Melanie from the Netherlands has been part of ESCUnited since 2019, and has served in a number of roles across the website since. While primarily coordinating all content for the website’s Instagram and TikTok accounts, Melanie now assists with conducting interviews and live tweeting at Eurovision events, covering the latest Eurovision news, and offering a plethora of ideas to expand the site’s audience. She also serves as the site’s main correspondent for Armenia, Austria, and the Netherlands.
Tell me about your first Eurovision memory?
OMG, I think it was Esther Hart visiting my favorite children tv-show “Kids Top 20” telling about her Eurovision journey in 2003. Right after her performance of her Eurovision song, they also broadcasted the music video of Sertab’s “Everyway That I Can” and I immediately fell in love with the song. So that’s how my love for the contest actually started
What’s your favourite Eurovision song?
Hard one! I’ve got Euphoria (Sweden 2012) tattooed on my arm, but Poupée de cire, poupée de son (Luxembourg 1965) is all-time favorite classic.
What are some of your favourite musicians outside of Eurovision?
I always recommend people to listen to Khruangbin. Their albums are the best to play on a sunny day working in your living room! Other recommendations are Jamie XX, FKA Twigs, Sevdaliza, RY X, Eefje de Visser and Banks. But also into a lot of indie-bands, so you can always hit me up if you need some music advice.
What about your favourite food?
You can always wake me up for some sushi! Next to this, I’m a big fan of the Italian Cuisine and love myself a good curry (but please without onions, because I HATE ONIONS)
Do you have a favourite place to visit?
Well, I haven’t seen the whole world yet, so I like to explore it a bit more. From the places I visited, I really love the creative vibe that Berlin has.
Besides doing work for ESCUnited, how do you spend your free time?
I’m a very cultural person, so you probably can find me in my free time at a museum, theatre, arthouse cinema or partying at your favorite alternative band. And if I’m not doing something cultural, you can probably find my somewhere with a bottle of wine enjoying life.
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself?
We can write an whole article about interesting facts about me! But let me tell you an Eurovision-inspired one: After watching Luminita Anghel & Sistem’s performance at Eurovision 2005, my biggest dream became to be a Trash Can Drummer! That dream kinda became real, when I decided to participate at a local playback show with some friends as Treble with their song Amambanda (The Netherlands 2006) and needed some garbage bins that could act as a Djembé. Sadly, we didn’t won the playback show, but we had fun!