New music this week (part 2): Songs from Käärijä, Mimicat, Elina Born and more

Although we’re officially into the Eurovision 2024 season, it will still be some time before we hear any national final and Eurovision songs. Thankfully, the music will always continue and a number of Eurovision artists are still producing new songs for us to enjoy.

Contrary to the commonly perpetuated myth about the song contest killing careers, we’re always thrilled to report that singers associated with Eurovision are thriving.

Here is our latest weekly roundup with a selection of the songs and music videos released recently by Eurovision stars.

New music from Eurovision artists: 2023 | Week 42 part 2

With so many new songs this week, we’ve split the roundup into two smaller parts. You can find part 1 here.

Käärijä – “Huhhahhei”

Shiver me timbers! Captain Käärijä is ready to set sail straight into the hearts of all his fans with another epic and rousing song. “Huhhahhei” (“Yo ho ho”) has a thumping production that will get many in the mood to jump aboard. But in the lyrics, Finland’s Eurovision 2023 silver medallist is focusing on one person in particular for this night: “This ship of love is loaded / Go swing on my ropes / When the last dance is danced / We can go fool around in your cabin / I don’t know if you’re the one / Or if you’ll still be mine in the morning / But today / Yoyo hoho ho yohoho”.

Samanta Tīna – Vēstule Tev

Samanta Tīna has written a Vēstule Tev (Letter To You). This letter takes the form of the eight songs in her new album. Fans will know the first four already from previous releases – “Vēstule Tev,” “Atdevu Visu Tev,” “FEMME FATALE,” and “NAV PAR VĒLU.” Speaking about the LP on social media, Latvia’s Eurovision 2021 representative noted:

“The album Vēstule Tev is about self-growth, about fighting with yourself, about femininity, about ups and downs, about faith. It is a journey of self-acceptance, self-discovery. With the title song Vēstule Tev, which was written during a trip to India, the idea that this album is necessary began because I have something to say, I have a lot to share, I have something to tell. This album Vēstule Tev is like a letter to yourself.”

ZINKO feat. Mimicat – “Golden Days”

Portuguese DJ ZINKO has produced the song “Golden Days”. He felt that the perfect person to join him as the vocalist was Eurovision 2023 star Mimicat. She’s missing the past life she had and wishes she could have her ex-partner back again: “So why do I keep dreaming of you / I wanna let go but my heart ignores my mind, that won’t do / It’s hard to be myself, be myself around you, oh what do I do / Oh time please bring me back / To my golden days / I want it back.”

Anna Bergendahl – “How Do You Know”

Anna Bergendahl is questioning aspects of her life. Sweden’s Eurovision 2010 entrant is trying to work out whether recent difficulties in her relationship are just minor bumps in the road, or whether they’re a sign that things need to end: “How can you tell if it’s forever? / How do you know if we’re just holding it together? / Two people wake up in the morning / And decide without a warning / Pack their s*** up and never look back / How do you know?” Anna delivers this over a recurring humming refrain. By the end of the two minutes and 46 seconds, she’s made her decision: “I have to go.”

Elina Born – “Oodata”

“Oodata” (“Wait”)! You don’t want to miss Elina Born’s new bop. Estonia’s Eurovision 2015 star brings us a dance-pop track with catchy production elements running from start to end. Lyrically, Elina is leaving her partner behind her, as she’s no longer interested in what they bring to the relationship: “Here in the depths of this forgotten place / There are cracks on the glass that I did not create / I walk through this invisible door / Because your pieces do not bring me happiness.”

BrainStorm & 8 Kambarys – “Dangus įkrito”

The story of this song starts in 2016, when BrainStorm released the Latvian-language single “Debesis iekrita Tevī” alongside Musiqq. Now, seven years later, a Lithuanian version of the song has been created. Latvia’s Eurovision 2000 act asked Lithuanian band 8 Kambarys to be the accompanying group for “Dangus įkrito” (“The sky fell”). The music video features the two bands recording and performing the song together.

Jeroen van der Boom – “Nu Juj Hier Niet Bent”

Jeroen van der Boom represented the Netherlands at Eurovision 2009 as part of De Toppers. His new single is “Nu Jij Hier Niet Bent” (“Now That You’re Not Here”). It’s an emotional ballad in which Jeroen is solely accompanied by the piano he plays himself, showcasing a vulnerable side to the singer.

Who See – Kako Jeste I Kako Je Moglo

Who See have a brand new album for us. Kako Jeste I Kako Je Moglo (How It Was And How It Could Be) features 14 songs. Eight of these are collaborations between Montenegro’s Eurovision 2013 act and other stars, including “Mediteran” with Slovenian diva Senidah — and this comes with a music video where the three artists fly like superman over Mediterranean towns.

Maraaya – “Cilj”

“When you reach your destination / You don’t know if ever / Time will kiss you backwards.” Maraaya have a sweet and calming ballad for us all in the form of “Cilj” (“Destination”). Vocalist Marjetka is joined by piano and strings to create the atmosphere of the song. It was created following a hardship, as explained in the music video’s description:

“In the end, life is an album of pictures, events that you like to remember. For us, it is the birth of our children, marriage… But life brings ups and downs. And the latter can create songs like this one. The song CILJ was written when my grandmother was saying goodbye to us. She gave me a lot of inspiration. And it was because of her that the three most beautiful songs I wrote in my life were created, you haven’t heard them yet. CILJ is the first of them.”

Bjorn Eriksson feat. Blanche – “Red Stop Sign”

Bjorn Eriksson is the composer of the new Belgian film Het Smelt (When It Melts). For two of the songs, Bjorn has brought in Eurovision 2017 star Blanche. We previously heard “Shattered.” But now the full movie soundtrack is out we also have “Red Stop Sign.” It’s a slightly eerie song, with Blanche’s soft vocals layered over gliding string accompaniment.

Riskykidd – “NOT A LOUD”

Greece’s Eurovision 2014 rapper has dropped “NOT A LOUD”. Riskykidd raps over trap beats, discussing his aim to keep striving for a steady income so he can win over a woman: “And you can’t tell me that it’s not a loud / Hustling, chasing dreams, getting money with the wrong crowd / Are you down for me baby […] Best believe, baby, I’ma keep your ass icy / Everything pricey / I thought you were my wife”.

Sebalter – “Better Things”

“Better Things” has been siting in Sebalter’s drawer since 2018, when it was written during a trip to Berlin. But now, five years later, the song is out. The Swiss singer returns to the folk style that we first saw from him at Eurovision 2014. In the lyrics, Sebalter discusses the innate wish everyone has for “Better Things” to arrive in their future: “So tell me who we are / A soul full of desire / For better things to come our way.”

Dilara Kazimova – “Dəli”

She’s So Crazzzzzzzy Love Her. Dilara Kazimova is getting a bit “Dəli” (“Crazy”) for her new single. It’s a catchy offering that will quickly get the title word stuck in your brain: “The reason is clear / You have to love me / It’s because of me again / Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy”. Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2014 singer has decided to take inspiration from Japan for the music video. However, this wasn’t particularly necessary as neither the lyrics nor the music require any reference to Japanese culture.

Ilanit – “אני נושאת תפילה”

Two-time Eurovision star Ilanit is keeping people in her heart. The Israeli singer has shared “אני נושאת תפילה” (“I carry a prayer”), a steady mid-tempo offering featuring a mixture of guitars and other percussion instruments.

Friðrik Ómar feat. Friðrik Dór – “Skýið”

Ahead of Friðrik Ómar’s new album, which comes out next week, the Icelandic singer has shared one of the LP’s songs. “Skýið” (“The Cloud”) is a duet between the Eurovision 2008 star and another Friðrik — Friðrik Dór, who was the runner-up at Söngvakeppnin 2015. The pair put plenty of emotion into the song, which gradually builds with the addition of synths and drum machine beats.

Which of these new songs is your favourite? Have we missed out on any? Do you have any artists you want to shout out to? Let us know in the comments.