She’s a Slovenian stunner who finished 13th at Eurovision 2011.
And last week, at the Hard Rock Café in Stockholm, Maja Keuc proved that she’s still got the voice and the beauty that helped her win over countless fans in Düsseldorf.
The 24-year-old singer — who now performs under the name Amaya — attended the iconic music venue to perform a series of songs from her upcoming album Fairytales, which will drop in September.
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The new album bridges several musical genres.
“I would say it’s some kind of mixture between R&B, soul, pop, electronic music,” she tells wiwiblogger Tobias. “I sort of combined all the styles together to make my own fairytale.”
Amaya, who now lives in Stockholm full-time, followed her heart to the Scandinavian country.
“I heard this band called Dirty Loops on YouTube and I was so blown away by them that I just googled the singer’s name and I just realised he’s Swedish,” she says. “So I came here and we fell in love. I started to learn more about Sweden and just felt it was my home.”
But making a new country your home isn’t easy.
“When I came here I didn’t know anyone and I was very alone,” she says. “It took me some time to meet people and start working in the music industry. Also Jonah [her boyfriend and Dirty Loops vocalist] went on a world tour just when I moved to Stockholm. I was literally like, ‘What the hell is happening? What have I done?’
Thankfully the storm passed and she now feels totally at ease.
“The Swedish music scene is really fantastic and I’m surrounded with so many amazing musicians and producers. It happened naturally and I was hungry for more….Time has passed and everything became wonderful.”
And what about singing in Sweden’s pre-selection for Eurovision?
“I would be interested in participating in Melodifestivalen,” she says. “I would love to try that. I’d say never say never.”
When Tobias asked her if she’s waiting for an invite, she suggested she may have already received one.
“Or just to have the right song,” she replied.
Maja — who adopted the new stage name Amaya because no one can pronounce her last name Keuc — is now finishing up production on her album, shooting a video and planning a tour. The new album will drop in September.
Maja in Melfest would be amazing indeed! I would root for her so hard. If that ever happens I just hope she won’t enter with a schlager song like Krista.
I love you maja … Hope you see this and finally make a comeback to Eurovision for Slovenia .. Really gutted I missed you in Stockholm ..
Please represent Slovenia next year .. Something like “close to you” ..
You can with the right song ..
I love her <3<3<3!
I was sad that I did not know she was over here!
I just adore her! <3, she is so beautiful!