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Esctime.com met with Chiara during the promo days in Antwerp Belgium
Chiara will be representing Malta for the third time with her song "What If We"
Back in 1998 Chiara came 3rd with "The One That I Love" and in 2005 she was 2nd with "Angel".
Malta enters Eurovision this year with a few years out of the final and has high hopes with their choice of Chiara in 2009.
Here is what she had to say!!!
This is Esctime.com and I'm here with Chiara shes representing Malta this year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
Hello Chiara and welcome to Belgium! (Chiara: "Thank you")
How do you feel about being in Belgium?
"I feel.. I feel very good actually. It's like home to me. It's like my second home"
"I come here often because of my music because I work with Marc (Paelinck)"
"Who is Belgian as well. So I come here often and we record songs aswell. So for me it has become like home"
"I love Belgians. I mean, they are really nice. They make me feel very welcome and I love the country"
Whats your favourite part? Have you visited a few things before?
"I went to, because I have my Uncle living here as well (Yes I heard in Ousten?)"
"In Ousten, yes and its a beautiful part of Belgium because its by sea"
"I've been to Gent but most of the time I come to Antwerp and that's why it's become close to my heart, you know"
"I come here and I can go out alone, I'm comfortable"
"You know, you don't normally go to, when you go to other countries, especially alone"
"Sometimes you feel a bit afraid, maybe you make a mistake, maybe you don't know where your going or be lost"
"But I find it very easy to go around Antwerp. Maybe because I feel comfortable - alot!"
Well is it true that your song "What If We" was recorded in Antwerp? "Yes it has been"
"And I came to record it here the first time and then I took part in the Maltese festival and I won"
"And I came back to arrange something new in the song and I cannot wait to go on stage and sing it"
How is promotion going so far? Because you have also been to other countries - how has that been?
"Yes but I love going to other countries - I've also been to Greece but also alot of the time I am just coming and going here..."
"in Belgium. I think that nowadays a very important part of promotion is the 'Internet'"
"So we put more pressure on the internet part of the campaign"
"Then on just going round countries which at the end of the day is the same thing as you doing with the internet"
"But it's less time and you don't fly so much"
"So we decided to put more pressure on the internet part even though I came here like 5 times after festival"
"So I still feel that Belgium is too important and anyway I love coming!"
You already particpated twice, and you were 2nd and 3rd, do you feel that there is some sort of pressure on you?
"No, not really, I don't think... I mean obviously the Maltese voted me because they trust me"
"They trust me that I can bring a good result back home"
"Like I did the previous times and as I told you first time was third, second time was second"
"And this time I feel like I have the best song"
"So I don't feel so much pressure and I feel actually very comfortable and I believe in this song so much"
"And I also believe my father will be that happy as well"
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
"I would describe myself as an emotional artist. I like to sing what gives me alot of emotions"
"And I like to give all those emotions to as many people as I can"
"My aim is always to reach the finals in this event. You know, this is always my aim"
"I feel that music is the thing that heals you most."
Going back to Eurovision, when you won the National Final,
Alot of people were actually happy because you are going for a third time.
But what do you think is the most essential thing that a Eurovision song should have?
"Again, I think it is the emotion. I think that a song can be any kind of music"
"But I think whatever kind of music it is - it has to give emotion - it has to make you feel something"
"People are watching you on the Eurovision - they have to feel something when they hear you sing
"Or when they hear your song or if you don't reach them like that"
"I don't think you can do great"
Could you maybe tell us a bit about the act on stage.
Will there be alot of difference between the act in Moscow and the act in the Maltese Final?
"No there will not be a difference. I am used to being on stage alone"
"And again because I like to give most importantly the emotions I get from the song"
"And I feel if there is alot of things on stage maybe they can take away the attention"
"From feelings of the song - which for me are most important"
So it's imporant to get the message to the people?
"Yes and I feel if I do it 'straight like this' just for the people"
And you know, I do it straight to them
"It can go better then if I had anything happening behind me"
"I feel that maybe it will take away the attention from what I do"
So keep it simple? "Yes"
Could you please sing us a little part of you Eurovision entry?
"What if we could be free? Mystify our wisdom in time and one day we'll see"
"What if we found the key? Throw the dice, unravel our lies and learn how to be"
Thank you so much (Your welcome!). I would like to ask do you have any message for the Esctime readers?
"So my message is this: First of all, thank you for everything because it is my third year"
"And I feel like 12 years since the first time I went I feel alot of support so I would like to thank you"
"Even now before the Eurovision for all the support I have had til now and hopefully in Moscow as well"
"Thanks everyone I hope to see you all in Moscow I will sing for all of you!" (Thank you)