Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest hopeful EMMY will have some very important support in the audience in Basel this Thursday when she takes to the stage for the contest’s second semi-final - her boyfriend Tommy Kittelsen.
24-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter EMMY, whose full name is Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, is set to perform her catchy electropop track, Laika Party, as the third song of the night at Basel’s St Jakobshalle this Thursday.
And as well as her family and friends, her boyfriend of over seven years will be cheering her on.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment via Zoom from Basel, the unfailingly upbeat and chirpy singer said, "My boyfriend arrived here yesterday so he is here for the whole week with us. Yay!
"We have been together seven and a half years. He works in finance in Norway. He thinks me being at Eurovision is really cool. He watched Eurosong at home earlier this year and he was shouting `EMMY got in! EMMY got in!’ He is so happy for me!"
EMMY, who hails from the small village of Sande, south of the Norwegian capital of Oslo, faces into Thursday fully aware that she is under extra pressure after Ireland made it through to the Eurovision semi-final stages for the first time in years in 2024 with Bambie Thug in Malmö, Sweden.
"In one way, yes, I do feel pressure but I feel that the Irish people have welcomed us so much and have been so supportive," she said. "The nerves are good now but every time I’m at the arena, it’s starting to get real.
"The rehearsals have been going good - we did some changes after the first rehearsal because one of the props was very big so we changed some of my choreography and my placement on stage."
Laika Party tells the story of a Soviet space dog and was born at a songwriting camp in EMMY's homeland, organised by the MGP - the body behind Norway’s Eurovision selection. It was there she met Kilbeggan-based songwriter Larissa Tormey, who co-wrote this year's Irish entry alongside EMMY and a team of Norwegian songwriters.
EMMY's career began in 2015 when, as a 15-year-old, she participated in Melodi Grand Prix Junior - one of the biggest music competitions in Norway for children. Six years later, in 2021, she participated in Melodi Grand Prix, Norway's national selection of a song for Eurovision Song Contest, performing Witch Woods.
Bookmakers currently favour Sweden to win the overall contest this Saturday night, with their entry compared to a Swedish version of Gangnam Style. France, Austria, Israel and Belgium round out the early favourites.
Speaking about making it through on Thursday and qualifying for Saturday night, EMMY said, "I am very grateful and happy to be here. My only goal is to make Ireland proud so, of course, I’d love to get to the final to make you proud. I am very, very grateful just to be here."
The 2025 contest follows a turbulent Eurovision in Malmö, which was marked by artist protests and political tensions over Israel’s participation amid the on-going war in Gaza.
This year’s event is taking place under heavy security, with around 1,300 Swiss police supported by federal forces and reinforcements from Germany and France. Authorities have warned of possible terror or cyber-attacks and are monitoring planned protests amid controversy over the war in Gaza.
There have already been reports of tension on the Eurovision turquoise carpet in Basel this year. "We didn’t really have that experience," EMMY said. "We had a lot of lovely people cheering us on. The turquoise carpet for me was very, very lovely."
Asked about her opinion on Israel’s participation in the contest, EMMY said, "It is a difficult one. I think my most important task as singer songwriter is to spread as much joy and comfort as I can, especially in hard times so that’s why I think Eurovision is important even in times like these."
The EBU has introduced a new code of conduct for 2025, pledging to protect artists’ wellbeing. Despite this, protests are expected in Basel this week, with more planned for the city centre on Saturday.
"I feel secure every time I am in the arena and the other delegations I have met have been lovely," EMMY said. "It was very, very good and we felt secure."
The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals take place on 13 and 15 May and will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 8pm. The Grand Final takes place on Saturday, 17 May, and will be shown live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from 8pm.
