New music this week (part 2): Songs from Kalush Orchestra, STEFAN, Elena Tsagrinou and more

The Eurovision 2025 season is beginning to heat up. 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 associated with Eurovision are thriving.

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

New music from Eurovision artists: 2024 | Week 46 part 2

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

Kalush Orchestra – “Коли”

“Someday we will be grey / Standing together above the slopes / I am still in love / You are still beautiful.”

Everlasting love may sometimes sound like the stuff of fairy tales, but there are many examples across the globe where people find that special someone to spend their entire life with. It’s this sentiment that Kalush Orchestra tap into for their latest single, “Коли” (“When”). Writing about it on social media, Ukraine’s Eurovision 2022 champions state:

“Imagine yourselves years from now — grey-haired, but still in love as in your youth. This song is about lasting love that endures every trial and becomes a true haven for two people. Even after long separations and everyday worries, their embrace remains a sanctuary, a place they return to for warmth. It’s a story of a love that unites and gives light, regardless of time.”

The Black Mamba – Last Night in Amsterdam

Three years after achieving a left-hand-side result at Eurovision 2021 in the Netherlands, The Black Mamba are finally saying goodbye to the country with their Last Night in Amsterdam. The LP drop comes somewhat out of the blue, as we haven’t heard any new music from the Portuguese band since the last single arrived in 2022. But after this wait, fans of the group now have seven new songs to dive into, in addition to a new version of their Eurovision hit “Love Is On My Side.”

Joci Pápai – “Szökjünk el!”

Joci Pápai is hatching a plan. Hungary’s two-time Eurovision representative has found “the most beautiful girl” and is hoping to steal her away so that they can be together — “Szökjünk el!” (“Let’s run away!). However, there are other points in the lyrics where it appears that the woman in question is the one with the real goal of seduction: “The veil of perfume poisons me / She comes, attacks, doesn’t ask / She stuns me, there’s no stopping […] Everything catches fire / Every desire explodes / Let’s run away from here / Let’s save each other now.”

STEFAN & Reket – “Purjetuul”

Estonia’s STEFAN has shared the new song “Purjetuul” (“Sailing wind”). A pop song driven by acoustic guitar, the Eurovision 2022 star sings about weathering the storm and remembering the power within you even in the hardest of times: “Never doubt your own strength / And if you still doubt a little / The sailing wind will find you / And it may seem a little hard / The sailing wind will find you.” The track includes an additional verse from rapper Reket.

PIA MARIA – “Locked Feelings”

PIA MARIA is delving into a blend of hyper pop and drum & bass for her new single, titled “Locked Feelings.” The title sums up the lyrics to a tee, with Austria’s Eurovision 2022 singer struggling to express how she truly feels: “Words stuck deep in myself / I’m not able to let them go / I don’t want to talk about myself all the time / I just want to feel that you care / But, thanks, I’m fine […] When I unlock it all the way / And pretend that I’m OK / Is it my fault, my fault / That I locked all my feelings?”

Andreas Lundstedt & Alcazar – “Just Like That (I Like It)”

Andreas Lundstedt is taking part in the latest season of Så Mycket Bättre — the Swedish TV show where artists come together to perform covers of each other’s songs. For episode seven, the star, who performed for Switzerland at Eurovision 2006, performed a rendition of “Just Like That (I Like It),” which was first performed by Dregen. Lundstedt called in some extra special supporting singers for this latest cover — the fellow members of nu-disco group Alcazar.

Elena Tsagrinou  – Elena

Elena Tsagrinou has regularly collaborated with DJ Stephen and Nore Pierre over recent years. Now, the music producers have helped the Eurovision 2021 star craft a full-length album. Titled Elena, the LP contains 14 tracks that span elements of pop, dance, R&B and modern laïko. An accompanying music video for “Skyli” arrives on Monday.

Gianni Morandi – “L’attrazione”

Ahead of his 80th birthday in December, Gianni Morandi demonstrates that he’s still got a lot of music to share. “L’attrazione” (“The attraction”) is an uplifting and cheery pop song with orchestral backing. Italy’s Eurovision 1970 star sings about living life to the fullest with the people you love, and that from every ending always comes a new beginning: “The seed dies in the earth / And a great love is born / Bigger than the ocean sea / Smaller than an electron / However we’ll be together / Because the distance / It’s just an illusion.”

Pastora Soler – 30

Spanish superstar Pastora Soler is celebrating a career that now spans three decades. To commemorate the moment, the acclaimed artist has released a three-disk album. 30 contains precisely that number of songs, counting many of her greatest hits — which of course includes her Eurovision 2012 entry “Quédate conmigo.” The LP also features the new single “30 Veces,” as well as updated renditions of Pastora’s previous songs. For example, musical duo Camela join her for a new version of “Corazón Congelado.”

Netta – “Big Love”

“If I had the moon and stars / I would give them to you, yeah, yeah / If I could sing and stop the war / I would do it for you, yeah, yeah […] This world may crumble but I’m by your side / With a Big Love, Big Love, Big Love.”

Eurovision 2018 winner Netta is aiming to spread some “Big Love” across the world. After a devastating year for so many in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, she hopes to shine a little bit of light amongst all the darkness. Speaking to Billboard magazine, the Israeli singer notes that the love emanating from this song is not aimed towards people on only one side of the conflict, but it’s for everybody who feels they need support at this time:

“It’s to anyone who needs it. In my song I say if I had the moon and stars I would get them for you. If I could sing and stop the war, I would do it for you, if it could be that easy. It might sound cliché, but I really believe that making music is a calling, and I don’t think you have control over who finds power in it and who finds comfort in it. I hope whoever needs comfort anywhere finds comfort and light in this. […] War and conflict have always been part of human nature…and it’s soul-crushing. And in order for us to fight it we have to create light.”

Andrzej Piaseczny & Julia Żugaj – “Piosenka o końcu świata”

Eurovision 2001 participant, Andrzej Piaseczny, has teamed up with Polish influencer and singer, Julia Żugaj. The pair deliver a steady ballad with a slightly ominous title — “Piosenka o końcu świata” translates as “A song about the end of the world.” However, the core theme of the song is protection, with Andrzej and Julia singing: “If the world were to end, please / Hug me and give me back my fear / Since everything is fleeting / I want to be here with you / To look into your eyes one last time / Everything I have is worthless without you / Like the night sky without stars.”

Ochman – “Gdy nikt nie widzi”

Only one more week until Ochman’s new studio album arrives and the Polish star is keeping up the teasers. The final pre-release track is “Gdy nikt nie widzi” (“When nobody’s watching”). It’s another emotive ballad, this time starting off with piano accompaniment and then gradually building as the orchestra becomes increasingly prominent. Lyrically, the Eurovision 2022 alumnus questions why anyone would admit defeat rather than fighting for love: “But what’s the point in that / To give up again / When nobody’s watching – and no one hears you / When with your last breath / You want to say / I love you.”

Maris Pihlap feat. Jüri Pootsmann – “Armastad / Ei armasta”

Estonian singer and multi-instrumentalist Maris Pihlap dropped an EP this week. On the closing song, “Armastad / Ei armasta,” you’ll hear additional vocals from Eurovision 2016 star Jüri Pootsmann. The indie pop offering sees the pair asking an important question: “Do you love / Do you not love?” 

ZOË – La Vie en Rosé

ZOË has been releasing a steady stream of French-language singles over the course of 2024. This journey has now culminated in the Austrian star’s new studio album, La Vie en Rosé. The LP contains 12 songs, including a mixture of cheery pop tunes and sweet ballads. The connecting theme between all of them is an acoustic quality, with the Eurovision 2016 alumna primarily accompanied by acoustic guitar, percussion and strings.

Vincent Bueno feat. Angela Walter – “UNAFRAID”

‘Fear’ is not a word in Vincent Bueno’s vocabulary. The Eurovision 2021 alum is “UNAFRAID” of everything that lies ahead because his loved one will always be there to support him: “The end is near, they cry so loud / But here with you I stand my ground / No storm can break this bond we make / In your arms I feel unafraid.” To add a little extra touch to the song, the Austrian singer has invited saxophonist Angela Walter to feature.

Jacques Houdek – “Pjesma života”

Many people sing songs about love or past relationships. But, Jacques Houdek is thinking bigger — the entirety of life and creation. “Pjesma života” translates to English as “The song of life.” It’s a classic chanson with orchestral accompaniment. Writing about the song, Croatia’s Eurovision 2017 act noted:

“The Song of Life has an ambitious title, and whether it will truly become my song of life… we’ll just have to see. It’s a great song, in the old, chanson-like style […] What I especially like about the song is precisely this textual comparison of the song of life and the love of life. The song is vocally extremely demanding, but it’s very easy to sing, and that’s a characteristic of all great songs, so I believe that this song will last and find its place.”

Jendrik – “Interview with a Ghost”

Jendrik gave us a Halloween treat with his most recent single. “Interview with a Ghost” is a funky tune that features trumpets underlying the production. In the lyrics, Germany’s Eurovision 2021 representative sings about the bad memories and experiences that begin re-emerging when he speaks to a former partner: “Conversation is dying / We’re on this weird cemetery / Givin’ oh givin’ nothin’ on this talk show / With every word you say you slowly disappear / It’s an interview with a ghost.”

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.