Eurovision winner Salvador Sobral: “Everyone should live abroad at least once”
Photo by Andres Putting / Eurovision.tv
In 2017, charming Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral won the Eurovision Song Contest in a landslide. His unique and authentic down-to-earth style convinced the viewers and juries alike, and he secured Portugal’s first-ever ESC victory.
In this exclusive interview with Study.EU, Salvador Sobral talks about his upcoming solo album, shares his plans of going back to university - and makes one small confession about the Eurovision Song Contest 2018...
You have recently struggled with your health, but seem to be recovering well. How are you feeling now?
I’m feeling very well, thank you!
You have been a musician essentially all your life - and you studied Psychology in Lisbon. How does that fit together?
At a certain point in my life, I thought I didn’t want to make music for a living. I was in a strange period where i was away from music. Performing, I mean, because I never stopped listening to music.
And I always loved people, figuring them out, talking to them. So it felt like the right thing to do, to study Psychology.
I always loved people, figuring them out, talking to them. So it felt like the right thing to do, to study Psychology.
As a student, you did an Erasmus exchange and went to Mallorca, Spain. How did that experience influence you? And can you recommend studying abroad?
I think everybody should live abroad at least once in their lives. It gets you out of your comfort zone and it gives you all sorts of experiences.
For me it was essential to figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life. I left school and started playing for tourists in restaurants, hotels and bars.
I’m thinking of going back to school to study Literature.
If you would go back to university today, what would you study? Any subjects that interest you which you never had the chance to explore?
I’m thinking of going back to school actually. Study Literature.
The core idea of the Eurovision Song Contest is to bring together people of Europe’s various nations and to promote intercultural exchanges. How well do you think it achieves this goal?
I think it achieves that goal, but there’s also too many things that don’t have anything to do with that goal. There’s a lot of politics involved which only disrupts the whole point of the contest.
In the mood for more Eurovision? Read our interview with singer Christabelle from Malta
In over 50 years of Eurovision, Portugal had seen little success - and then you came along and won. How does it feel to bring this success to your home country? And do you think you’ve paved the way for other Portuguese artists to follow in your footsteps?
It feels good to bring joy to the Portuguese doing only what I love. I hope this helps to get Portuguese music out there throughout the world. We have incredible music here!
Your fans are anxious to finally hear your second solo album. What can you tell us about that?
Right now I’m going to tour in Portugal and Spain. I’m already working on new songs but I think I will only release the album in October or November.
Everybody should live abroad at least once. For me it was essential to figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life.
And what are your other plans for the coming months?
Playing everywhere, enjoying life, eating well and meeting incredible places. Read a lot and watch good movies.
Final question: Whom are you rooting for for Eurovision 2018?
I don’t actually know the songs...
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