New Wave has been one of the most successful Eastern European platforms for fostering new musical talent over the past couple of decades. In 2021, New Wave is set to return after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 contest. The line-up is set to include Eurovision 2016 star Samra and previous national final participants Alfie Arcuri and Jorge Gonzalez.

Started in 2002, the competition’s founders Igor Krutoy and Raimonds Pauls hoped to give young musical performers a new chance to establish themselves after the social and economic turmoil of the 1990s lead to a negative impact on Russian music. Among its alumni are Eurovision stars Dima Bilan, Polina Gagarina, Jamala, Tina Karol and DoReDos.

While most televised music contests focus on the contestants for a number of weeks and then send them into oblivion, New Wave rather fosters the connection between talent and the actual music industry. Most of the contestants are talent show veterans who seek to become household names. For one week in Sochi in August, these music hopefuls with commercial potential are dropped in a pool with the region’s most finest stars.

This year, the pool of contestants includes Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2016 star Samra. Two past national final contestants have also made the cut. Eurovision – Australia Decides 2019 alum Alfie Arcuri is set to compete; as is Jorge Gonzalez, who is best known to Eurovision fans for his participation in Spain’s Eurovision 2014 selection Mira quién va a Eurovisión.

Mirud tells fans he is unable to participate

Festivali i Këngës 59 participant Mirud had hoped to participate in the music competition too this year. A while ago, he excitingly told his fans that he would go to Moscow for the auditions of the contest. However, due to the ongoing pandemic and the worldwide travel restrictions, the American-Albanian singer cannot leave the United States to go to Russia to participate in New Wave 2021. On Twitter, he wrote:

“A lot of you have been asking why my name is not on the list of finalists at New Wave 2021 – There is nothing to be concerned about and no disqualification happened. I was supposed to be in the finale and we even shot things for it. However, after a few meetings with them, we have decided that I will participate in New Wave 2022 instead. I was supposed to be in Russia this week. Being a US citizen, there’s restrictions for me to travel to Russia and have to go through the Russian embassy to obtain entry permit. I couldn’t leave the US to travel to Russia due to the fact that US citizens need visas to enter Russia. Even though I applied for the visa, it’s still in process and due to Covid, they have a lot of delays and I wasn’t able to acquire one on time.”

Who will participate in New Wave 2021?

Fourteen different acts will participate in this year’s New Wave. Among them are three groups, one duo and eleven solo artists.

  • Saro Gevorgyan (Armenia)
  • Alfie Arcuri (Australia)
  • Samra Rəhimli (Azerbaijan)
  • CHEICHAI (Belarus)
  • Denitsa Karaslavova (Bulgaria)
  • Natia Rigvavaа (Georgia)
  • Jorge Gonzalez (Spain)
  • Fabio Curto (Italy)
  • Mezzo (Kazakhstan)
  • Laura & Mark (Netherlands)
  • Edita Links (Serbia)
  • Sevil (Russia)
  • RINKEVICH (Russia)
  • Maskim Subachev (Russia)

What will New Wave 2021 look like?

For 2021, New Wave runs from 19 to 25 August in Sochi. Eurovision stars Natalia Gordienko, Philipp Kirkorov, Sergey Lazarev, Polina Gagarina, LOBODA, Ani Lorak, Dima Bilan and Alexey Vorobyov are set to appear in the different evenings. This year, the evening of 20 August is completely dedicated to the work of Dima Bilan.

New Wave is not a singing or songwriting contest. Rather, the contestants show their artistry in various themed evenings alongside the big regional stars. A star-studded jury awards the acts points ranging from 8 to 11 on the basis of their enjoyment of the performance and the potential of the act. After all the evenings have come to an end, the act with the most points is crowned the winner.

However, the winner does not always take it all at New Wave. Although all evenings are equal in terms of weight, the last evening is widely regarded as the most important. In this evening, the acts present an original composition. Among the original songs that have won the round are Polina Gagarina’s “Kolybel’naya” and IOWA’s “Mama”, which both became big hits in Russia.

Great opportunities do arise from the contest. In 2017, Moldovan group DoReDos quickly became an audience favourite, also catching the attention of jury member Philipp Kirkorov. After the group won the contest, the Russian King of Pop proposed the group would go to Eurovision. The rest is history.

Are you going to watch New Wave this year? Do you think Samra, Alfie Arcuri and Jorge Gonzalez will do well? Let us know in the comments below!

Read all our Russia Eurovision news here

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Susan Sweetman
Susan Sweetman
2 years ago

Not a peep about how fabulous Dimash Qudaibergen is whenever he performs in the New Wave , particularly teamed with pianist/composer Igor Krutoy. This year Dimash is on the jury and he’s also performing . He’s a world star. Why would you not even mention him ?

Susan Sweetman
Susan Sweetman
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan Sweetman

Thanks Robyn.

Nadja
Nadja
2 years ago

Samra’s vocals in 2016 were horrible, I still can’t believe she got through to the final back then.

destiny stan account
destiny stan account
2 years ago

saro gevorgyan was at depi evratesil. you forgot that.

Branko86
Branko86
2 years ago

How can Alfie Arcuri from Australia participate there, but not at ESC???

Tommy
Tommy
2 years ago
Reply to  Branko86

It was meant how it’s possible that he traveled there, while Montaigne cannot go to Rotterdam…

notyourtoy
notyourtoy
2 years ago
Reply to  Branko86

Actually, New Wave 2021 will be held in the end of August, so covid situation will be more stable

raylee
raylee
2 years ago

Samra <3

phone but on laptop
phone but on laptop
2 years ago

Interesting that it is not mentioned that Samanta Tina participated in New Wave as well

Azimuth
Azimuth
2 years ago

So many participants of Eurovision also participated in New wave. I think the author focuses on the ones who won the competition.

Azimuth
Azimuth
2 years ago

Fun fact: 5% of Russia’s territory lays further more eastern, than the eastern point of Australia 🙂 and yeah, when it is 5 a.m. in Australia when Eurovision broadcast starts, it is 6 a.m. in some cities in Russia.

Last edited 2 years ago by Azimuth
kir
kir
2 years ago

An openly gay musician from Australia is scheduled to perform in homophobic Russia (which ignores basically any reasonable covid restrictions), while Montaigne has no option to reach Rotterdam.

Nice

notyourtoy
notyourtoy
2 years ago
Reply to  kir

Well that’s good for Russia trying to respect more the “different” . This year with Manizha in Eurovision, with kong Alfie being allowed to perform in New Wave. Just hope that the society will become more and more respectable

Last edited 2 years ago by notyourtoy
EmilyG
EmilyG
2 years ago

Sergey Lazarev was the first winner in 2002 as part of the duet Smash!. Jamala also has won new wave in 2011

Azimuth
Azimuth
2 years ago

I love this festival. In 2019 The winner was Inis Neziri from Albania. She was amazing.