Timebelle, a band that represents Switzerland in Eurovision 2017, has an old tradition to hug each other before getting on stage. They are not just a group of musicians, who work together, they are a family.
While the lead vocalist Miruna Manescu is having rest in her hotel room after getting cold right before the second semi-final, in which the band is to perform, the other two members of Timebelle shared their Eurovision experience with Kyiv Post.
Samuel Forster, the drummer, says that Emanuel Daniel Andriescu, the pianist, is the first person he calls in the morning and the last one he talks to at night.
Andriescu believes that for a band it’s only possible to work together if they have a good connection.
“It’s amazing how close we are,” he said.
During the last three months, Timebelle has spent only a couple of days separately.
“If I didn’t like these people, it would have been a nightmare,” Andriescu added.
The band’s story in the Eurovision Song Contest has started two years ago when they participated for the honor to represent Switzerland. Timebelle took the second place and it was a heartbreaking moment for them, especially Andriescu, who has dreamed of performing on the Eurovision stage since the childhood.
Later he heard the song “Apollo”, which is the band’s entry in the contest this year, and realized it appealed to the band as much as it ever could – the message of the song was not to give up.
“It was a revelation for me. I thought we had to try again and convinced my band,” Andriescu said.
Switzerland’s Timebelle performs at a dress rehearsal of the second semi-final on May 10 at International Exhibition Center. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
And now they are here, in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where Eurovision 2017 is held.
The band was amazed by the beauty of the city. They had an opportunity to see the view on Kyiv that opens from the observation platform in Mariyinsky Park.
“I was impressed by this huge river and how the new city and the old city are combined. It was a very beautiful view,” Forster said.
Kyiv reminds them of San Francisco, as it always goes up and down, and also Berlin because of the pavement that covers roads in the central part of the city.
Not only the views fascinated the band – they fell in love with Ukrainian food.
They got to try red and green borscht, chicken Kyiv and stuffed cabbage rolls. Timebelle also tasted the street food near Saint Sophia’s Cathedral – sausages, meat, and vegetables.
“The food is amazing. We get bigger every day,” Andriescu said.
While exploring Ukrainian culture, the band is still focused on the main goal of the visit – the contest.
Timebelle are sure their only opponent is themselves and they have to do their best to succeed.
“If we manage to give 200 percent on the stage, I hope we will qualify for the final. It’s a big dream for us,” Andriescu said.
Though Eurovision is a competition the band claims that the atmosphere backstage is very friendly.
Andriescu says that Eurovision is a family.
“We have really good connections with other artists and spend much time with Imri, Brendan, Jana, Alex, Levina and others,” he added.
The band believes that the biggest music contest in the world will always be a part of them.
“We’ve met so many great fans, we hope they will keep supporting us and our future projects. And Eurovision won’t ever be over for us,” Andriescu said.
