Next in line in our round of interviews with Croatian NF artists, we have James Night who is going to present himself on Dora 2024 with the song “Nebo Plače”.
Hello James, thank you for accepting our invitation to talk to us and present yourself to our readers at ESCUnited. Welcome! First and foremost, tell us about your beginnings in the music scene, how did it all begin and do you have someone who inspires you?
Well, it’s not much of a moment, as it is a passion I carry throughout my whole life. I learned to play the piano by ear at the age of six, and a couple of months later, I wrote my first song. I haven’t stopped since! I was always a part of any kind of musical engagement, whether that was a school choir or performing at the local bar. In my teenage years, I began ghostwriting for other artists and would do my music on the side (there are some hidden gems on the internet). A couple of years ago, I decided to focus solely on my musical career and got signed a year ago! We opened up last year with Silver Lining and closed it with Cruella; now this year we are swinging with Nebo Plače! I have many that inspire me, from David Bowie, Prince, and Michael Jackson all the way to Britney Spears—all legends!
Talking about the legends, numbers don’t lie, you are quite popular on TikTok. If I am not mistaken, you are recording covers or interpretations of songs from Croatian to English and vice-versa. Hearing some of the biggest Croatian hits in English was really cool. How did you come up with the idea and how much of an impact that had on your songwriting?
Thank you! Yes, my interpretations are quite popular, and it all began as a joke. It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, but I just now decided to record it and post it online. I’ve been working on my album, and between takes, I decided to translate one song, and it blew up. I love bringing people together, especially through music—my own and these covers.
Is this your first time trying to apply for Dora and what motivated you to submit an entry this year?
This is not the first time; I’m quite vocal about this; this is my fourth or fifth time, I would say. Last year I tried with Silver Lining, and this year the submission was successful with Nebo Plače. I always say Dora/ESC is the only kind of musical contest I would apply for; therefore, it was on my bucket list for some time. Check!
That’s wonderful news! What is the story behind your entry “Nebo Plače”? Tell us a bit more about the writing process and how long it took you from the idea to the final product.
The song came to life at 3 AM in the morning. I got home after a night out, and that night I met this girl who was struggling with her identity; she didn’t know where she belonged or who she was. Her story was a bit deeper than this, but I won’t get into details now—it is her life after all—and she would always mention that she’d love to see her life in a movie, so I made the soundtrack! It wasn’t written for Dora specifically; it was on the shelf for some time, and I accidentally stumbled upon the song around submission time, got obsessed with it, and decided to go for it. Pete Spruce, my friend and a great DJ/producer, hopped on the track. We went for this very classic pop/dance sound, and it really does feel like that with a bit of a modern twist, but again, I believe it will stand the test of time.
That’s a very interesting story indeed. On a lighter note, when you are not creating content and producing music, what do you do in your free time that our readers might find interesting?
I’m having trouble answering questions like these, as all I do is music. But really, that’s 90% of my life. On the other hand, when I do feel a need to unwind, I go to a good pub or bar with my friends, drinking wine, talking sh*t, and playing board games. I’m a simple man!
How do you feel knowing Dora will be watched not only in Croatia but by people from all over Europe if not beyond? Do you feel ready for such a big stage and how are you preparing?
That’s great! Love that! Especially when it comes to manifestations like Dora and ESC, they connect people, and it is very honorable to be a part of them. We are rehearsing, exercising every day, and getting ready for the stage. I love running; I hate strength things, but it is very much needed; therefore, I bite my tongue and just do it. There is no time to let loose; we are very disciplined, and every day, the whole day, Nebo Plače is all we are working on!
That’s the spirit and true dedication! When you mentioned you work hard on your entry, I have to ask you… I don’t expect you to tell us any details, but could you share or tease at least something about your performance? What can we expect on stage?
Well, I’m working with a beautiful group of women, the Independence (yes, DANCE) group from a town near mine, Osijek, and the goal is to bring the energy and enthusiasm of Nebo Plače to the stage as well. We are going all in; it’s going to be theatrical, it’s going to be fun, but at the end of everything, it is going to be a concrete pop performance. I heard there’s going to be a storm, so tune in!
We will surely tune in for that, we won’t miss it! Asking for only one all-time favourite is a hard task so I’ll give you a chance to name 3 of your favourite Eurovision songs. Tell us what you like about them and why you chose those songs in particular.
Easy! I’ve been told that I pick winners only, but what can I do? My all-time favorite is Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah, then My Number One (Greece), and then Wild Dances (Ruslana). All very legendary. I love the energy they all bring and how there’s more to it than vocals and just a song being a song.
Since this will be your debut on Dora, what has been the most fulfilling part of the whole journey as of today? Also, what challenges or struggles have you encountered along the way?
The reception of Nebo Plače has been amazing, and I am very proud to say that I have my first Top 40 hit in Croatia! It was pretty fulfilling to receive comments and see people excited about the song. In life, there’s always some kind of struggle, but I view them all as solvable and don’t mind solving them. Hopefully, we succeed in everything we want to do.
To conclude this conversation, do you have any final words of wisdom or messages for our readers on ESCUnited?
No words of wisdom, just words! The best thing you can do is be yourself. I love you all, and let’s have some fun on the 23rd! Tune in and watch what my team and I prepared for all of you.
Thank you so much James and we wish you the best of luck in Dora 2024!
If #YOU want to support James Night’s pathway to Eurovision 2024 make sure you tune in to the Dora second semi-final show on February 23rd and vote!
