It’s fair to say that the past week has been good for Justs. The Latvian singer turned 21 on Saturday, convincingly won the first heat of Supernova on Sunday and then had the main video for “Heartbeat” reach 50,000 views on YouTube. In amongst it all, he released a new version of “Heartbeat”, performing the song on the streets of Riga, whilst also talking about his background in music.
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Alongside his previously released acoustic version of “Heartbeat”, this performance really goes to show how strong a voice Justs has. It’s also testament to Aminata’s writing and composition skills that the song sounds just as good acoustically as it does in the studio form. Is this collaboration between artist and songwriter a match made in Eurovision heaven for Latvia?
Justs also talks about when he first started performing on the streets. He feared that he would “be grabbed by police officers”, as well as dealing with the emotions and feedback from his performances. That quickly changed, though, and he talks about getting “cakes and cookies” and even beer from some people as he got used to playing his songs on the street. He still seems to be humble, though, saying how “very, very, very” thankful he is for everything that’s been happening in and around Supernova 2016.
He has certainly come a long way from having to play in and around bars, as he proved in the first heat of Supernova. Justs easily won the heat and qualified to the semi final, with LTV revealing that he received more internet votes than second placed Catalepsia did in the internet and SMS voting combined.
Do you prefer this acoustic version of “Heartbeat”, or the national final version? Let us know in the comments and on our Twitter and Facebook pages!
Well we’ll see Justs prove y’all wrong in May then when he wins! 🙂
beautiful voice, beautiful song, beautiful man
Justs for Stockholm!
This is giving me Eurovision winner vibes, although I don’t actually think it will win but I can see him doing even better than Aminata
Without the deep house beats it’s an okay song at best… and the guy can’t play guitar, I’m sorry.
I think im in love lol
I think Justs has a good chance of winning Eurovision.
Latvia, please pick him!!!
I prefer the studio version for the Eurovision stage yet the acoustic is good for the streets. He has the right attitude the same as Loic and Aminata had – belief in the song, strong work ethic and the understanding that it’s a competition a FIGHT!
Observation: street musicians have more soul
Hey, he’s got a VOICE!
There is one honest and decent fellow behind the incredible and mature voice.
No wonder the bettings for Latvia have skyrocketed despite the country is still in its quarterfinal (at least that is my understanding that the heat is similar to quarterfinal).