SBS, TikTok and production partner Blink TV have announced the inaugural Eurovision – Australia Decides TikTok Wildcard winner – singer, songwriter, Erica Padilla. Erica is the 11th artist to join Eurovision – Australia Decides, rounding out a diverse line-up of artists from across the musical spectrum.
Hosted on the Gold Coast and broadcast live and exclusively on SBS on Saturday 26 February, the event will feature some of Australia's biggest acts for their chance to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Italy.
Erica Padilla attracted millions of views across her TikTok Wildcard submissions, and grew her following to more than 1.2 million fans across the world (listen to her ).
Erica Padilla said: “I feel like somebody needs to pinch me because I always hoped but never thought this could actually be possible! Eurovision has made some of the GREATS and to be chosen as the TikTok Wildcard gives me so much hope. From performing to my phone in my bedroom to performing at Eurovision – Australia Decides and potentially the biggest stage in the world this year in Italy - now that would be a dream come true.”
Ollie Wards, Director of Music TikTok Australia / New Zealand, said: "Australian artists are finding fans and being discovered on TikTok. Eurovision is one of the world's most loved music moments with the power to create global stars, so it's exciting to bring the two together and see the incredible Erica Padilla enter the competition as our TikTok Wildcard. We're already so proud to support Erica onto this stage and no doubt her millions of TikTok followers as well as new fans are going to get behind her."
Erica joins dynamic duo Evie Irie and Isaiah Firebrace, avant-garde performance artist Sheldon Riley, powerhouse entertainer PAULINI, multi-media artist Jaguar Jonze, six-piece girl group G-NAT!ON, charismatic pop star Andrew Lambrou, pop newcomer Charley, the fabulous Seann Miley Moore, Perth’s metal quintet Voyager, and singer-songwriter Jude York,
Renowned lover of music, Dylan Lewis, will be joining Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst on the Gold Coast as Eurovision – Australia Decides’ first-ever Green Room host, bringing the nation closer to the artists and Eurovision action.
Dylan Lewis said: “I live for music. I write it, perform it, teach it, collect it, present it, talk about it and need it. Since hosting the Recovery music show back in the day, I’ve presented a pile of other music TV shows and done a pile of radio too…playing music. Yep. I bloody love music. So to get to be involved in the world’s most eclectic, colourful, diverse and magical music show is a dream!
Dylan Lewis Source: SBS
"Yes. I’m excited to announce that this year, I’ll get to bring a little bit of mayhem and a whole lotta love to Eurovision – Australia Decides. Wooo! I’ll leave Myf and Joel to do the hard work, while I get to join the party reporting with all the action straight from the green room, to you! I’ve always been passionate about supporting local artists, and I’m so glad we can showcase our talents to the world on the Eurovision stage. I can’t wait to see who’ll go on to represent Australia in 2022. Let’s do this.🤘”
But wait, there’s more… Joining the star-studded line-up for an unforgettable half-time performance is the winner of the 2020 Eurovision – Australia Decides, Montaigne, who returns to the Gold Coast stage where it all began.
Montaigne said: “It will be fun to perform Technicolour again for the first time in ages, especially to the audience who cares about it so much. I’m also excited to intro all these new artists to the world of Australia Decides and Eurovision-at-large! I think it’ll just be a really neat night."
SBS can also reveal three new songs following their exclusive teaser drops on TikTok: Evie Irie and Isaiah Firebrace’s , Paulini’s unforgettable and Jaguar Jonze’s blaze of reckoning .
Source: SBS
Evie Irie and Isaiah Firebrace said: "We are super stoked that When I’m With You is out today!!! We have been waiting to release this song for almost a year now and it’s surreal that people are finally going to hear it after all this time. Neither one of us could have imagined that a random day in the studio together would turn into the chance to go all the way to Italy for Eurovision 2022, and would take us on this wild journey together."
Paulini said, of the track written by songwriters Rick Price and John Capek, “The world is hurting so it's time to bust out with a little hope, unity and joy. There's no better way to do that than with big sounds, and some big notes.
"I'm tired of being the person of colour, Australians are tired of lockdowns due to the pandemic, and the world is tired of being divided by religion and fear. It's time to remind everyone that we are all humans standing on the same Earth, breathing the same air.”
Jaguar Jonze said: “Little Fires is a reminder about where we’ve come from, what we are fighting for, and what we can achieve when we work together. And, it’s a reminder that we are not alone. I wanted my Eurovision song to be for those moments where it was hard to stay strong, for those times I felt overwhelmed by what I had taken on.”
“I am constantly defining what vulnerability means to me. Growing up, vulnerability was seen as a weakness, but now to me, I see vulnerability as strength. And I’m seeing this reflect in my lyrics and songwriting. Little Fires is a moment for me to share a vulnerable side of me that I haven’t before.”
Get a preview of the songs you’ll see performed at Eurovision - Australia Decides on Check out G-NAT!ON’s teaser.
“I wrote ‘I Suck At Being Lonely’ two and a half years ago with Jim Alxndr while I was in LA on a writing trip. The session that day turned into a therapy session as I was feeling so heartbroken over my ex. Everywhere I went I thought about him, especially at night when it was raining and I’d catch a cab home from a party, all alone. While Jim and I wrote and recorded ISABL that day, we both cried so much, turning the recording into one of the most cathartic experiences of my life,” says Charley.
“But to think that something that real and sad could be turned into one of the most special moments in my life by performing it at Eurovision really puts things into perspective. Everything happens for a reason and no matter how dark a moment is, it can be turned into something beautiful.” Charley elaborates as she prepares for her Eurovision - Australia Decides debut in late February. “I’m so excited to perform at Eurovision Australia Decides and to be able to sing a song that’s so close to my heart to everyone who’s been through it, or will go through this type of heart break in the future. I’m bringing my full open self to the stage, with a splash of drama, as I’d love to show people that it’s good to feel what you feel and not push anything aside. All things dark can be beautiful as well. It’s just how you look at it, and what you choose to do with it.”
‘Electrify’ is a song about a feeling. That feeling you get when someone suddenly steps into your life and all of sudden you have a superpower of emotions. It’s a euphoric feeling unique to only yourself, knowing that you have waited patiently for this person to walk into your life, and now that you’re together you can’t hide your emotions.
Andrew wrote ‘Electrify’ with the Delahoyde brothers, Joseph, Nick, and Timm. “To be honest, it was an electric feeling to say the least whilst writing Electrify,” Andrew said of the process. “Being a European Australian and growing up in an environment where music from Europe is constantly being played, I wanted to put together a song in my pop world mixed with European influences that I love. I took this idea to the Delahoyde brothers and we turned on the power! Electrify almost felt like it wrote itself,” he continued.
With their international vision for ‘Electrify’ they decided to take it one step further. Andrew explains: “After writing the song we had the idea to make the second verse a Spanish verse and we made it happen. I visualised myself visiting my hometown in Greece and Cyprus and hearing this song playing in clubs and venues around Europe with remixes in all different languages which is a real dream of mine. It all just felt so right.”
Sheldon Riley’s Not The Same will be released on February 15 and Seann Miley Moore’s My Body will be released soon.
SBS Head of Entertainment, Emily Griggs, said: “Through this competition SBS sets out to uncover and celebrate the depth and breadth of Australian music and this year we’ve done exactly that. The TikTok Wildcard winner Erica Padilla completes the line-up for the third ever Eurovision – Australia Decides bringing with her a unique sound and enthusiasm. The new song releases reveal that the performances will potentially send shivers up your spine, warm your heart or get you dancing.
“SBS is also thrilled to welcome Dylan Lewis. His unique experience in both music and broadcasting make him a wonderful addition to our team.”
Creative Director of Eurovision – Australia Decides, Paul Clarke, said: “Erica is really exciting. She has drama. That’s the one prerequisite for a great Eurovision performance. I’m sure we can do something really memorable together at Australia Decides.”
Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst will be at the helm of SBS’s Eurovision – Australia Decides coverage.
The winner will be revealed during the Live TV Final which will be broadcast exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand on Saturday 26 February.
In association with the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland, Major Events Gold Coast, Screen Queensland, APRA AMCOS, TikTok, and official artist accommodation partner Dorsett Gold Coast, Eurovision – Australia Decides will be presented at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February. The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support Eurovision – Australia Decides, which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, Moroccanoil is also supporting the event with hair styling.
Watch it on SBS and SBS On Demand!
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022 airs live and exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand on Saturday 26 February.
Broadcast times across Australia:
NSW/VIC/TAS/ACT 8:30pm – 11:00pm AEDT
QLD 7:30pm – 10:00pm AEST
SA 8:00pm – 10:30pm ACDT
WA 5:30pm – 8:00pm AWST
NT 7:00pm – 9:30pm ACST
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