As we get closer to the acts for Melodifestivalen 2021 being officially announced, names of more rumoured acts are emerging. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports that Alzacar singer Tess Merkel, Idol runner-up Kadiatou Holm Keita and newcomer Efraim Leo will be part of the line-up.

Tess Merkel for Melodifestivalen 2021

Tess Merkel may be best known as being part of the discotastic trio Alzacar. But while fellow members Lina Hedlund and Andreas Lundstedt have previously competed solo at Melfest, this will be the first time for Tess.

But Tess is very much a Melfest veteran. She has competed five times with Alcazar, most recently in 2014 with “Blame It on the Disco”. The group had hoped to return to Mello in 2018 ahead of their farewell tour, but did not make the cut.

While her fellow Alcazar members have pursued solo performance careers, Tess has instead focused on producing and choreographing shows for other artists.

Kadiatou Holm Keita for Melodifestivalen 2021

Kadiatou Holm Keita came to fame in 2018 on Swedish Idol. She was a popular contestant and made it all the way to the grand final, where she finished second to Sebastian Walldén. Melodifestivalen 2020 act William Stridh was also part of the contest lineup.

Kadiatou has released a number of singles, including a cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Say Something” as her Idol “winner’s single”, a cover of the seasonal classic “White Christmas”, and her recent single “Best I’ve Had”. Kadiatou seems most comfortable with soulful ballads, suggesting she may also go in this direction for Mello.

Efraim Leo for Melodifestivalen 2021

Also due to make his Melfest debut is newcomer Efraim Leo. He appears to have been aiming for Melfest for quite some time, as Aftonbladet‘s source revealed, “His team has been working to get him for a few years.”

The new artist has released a number of singles, including “You Got Me Wrong”, performed with the Dutch artist Juliette Claire. Most recently, he released his solo single “When I Wanted You”.

Other acts rumoured for Melodifestivalen 2021

Swedish newspaper Expressen also has their own list of rumoured acts for Mello — but these names are less certain.

Swedish Eurovision winner Charlotte Perrelli is said to be in talks with SVT. Also said to be ready “in principle” is Eurovision 2000 singer Roger Pontare. Veteran performers Ewa Roos and Eva Rydberg are also said ready for Mello, as a duet.

But as we’ve seen in the past, wanting to do Melodifestivalen and actually being selected are two very different things.

Melodifestivalen 2021: Expected acts

According to Aftonbladet, we already know 18 of the 28 acts for Melodifestivalen 2021. They are P4 Nästa wildcard entry Julia AlfridaTusse Chiza, Sannex, Sami Rekik & WahlThe Mamas, DotterJessica Andersson, Klara Hammarström, Alvaro EstrellaPaul Rey, Arvingarna, Lovad, Eric Saade, Danny Saucedo, Anton Ewald, Tess Merkel, Kadiatou Holm Keita and Efraim Leo.

Junior Eurovision 2012 contestant Lova Sönnerbo, who performs as LOVA, is no longer on Aftonbladet’s “maybe” list, suggesting she has decided not to participate this year.

The Melfest rules forbid artists from revealing whether or not they’re participating. Therefore, Aftonbladet’s reports are not official. However, the newspaper has proven to be highly accurate, with 45 of the last two years’ 56 participants correctly accounted for.

SVT is expected to announce the full Melodifestivalen line-up later this month.

What do you think? Which other artists would you like to see competing in Melfest 2021? Who should Sweden send to Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!

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Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

Looks like its confirmed that Charlotte Perrelli is coming back this melo – hopefully with a good schlager tune.

Jaagup
Jaagup
3 years ago

Efraim really fits with Sweden’s recent picks for Eurovision. Just saying if he has good staging.

Edin
Edin
3 years ago

Still a mystery that Alcazar have never won MF to be honest….

Jofty
Jofty
3 years ago
Reply to  Edin

A crying shame

Tom
Tom
3 years ago

Linnus Svenning, Renaida, Isa, Panetoz, Sean Banan or Moly Sanden pls

Linus
Linus
3 years ago

This line up is getting tough. The Mamas is going to fight hard for the win.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

This could be goooood

Jake
Jake
3 years ago

Im praying for classic Melo of the early 2010s. These last couple of years have been decent but not to the level of around the turn of the decade.

Toinousse
Toinousse
3 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I disagree, I don’t want to go back to tacky stuff like popular or in the club.

Crystal
3 years ago

There’s a slight error in the post: Kadiatou Holm Keita finished runner-up to Sebastian Walldén on the 2018 edition of Idol Sweden (not the 2019 edition as stated). The winner of the 2019 edition was Tusse Chiza (with Freddie Liljegren as the runner-up).

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Crystal

Also wasn’t Say Something originally by A Great Big World?

Denis
Denis
3 years ago

Actaully never heard Tess Merkel singing solo so it wouold be fun to hear what she will bring!

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

With these rumoured acts, I’m getting so hyped for Melo!