Next Monday Prague’s Roxy Club is gonna get lit. And this evening state broadcaster Česká Televize revealed the seven ESCZ 2024 finalists who will work the stage in the hope of becoming Czechia’s Eurovision 2024 contestant.
You’ll have to wait to hear their entries. But for now you can dig into these official bios, provided by the Czech delegation.
Czechia: Seven finalists revealed ahead of national selection
Aiko
Moscow born, Czech Republic raised and Brighton based, Aiko is an artist with a unique blend of cultures and influences, who explores topics such as love, solitude and understanding of self with her music.
Aiko’s journey in the music industry has been nothing short of remarkable. Her sophomore album, “Fortune’s Child,” released on October 13th, 2023, is a testament to her growth as an artist and the depth of her musical prowess.
Breaking barriers and making history, Aiko proudly stands as the first Czech artist to grace the iconic Times Square. Moreover, she has earned the distinction of being the first Czech female artist to contribute to the global Spotify Equal Campaign, emphasizing her commitment to inclusivity and equality within the music industry.
Aiko’s magnetic presence extends to the pages of prestigious magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, where her artistry is celebrated for its uniqueness and emotional resonance.
Her live performances have become a captivating experience for audiences worldwide, as she has graced the stages of renowned festivals such as Rock for People, ESNS, Metronome Prague, The Great Escape, and Grape Festival. Aiko has also had the honor of supporting acclaimed artists like Alice Merton and Tamino, further solidifying her place in the global music scene.
Elly
Elly is a Czech singer and songwriter based in Prague. Her music is influenced by artists like Beyoncé, Sia or Adele, but she always adds a unique spark of her own personality to it. Her songs are airplayed by the biggest radio stations like Evropa 2, Fajn Radio or Radiožurnál.
Her song Are You There was a number one in the Evropa 2 Music Chart for several weeks and became the 6th most airplayed song in Czech Republic according to IFPI. In 2022 she released the single High Speed featuring Ben Cristovao which has more than 500k views on YouTube.
She performed at festivals like Colours of Ostrava, Prague Pride or Praha Žije Hudbou.
Gianna Lei
Gianna Lei’s strain of addictive Pop is on the cusp of something great. With Bubblegum melodies, genre-bending beats and the witty lyrical flick of somebody who’s just had their trust broken for the first time, the London based artist is causing quite the stir.
Gianna’s heart was captured by Pop music from an early age. Born in Switzerland and raised in Prague with two older sisters, Gianna spent her youth absorbed in MTV and the escapism it provided through music. Early inspirations such as Gwen Stefani, Rihanna and Taylor Swift set the foundation for Gianna’s own musical flair, with subtle nods to her teen idols hidden within her tracks.
Gianna cites a stint in hospital at age 13 as a pivotal period in her musical journey, as she took up guitar to raise her spirits during her recovery. Shortly after, Gianna tasked herself with self-reinvention when she decided to move to a specialist music school to follow her lifelong passion of making music, and the fresh-faced Pop newcomer we see today started to take form. Gianna went on to study Music Production & Sound Engineering at the renowned Abbey Road Institute in London where she quickly proved that she had the technical knowledge to back up her songwriting and musicianship.
Future releases will see listeners get a deeper insight into Gianna’s world as they grow alongside her artistically, and people will soon realise that there is a lot more to the promising up-and-comer than meets the eye.
Lenny
With her unmistakable voice, outstanding songwriting skills and her strong work ethic, Lenny has established herself as one of the most popular artists in Czechia.
As a proud recipient of 6 Andel awards (the Czech counterpart of the Grammy’s), she is a sought-after live performer, who has already shared the stage with the likes of Mike Shinoda, Imagine Dragons, LP or Emeli Sandé. Lenny’s debut album “Hearts” conquered media and fans by storm, and secured the top position in the charts.
Lenny’s mix of rock, pop, and irresistible ballads is breathtakingly natural and fused by her strongest weapon: Extremely intense vocals, imparting her songs with an outrageous amount of intensity.
With the release of her record-breaking single “Hell.o”, which was awarded Song of the Year in the Czech Republic, she went to #1 in the airplay charts as well as on Spotify and iTunes.
The song became a breakthrough hit in Italy, immediately announcing gold status and Lenny has since performed at Italy’s most favourite shows such as “Che Tempo che Fa” or TV Rai 1’s “Wind Music Awards”. Lenny was also featured in Vanity Fair Italy and Forbes 30 under 30.
On September 2nd Lenny released her long awaited album “Heartbreak Culture”, which had already received critical acclaim and is loved by fans. The album features production credits from Dan Lancaster. (Muse, Enter Shikari, Bring Me The Horizon) or Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park.
MYDY
In just ten years on music scene they acquired status of one of the most productive bands in the Czech Republic. After British Glastonbury festival show or successful American, Canadian, European & Korean tour, Mydy Rabycad proved that the success of Czech musicians can more than acceed the borders of their birth country. All it takes is to have a clear vision, passion and believe in yourself.
The story of the group reminds us of the script of Hollywood melodrama with sweet happy end. The band members met on a summer music camp. Then, around 15 years old, they were immediately connected by common passion for music.
In the centre of new formation next to Nèro Scartch, sax player Mikulas and bass player Johny D stands charismatic singer Žofie Dares. Thanks to her characteristic voice and charisma overall in combination with playful connection of electronics and their energy, they became the leading name of electronic wave not only in Czechia.
Tom Sean
Tom Sean is a singer, actor, songwriter and producer. Although he’s lived most of his life in Prague, Tom’s beloved mother, a former punk singer, gave birth to him in Dublin. That’s where he’d spent the first years of his childhood before the family relocated back to the Czech Republic.
Like many of today’s pop stars, Tom has gained his first bit of popularity on TikTok. He was only 14 when spotted by Honza Gajdos, one of the most prominent Czech music producers, who would later become Sean’s manager and music producer.
Musically, Tom usually tends to blend the borders between Pop and R&B, occasionally throwing in some hip-hop elements, and even jazz progressions. He draws inspiration from his contemporaries, such as Ruel, Justin Bieber, HRVY, FINNEAS, and the likes.
Tom, who has many singles to his name, including the smash hits Heart Hotel, Reach the Stars and Noční Praha, is currently working on his long-awaited debut album, whose release is scheduled for 2023.
Tomas Robin
TOMAS ROBIN is pseudonym of the Czech Republic singer and songwriter Tomáš Červinka. Throughout his musical journey, Tomas has amassed a wealth of experiences, ranging from intimate club performances to gracing the stages of the largest Czech and Slovak festivals. He is known for his other projects We on the Moon and The Lighthouse Journey.
Tomas was voted by listeners as Newcomer of the Year and was received multiple nominations. He was also shared stages with notable acts such as All Time Low, Deaf Havana, Against The Current, and Young Guns. Notably, with The Lighthouse Journey, he made a history as the first Czech artist to be featured on the almighty British Kerrang! radio show.
On May 2022 Tomas announced his new musical project TOMAS ROBIN. He released his debut single `Same Pages` On July 2022 describing it as „I have never felt such a desire for music as I do now. ‘Same Pages’ is about longing and melancholy, but in the end, this songs give you hope.“
His involvement in several European songwriting camps further enriched his expertise, where he contributed both to his own compositions and collaborated on projects for fellow musicians.
Exploring heartfelt British pop, Tomáš’s distinctive and reverbant vocal tone, brings an emotive approach as well as authenticity to his current work. His latest single, “too good to be true,” has been critically acclaimed and is currently airplaying on various radio stations.
“Pedestal” probably would me my favourite of these candidats for CZ.
My final guesses before the final are that if Aiko will sing a song from her latest album it’ll be Pedestal, if not song similar to that. Lenny had a sound check with a piano, so maybe a balad? Tom Sean has dancers in his performance, so up tempo or mid tempo song. Gianna’s staging looks moody, so my guess is something slower, maybe even mystical.
Oder three songs were already released, however I must say Elly’s staging looks kinda empty from the shared snipped, but maybe its because the projection isn’t turned on.
Shortly after posting this I found out Tom Sean dropped a song Dopamine Overdose. Not quite a bop, but I was right in my guess.
Pam given up?
MYDY’s song leaked, and it’s a bop.
I like it less than the songs released by Elly and Tomas Robin in the last 24 hrs though.
Fair. I like Elly’s song, too, I just missed the initial leak. I guess we’re not going to get the other songs until the show?
Wikipedia also claims that Gianna Lei is going to sing a song called Starlet.
I was hoping for something more like “Terrace of 57th”.
“Red Flag Parade” sounds a bit too pedestrian for a competition.
the thing with Czechia is that there is only interest from the fans outside the country. The locals don’t care about Eurovision and it sucks that they don’t broadcast Eurovision on the main channel…
Czechia with Lenny, Albania with Elsa Lila, Greece with Marina Satti, Belgium with Mustii, Montenegro hopefully returning with Dado Polumenta, Sweden hopefully finally going for their superstar Dotter, best contest we’re in for 2024
Is Dotter really THIS superstar in Sweden or only well-known in the fandom of Mello ?
She has no charting songs outside of her Melodifestivalen attempts.
Thank you for this infromation !
you know damn well that there will be drama this season as well with fan favourites not winning
Dotter, Elsa Lila and Lenny are not saved…
Czechia needs to rig it for Lenny honestly
Lenny if she has a song similar to ”figure it out” easy top 5 for Czechia, almost that same magic as Koit Toome’s nf entry ”we could have been beautiful”
withdraw soon Czechia please, we’re better off without you in the contest
Are you a xenophobe? Why?
I they should do that because? Who are you exactly?
Neither is my cup of tea. Maybe because they don’t sing in their native language. I hope some of these grow on me more.
These are not their entries, learn to read.
Czechia’s future qualified artist or artists in “SWEurovision 2024” will make an appearance soon on their selection show. Then there are broadcasters that are really, really schtum. Yum! Or maybe they are just afraid of something, lol.
More like usa 2.0 not czechia with all these americanized plastic artists
I REALLY MISS BARBORA MOCHOWA!
Bye, another selection i am not gonna follow then
No Mirai, then ur cancelled Czechia
Good riddance!
what is a mirai
stream Chci Tancit
Lol, Mirai would be dead last in the semi. There is nothing special with them, basic songs with cheesy lyrics.
they are so incredibly charismatic, likeable, such neat clean live vocals, eurovision is one literal cheesy show tbf
I will always love Czechia! Great music indeed! And they are lovely people.. and yes they are beautiful also.. my boyfriend from Czechia and yes he is handsome and wonderful person. love from Israel 🙂
Dose This ‘ Boyfriend ‘ Exists ?
mostly no!
MYDY sounds very promising !
More artists this year which is always a good thing to see especially with a normally small selection like Czechia’s. Lots of artists with international experience which is good. No Pam Rabbit this year? I feel like she really was the one for Czechia last year!
I think Pam is great and I’ve played her new album to death, but objectively, having her in 4 of the last 5 editions of what is a small selection might have been a little excessive.
You recently said 4 is your pathetic threshold, right… so cross Pam off your list!
No, five is the threshold. So I want my faves to make attempt #4 a great effort!
Pam was absolutely one of the artists I was thinking of when I set the limit.
international experience and most can’t even sing in proper english lmao
no interest in following this, the fandom will most likely overhype and spam support Lenny or Elly or Aiko out of these, so predictable
Lenny = female michael schulte lol lol no originality there whatsoever
Looks like an interesting line-up. Shame Adonxs did not make it with his new track would have been cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnCsfoZN9q0
He is mostly probably waiting for the chance to represent Slovakia “next” year, I mean at Eurovision 2025.
Tomas Robin’s voice sounds really good, and his music kinda mainstream but with a unique flavor. Based on this video’s he is my favorite
Even if the topics Aiko explores in her music, I would’ve known she sings about love. Knowing that Aiko means Love Child in Japanese.
Even if the topics Aiko explores in her music weren’t mentioned*
From these 7 I’m most interested in what Aiko has to offer. Maybe Lenny (fun fact – her mom was supposed to represent Switzerland in 1988, but couldn’t leave the country, so she was replaced by Celine Dion). Anyway – I’m hoping for at leat one song in Czech (either fully in Czech or mostly, not just few lines). Though if the program is 1 hour long and there will be also performances by Lake Malawi, We Are Domi and Vesna, that could be enough for announcing the winner in the same evening, right? Not just presenting the songs and… Read more »
It will be the same process as last year, so after the show, they open voting gates for one week and then we’ll know the results.
That’s a shame imo – but I guess that was their mo since the begining of the escz. Most likely they want as many people as possible to vote in the selection. Still would be nice to have it all done in one evening.
Switzerland held a contest in 1988 to find their entry. Céline won, over eight other songs. Seven points ahead of runner-up “Sentiments”, by Furbaz. I think they made the right choice.
Hm, I’m not sure if Lenny’s mother was the original performer of “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi”, but even if she was it is doubtful if she would have gone on to Dublin. That song needed Céline.
The contest is up on YouTube, watch here. https://youtu.be/ImJIczRNE7A?si=KajZoZOqQr-SnA-i
It’s more then likely the story got mixed up and she was invited to compete in the contest to pick the representant. I admit I didn’t do any research to verify it and only retold what I heard. Thanks for the link btw
Celine Dion was way too overrated anyway
Lenny’s mom way more famous than Celine nowadays
all of the entries will be in english (as english is their main language tbh)
Quite an interesting line-up, curious to see what Lenny comes up with after such a long time of denying participation in NF.
ESCZ tends to be stronger in even years (years 18, 20, 22 were much stronger to me than 19 and 23), so that adds to the hype as well.
Anyway, looking forward to NF on Monday which I hopefully attend live.
Aiko is right in my wheelhouse, but there is a ton of promise here!
Digging in today.
I don’t love Tomas’ recent singles, but his old band has some great anthemic rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0H4-Jw-8mI&ab_channel=weonthemoon
Tom Sean’s more recent singles, OTOH, are way better than that kid-Bieber-esque song up there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jtkETbSIJI&ab_channel=TomSean
If Lenny’s the big favorite, I’m cool with that. She’s got interesting range, from rootsy country-pop to a hip-hop EP she released last month (!)
Looks like it’s an amazing line up. Pretty excited to see Lenny there.
This is how you put together a proper, smaller-size, national selection. A proper big name or two who have actually achieved something in the industry and a bunch of up-and-comers who have genuine buzz behind them. Impressive stuff again from Czechia.
I knew of Lenny and Elly beforehand but, of the others, Gianna Lei seems most like my cup of tea. Should get some good songs from this selection though.
Ah! So pleased to see Aiko on the list! Have been following her over the past year. ‘Gemini’ is a standout song of hers. Excited to see what she brings!
Lenny has been on my wishlist for YEARS because of “Hell.o.” Happy to see her in the running!
Fantasy contests are irrelevant lol
Let’s hope they’ve got some great songs to choose from for Czechia. That’s what I care about.
Listening these artists, Lenny and Thomas Robin have really interesting voices that stands out, not really into their music style but let’s see what they will bring, Lenny seems to be a real big name.
Aiko seems really really interesting, I’m intrigued.
Gianni Lei must have the sound that grabs me more here.
These are the four that stands out to me for different reasons so far but let’s see next Monday their Escz songs and their live performances.
Unbelievable fact about LENNY – her mother, Lenka Filipova, was selected to represent Switzerland in 1988 at Eurovision. However, she eventually wasn’t allowed to leave Czechoslovakia, so a back-up artist – Celine Dion – was chosen to sing the same song that eventually won Eurovision 1988 and gave Celine her world-wide fame. :’) Hope her daughter will make it to ESC now <3
Yes, the song that gave Dion such “worldwide fame” that she does not even perform it at her concerts
Celine gave herself the worldwide fame, this is true… but the contest win got her attention and opened doors. She recodred Where Does My Heart Beat Now, a US Top 5 hit, while she was reigning Eurovision champion.
Recorded
Like I said above, Celine won a national final in Switzerland, beating eight other songs. Lenka was never selected to represent Switzerland.
I don’t know any names here (not surprised, because I don’t know anyone), but I’m just really excited for this years’ ESCZ!
Very excited to see what Lenny will bring! I remember her rocking all the fantasy contests around 2017. Looks like a promising list for Czechia.
No, bunch of unknowns and attention seeking wannabe artists
No real stars
Weren’t you the same person who whined about countries sending famous people to Eurovision and cried about it being a disadvantage?
no i don’t mind that
Czechia now needs Lenny from this line up if they want to do well
Albania needs Elsa Lila
Moldova hopefully Infected Rain auditioning this year at etapa nationala, moldovan heavy metal would be a serve
Wowzaaaaaaaa, these songs here sound really good, and yes, very good production indeed. If the actual selection entries come close, then Czechia can establish themselves as a note-worthy country in this otherwise unfortunately pretty sad and shady festival.
Can’t wait to hear their songs!
Lenny is definitely the most famous name of this group, but I’m beyond excited to hear songs from Aiko, Gianna and Tom!