Second Semi-Final of Eurovision 2024 Takes Place in Vienna
Today at 22:00, Vienna will host the second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. Representing Luxembourg is Eva Marija—born Eva Puc—who sat down for an interview to discuss her musical journey, inspiration from the famous Alexander Rybak, her ties to Ukraine, and the plagiarism allegations surrounding her song "Mother Nature."
Eva Marija’s Musical Path
Eva Marija was born and raised in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents. She launched her music career at age 14, performing on stage and studying at the Luxembourg Conservatory, where she mastered instruments like violin, voice, piano, and bass guitar, while exploring jazz, classical, and pop/rock genres. She is currently honing her songwriting skills in London.
Eva Marija admits she was first captivated by music at the age of three, after watching Alexander Rybak’s winning performance for Norway at Eurovision 2009. She also cites Norwegian singer Aurora as a major influence for her track "Mother Nature."
The artist stays in close contact with fellow competitors, especially Cosmo from Austria and Soren from Denmark. 'The first was Soren from Denmark. Actually, I think Atvara from Latvia also left a comment on my page,' she shared.
Luxembourg returned to the contest in 2024 after a 31-year hiatus and has since qualified for the final two years in a row. However, bookmakers currently do not predict Luxembourg’s representative will make it to the final this time. 'When it comes to the contestant’s chances, bookmakers don’t see Luxembourg’s entry reaching the final at this point,' the source notes.
Eva Marija has Ukrainians living in her household, which strengthens her bond with Ukraine. 'Ukraine is not foreign to me. After all, we have Ukrainians living in our home,' she said. She also feels a special closeness to Ukraine’s representative, Leleka, due to their shared love of nature: 'Probably Leleka, because she also loves nature.'
Responding to accusations that "Mother Nature" was plagiarized, Eva Marija explained that a specialist was brought in to check the song. 'We asked an expert to look into it, and we decided: okay, let people talk if they want—it actually helps spread my song, so that’s great,' the artist remarked.
As for the competition, Eva Marija believes Italy’s Sal da Vinci is the biggest "dark horse" this year, despite mixed reactions from listeners. 'You know, people write all kinds of negative comments about his song, but I like his entry,' she concluded.
Thus, Eva Marija is preparing to represent Luxembourg at Eurovision 2026, hoping to charm the audience with her sincerity and talent.
The Eurovision Song Contest remains a vital platform for emerging artists, giving them a chance to make their mark on the global stage. Luxembourg’s return after a long absence signals a renewed interest in participating in major music events, which could boost the country’s local music scene. Eva Marija’s involvement also highlights the cultural ties between nations, especially through her personal stories and inspirations linked to Ukraine.
As the excitement builds for the Eurovision 2024 semi-finals, it's interesting to note how the connection between artists transcends borders. In a similar vein, Ukraine’s representative for 2026, Leleka, has recently released a captivating cover that showcases her cultural heritage and artistic evolution. This highlights the importance of cross-cultural influences in the Eurovision experience, which is especially relevant as we celebrate the diverse talents participating this year.