New music this week: 10 new songs from Hatari, Amaia, ByeAlex and more

The Eurovision season is hotting up. And over the course of the next few months, we will all fall in and out of love with scores of new national final and Eurovision entries. But that doesn’t mean we forget about the artists from past contests.

Contrary to the commonly perpetuated myth about the song contest killing careers, we’re always thrilled to report that singers and performers associated with both Eurovision itself and the various national selections are thriving.

Here is a selection of just some of the songs and music videos released in the last week or so.

New music from Eurovision artists 2020: Week 5 | Part one

Amaia – “Canción de Marisol”

Amaia proved that she can still deliver the goods with a recent performance at the Goya Awards — Spain’s annual film awards. She sang a tribute to Marisol, a legendary Spanish singer and actress who was honoured at this year’s awards. The song was originally sung by Marisol in the 1961 film Ha llegado un ángel. Images of Marisol accompanied Amaia’s performance, with the Eurovision star’s angelic vocals providing a fitting tribute to the Spanish legend. (Robyn)

Hatari – “Engin Miskunn”

Following on from the release of their debut album Neyslutrans, Icelandic BDSM techno-punk band Hatari have dropped the music video for the next single from the LP, “Engin Miskunn” (“No Mercy”). The video features all members of the group in various scenarios as a meteor falls above them, tying in with the doomsday lyrics: “The final meteor will be your end … Blinded, you plummet, screaming as you fall / In the pit you receive no mercy”. (Jonathan)

Ilira – “Royalty”

She’s the up-and-coming German-based Swiss artist of Kosovo-Albanian descent. And she’s also the singer who went on a spectacular rant against Eurovision last summer. But despite her views on our favourite song contest, the fact remains that Ilira is an alum of Switzerland’s now-defunct Die grosse Entscheidungs Show selection show. Her music has evolved significantly since finishing second to Anna Rossinelli in 2011. “Royalty” is an attitude-laden helping of chart-ready pop. And unlike “Get Off My D!ck”, it’s suitable to play in front of your parents.

ByeAlex és a Slepp feat. Manuel – “Merülök”

Since his successful foray with Eurovision 2013, ByeAlex has gone from strength to strength. As of 2015, he’s performed under the moniker ByeAlex és a Slepp, with the “Slepp” referring to his band. “Merülök” is his first single of the new decade, and has already topped the YouTube trending chart in Hungary. The song is about a breakup and the various stages of coping which follow, from realisation to grief to shock. ByeAlex considers the track as a sort of “self-therapy”.

Linnea Dale – “Out of Heaven”

Linnea Dale came second in the gold final of Melodi Grand Prix 2014. After releasing her third album in 2018, the Norwegian singer is now back with the new single “Out of Heaven”. The track has a guitar-driven, but still makes full use of electronic production elements. Linnea sings about wanting to continue her journey on Earth: “Please keep me out of heaven, cos I’ve got time to kill”. (Jonathan)

Pastora Soler – “Charcos de luz” (Acoustic)

Pastora Soler knows that sometimes songs are better off experienced live. Thus, Spain’s Eurovision 2012 singer has dropped another acoustic single from her recent album Sentir. This time, the acoustic performance is for “Charcos de luz” (“Puddles of Light”). (Jonathan)

Boggie – “Nem Kell Bátani”

Before her stint representing Hungary at Eurovision 2015, Boggie was best known for her innovative “Nouveau Parfum” video. And for her latest single, “Nell Kell Bátani”, the “Wars For Nothing” songstress is letting her creative juices flow once more. She explains the process behind the music clip: “We shot the new clip in a small Airbnb apartment in Budapest. We were looking for a place where we could see all the spaces in one place: a front door, a kitchen, a staircase, a bathroom and a bathroom”.

Birgit – “Sinuga”

She famously sang for Estonia at Eurovision 2013 while heavily pregnant. But motherhood hasn’t slowed down Birgit Õigemeel in the slightest. Last seen at Eesti Laul 2019 with Tanja and the Swingers, Birgit returns to her solo roots with “Sinuga” (With You). “Something so beautiful, clean and cute! It’s like the same feeling we all want to feel for ‘that’ person,” she says.

Lady Fakingham feat. Miro Šmajda – “Pán Prctenu”

He’s the last ever act to represent Slovakia at Eurovision — to date. But despite a disappointing result in 2012, Miro Šmajda’s popularity has endured — “Don’t Close Your Eyes” even cracked the 2019 edition of ESC250. His latest project is a bizarre collaboration with his side-project Lady Fakingham. It combines drag, Lord of the Rings cosplay and heavy metal.

Kobi Marimi – “Lo Levad”

Ever since Eurovision 2019, Kobi Marimi has reinvented himself with every new track. After the electronic Mizrahi tune “Yalla Bye”, Marimi doesn’t fail to surprise. This rock ballad, “Lo Levad” (Not Alone) is much more similar to what we heard from the Israeli at Eurovision. But the feelings it expresses are fresh. It’s in Hebrew, as opposed to “Home”, but breaks the language barrier and tugs on your heartstrings. In the lyrics, Marimi talks to a woman who lives in complete solidarity and fantasises about a better life while dealing with her painful reality. (Åri)