Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, professionally known as Loreen, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She has represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest and has achieved victory twice. The first triumph came in 2012 with her song "Euphoria," and the second occurred in 2023 with the song "Tattoo." Loreen holds the distinction of being the second performer, following Johnny Logan, and the first woman to have won the competition twice.
Loreen's passion for music led her to participate in the Idol 2004 television talent show, where she finished fourth. The following year, she released her debut single, "The Snake," alongside the band Rob'n'Raz, and also took on a role as a television presenter on TV400. While working as a segment producer and director for various Swedish reality TV shows, Loreen made her mark in Melodifestivalen 2011 with the song "My Heart Is Refusing Me," which became a top 10 hit in Sweden. She subsequently achieved two top 20 hits in Sweden with the singles "Crying Out Your Name" in 2012 and "Statements" in Melodifestivalen 2017.
Greek City Times recently interviewed Loreen to delve deeper into the remarkable achievements of the first woman to win the Eurovision song contest on two occasions.
How does it feel to be the second performer after Johnny Logan and the first woman to have won the Eurovision song contest twice?
It’s been hard to believe but it’s starting to sink in now. It’s still kind of indescribable, the closest thing I can describe it to is that it feels absolutely amazing to be on this journey. We created history together.
What is musical genre do you best represent and what is the music genre that you love to listen to?
Someone described my music as spiritual pop and I really felt like I connected with that, it’s probably the best description of what my music sounds like. When it comes to music I listen to myself, it’s a mixed bag of music from my childhood & own heritage. I love being Berber & Gnawa is the genre I feel most connected to. But besides that hip-hop & dance music really get me in the right mood when I’m working.
Can you share with us the inspiration behind your winning song? What message were you trying to convey through your performance?
What I want to express with the performance is that it's layered. I wanted to create a safe space and what I think is a safe space is something that we all have and that we all love, which is nature.
I call nature a safe space because it's almost like a big battery. And we are like small energy batteries. So, nature is where we charge our batteries. It's a safe space where we remember how much we love nature and that we need to reconnect and ground ourselves so that we know what we're doing. We have all that wisdom and knowledge within ourselves of course, but we just need to remember ourselves about that. So, the performance is about that.
How did you prepare for your Eurovision journey? Did you face any challenges along the way?
It was a very physical performance so it’s definitely been intense. You must be in tune with both mind, body and soul to do this the right way. And for that, it takes discipline. It takes a lot of hard work. Physically you have to be strong. Mentally you have to be strong, and you have to have a huge focus. Because I’m sending out what I’m feeling, and you guys are going to see that and feel it, whether you know it or if it's subconscious. Everything needs to be pure, and for that, I need to be focused. You can’t split your energies all over. So, my days are filled with a lot of training, a lot of eating, a lot of communication and a lot of sleeping. It's no wiggle room for anything else, but I love it.
What was your favourite moment during the Eurovision experience? Is there a particular memory that stands out to you?
The community, love and creativity. You can’t find or experience that anywhere else. It’s the openness & non-judgmental attitude that makes me feel at home there. There’s no border for creativity or where you’re from, you’re there because people love and want you there.
Winning Eurovision often leads to international recognition and opportunities. What are your plans and aspirations following your victory?
There’s so much fun stuff coming ahead. I’ve got a UK/ European tour starting this fall/ winter, a lot of new music and a summer packed with performances and maybe one or two surprises that I can’t wait to share with you.
Eurovision brings together artists from various countries and cultures. Did you have a chance to connect with other contestants? Any memorable interactions or friendships that developed?
Yes, that’s the beauty of Eurovision. It brings together so many creatives that maybe wouldn’t have crossed paths if it wasn’t for the platform. I loved spending time with Käärijä, Alessandra & Blanca Paloma particularly. They’re such beautiful people on the inside & out and I think they have an amazing future ahead of them.
Finally, what message do you have for your fans and supporters who have been with you throughout your Eurovision journey?
An abundance of gratefulness. Thank you for believing in me, in us – because in the end, this was all for us.
Photo Credits: Sarah Louise Bennet & Corinne Cumming EBU
Read also: Nikos Oikonomopoulos: A Musical Journey Fuelled by Faith and Dedication
