a song last year but I guess it was a sign that it wasn't meant to be because I won this year, she shares.

This time around, Sissal was part of a songwriting Scandipop camp and admits she didn't go there to write for herself but for others:

– When we were done with "Hallucination", I knew I wanted that song, I acknowledged its winning potential and I always knew that whenever I'd submit something to Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, it had to have to potential to win.

She wasn't wrong. Only one point separated her from Tim Schou, the runner-up, but that was all that mattered even if the public had preferred the other way around:

– The reactions have been mixed. There's a lot of positive comments but if you go on Facebook, especially, people say a lot of crap, a lot of personal stuff, she says.

– I also think many Danish people have a hard time separating Eurovision from DMGP (Dansk Melodi Grand Prix) as those are two different genres. My song is very Eurovision-like while "Proud" was more of calm Danish good Pop song.

Sissal goes on to explain that losing the televote was what made some upset:

– I know I am a great vocalist so when I see comments that say "she's just screaming", I completely let go, I am very comfortable in myself.

I think many Danish people have a hard time separating Eurovision from DMGP as those are two different genres.Sissal

But that wasn't all. Sissal's performance in the Danish version of Melodi Grand Prix was also met with a lot of criticism even from those who supported her given the staging:

– I am also very aware and when I saw the staging, I thought to myself it was boring while all of the others were amazing but I did see it as constructive criticism so we'll be changing everything for Basel, she hints.

A whole new staging

What can you share?

– We have changed everything and for Basel we will have the staging, the visuals and the looks all combined in order to work perfectly. We're also really working with the word "hallucination" in terms of visuals so we'll make people feel like they're hallucinating.

While she is unable to share much more, Sissal confirms there'll be four dancers and her Eurovision journey will become even more special with a few special guests:

– I think my daughters are coming to Basel. Not to the actual show but for a couple of days with their father so they can see me and I can relax a little, she says.

We're also really working with the word "hallucination" in terms of visuals.

– My mom, my dad and my sisters are also ready to fly from the Faroe Islands just to come.

She goes on to admit that balancing Eurovision with motherhood hasn't been easy:

– It's hard sometimes but they have an amazing father and we have a great friendship, he's a real supporter.

Being from the Faroe Islands, Sissal never thought she'd step on the Eurovision stage as a young girl:

– I remember seeing Eurovision back then and thinking to myself it'd never happen to me because I lived in the islands.

Either way, thanks to her strong connections with Denmark, she embraced the culture and eventually moved to Copenhagen:

– I have always had a strong connection with Denmark. My father lived there for 32 years and there was a period when my mother also lived in the country.

It is definitely happening for Sissal and retrieving her love for the contest, we discuss the possibility of having tensions at this year's show just like it happened last year:

– Of course I've taken all of that into consideration but I am standing my ground, she clarifies.

– I'm here for the music and music should never divide us, it is supposed to bring us together and, for me, Eurovision is not political at all.

She continues:

– I hope this year won't be as intense and I feel like it hasn't been as intense but I am sure there'll be some comments.

Denmark hasn't qualified for a Eurovision final since 2019, we discuss that topic along with the competition aspect of the show:

– I believe music can never be a competition because it's subjective but I am definitely going there for the fun of it. I am also doing this for exposure, to open up a fanbase, for people to hear my voice, my music and to meet really great artists because a lot of the music industry nowadays is basically networking.

Our 15-minute interview is reduced to ten due to a technical issue on Sissal's side and her assistant asks for the last question, let's try to make two in one:

What's your goal with this participation and what do you want people to remember you from?

– I want them to remember me for my personality, for who I am. I have a very fast, straightforward personality, I say too much and I am over the top but also for my vocals, she says.

– What was the other question? Oh, the goal.

– I am trying to get a lot of experience, to go to countries I've never been before, meeting new people and artists and producers. I hope after this experience, people will want to come to a concert with me or a concert of mine.

Sissal is set to represent Denmark with the song "Hallucination". She'll step on the Eurovision stage on 15 May 2025 on the second Semi-final.