[Interview] Shkodra Elektronike: from their victory at the Festival i Këngës to Eurovision 2025
We were lucky enough to spend some quality time with Beatriçe Gjergji and Kolë Laca, the duo from Shkodra Elektronike who will represent Albania at Eurovision 2025 after their victory in the Festival i Këngës ("FIK"). Together, they talked to us about their musical journey, their joint project and behind the scenes of their preparations for Eurovision. From personal anecdotes to their creative process and their ambitions for Eurovision, this interview gave us a better understanding of their passion and authenticity.
First of all, congratulations on your victory at the Festival i Këngës and on the opportunity to represent Albania at Eurovision 2025! How does it feel to have reached this incredible milestone?
Beatriçe : It's an incredible feeling, almost unreal, but so beautiful. We're still trying to understand exactly what's going on and what's to come. There's still a lot to do, it's a work in progress.
Kolë : Yes, there hasn't been time to really assimilate all that, there's so much to do. We've had to readjust our schedules. With our manager, we prepare so many things, it's non-stop work. Organising all that with the little time we've got isn't easy, but we're staying focused on what needs to be done.
Let's go back to the moment when you realised you'd won the FIK. There was a moment of doubt (editor's note: when the winner was announced), as if you couldn't believe it. How did you feel at that moment?
Beatriçe : Frankly, no-one on stage understood what was going on until the very end. When we realised we'd won, we were like, "What?! What do you mean?" We all looked at each other in total surprise. It was a moment when nobody was expecting this result, not us, not even the audience.
Kolë : It was really a moment of truth and authenticity. Everyone was in a bit of a daze, and it was only afterwards that we really began to understand the magnitude of what had just happened. It was a moment when even we needed time to digest this victory.
You formed your duo in 2019. What brought you together as musical partners? And how have you worked together since then?
Beatriçe : In fact, I came across a video of Kolë on YouTube, where he was performing a traditional song from Shkodër (Editor's note: or Shkodra ) . Before 2019, it was part of a project called Two Pigeons. I just sent him a message on Facebook to thank him for his work.
Kolë : When I saw her message, I went to her page and discovered that she sang and performed with her band. I immediately fell in love with her style, the way she sang and her stage presence. And then I discovered that we were both from Shkodra, my home town in Albania. I'd already thought about creating a project based on traditional songs from Shkodra, but with an Italian singer, it was difficult to make it happen.
And in 2019, we started playing together and doing our first concerts. Then, in February 2020, we did a small tour in Albania and Kosovo, and we saw that we had a real audience. That was really the start of our adventure. Then the pandemic arrived.
It's a lovely story, and it's really fascinating that you're both from the same town! It almost seems like fate!
Beatriçe : Yes, we didn't know each other before. And later I found out that my mother was best friends with Kolë's mother!
Your music blends Albanian and modern influences. Was this a deliberate choice or did it come about naturally? And what are your main musical influences?
Kolë : As for my influences, I listen to a lot of bands like Massive Attack and Björk, and I'm also a big jazz fan. The idea of mixing modern and traditional music came naturally to me. I didn't want to change the songs, but rather discover the modernity that was already there. What's more, as I play the keyboard, it's natural for me to arrange the songs with electronic sounds. My main role is to structure and arrange the songs, and I let the song itself guide this process.
Beatriçe : For 'Zjerm »', we wrote the song specifically for the Festival i Këngës. I usually write the lyrics, and for this song I wrote my part, but the part sung by Kolë was written by an artist from Shkodra, Lekë Gjeloshi. When I started writing my part, I was thinking about the festival, about what I'd like to see on television - what kind of concepts, words and songs would resonate with me. It was a personal need to hear a song about kindness, about people doing good things, rather than hurting each other. And 'Zjerm »' was born out of that. Kolë took my idea and started to develop it, like a jigsaw puzzle.
How do you divide up the work when you write your songs? Who does what?
Kolë : It depends on the song. When we started out, we only used traditional songs. To date, all our songs, except for "Zjerm" and one other ("Ku E Gjtea Vedin"), are traditional songs. For each one, I take care of the structure and arrangement, using electronic instruments and drums while keeping the traditional aspect.
Zjerm » was different. Beatriçe wrote the whole melody. The only change I suggested was the intro. I told her: "Maybe it's too much, we don't need it. » And that was it. All the melodic parts came from Beatriçe, and I did the arranging and production.
Beatriçe : Basically, we're pretty free. I take care of the vocal part, but we can also swap roles. Maybe one time I'll be the one to arrange something!
What does this song mean to you personally?
Beatriçe : It's a wonderful song. It makes me feel better, not because we wrote it, but simply because it's a song that makes me feel good today. I really liked it at a time when I needed to listen to something lighter. But if you listen to it a lot, you can discover deeper, more intense aspects. It's not just in the words, of course, but also in the sound of the violin and the electronic instruments.
Kolë It reminds me of when I wanted to include the çiftelia, that traditional instrument, at the beginning of the song. I was thinking about who to call to record it, and then I remembered that there was a man selling traditional instruments in our town, Shkodër. I went to see him, but all the instruments were hanging on a tree. I was told that he was probably in a bar drinking raki and that if I played a bit, he'd come round. I played for a while, but no one came. Finally, a young man arrived and told me he was going to look for his uncle, the salesman.
When he arrived, he was a giant with huge hands, a bit like a cartoon character. He took the instrument, started to play and then told me it was expensive. I explained that I'd already bought an instrument from him the previous year, and he quoted me a price of 70. Back home, I recorded the instrument in one morning, quickly and a bit wildly.
What was the reaction of your fans? to "Zjerm ?
Beatriçe & Kolë : The response has been incredibly positive. Before the festival, we already had a small group of loyal fans who had been following us since 2019, and they wrote to tell us that they knew one day Shkodra Elektronike would be recognised. It's really touching.
How are you preparing for Eurovision?
Kolë There are a lot of things to do to prepare for Eurovision, but also for the other songs we have to release afterwards. Our initial plan was to take part in FIK, then release our album in January or February, but with our victory, everything changed. We had to reorganise everything. For example, now we have to prepare photos and organise the visuals of our performance. There are a lot of details to manage.
Beatriçe : The staging will inevitably be different, because the scene itself is different. But the story we want to tell will remain the same, because the song doesn't change. To be honest, we still don't know exactly what it will be like. If we don't have a precise answer, it's simply because it hasn't been decided yet.
Kolë : Yes, that's it. Beatriçe will dance in a certain way... and I won't! But we're not thinking of changing our roles.
You both live in Italy. Have you had time to follow the Sanremo Festival over the last few weeks?
Kolë : I watched the first few evenings... but to be honest, it wasn't really planned. My flatmate was desperate to watch, while I was watching a football match on my phone at the same time. We argued a bit, because I wanted to watch the match on TV!
Beatriçe : But I did see a few extracts on TV or on my phone. Of course, I still had to have a look at Sanremo! I watch Sanremo every year. I watched the Eurovision final last year, and I thought it was great. But most importantly, my favourite vocal group is ABBA. So, for that alone, I'd like to say a big thank you to Eurovision!
Finally, when you think about your performance at Eurovision 2025, what message or emotion would you like to convey to the public in Albania and Europe?
Kolë : I'd just like to say that things happen naturally, without too much force. If you express your emotions simply and honestly, in an authentic way, then it works.
Beatriçe : Yes, and above all, believe in yourself, because incredible things can happen, just as it happened to you. Keep doing what you love, without trying to fit into a mould - whether it's music, lyrics, appearance... You just have to be yourself. I think that's why people chose us. It's still hard to believe, but it's happened.
Kolë : Yes, and I think that if people have chosen us, it's because they recognise themselves in us. After the festival, people often said to us: "You're just like us". And I think that's what it really comes down to. Just normal people doing what they love, without thinking too much or trying too hard. If something happens, great. If it doesn't, that's fine too.
We comes to the end of this interview. Do you have a message for your fans?
Beatriçe & Kolë : To all our supporters, a huge thank you! Every day we receive your messages and your love, and it touches us deeply. We hope to make you proud on stage. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
We'll be sure to spread the word! A huge thank you to all of you for your smiles and for sharing your stories. It was really interesting and inspiring. Thank you again for your time, it was a real pleasure! We can't wait to see you in Basel and we'll be right behind you to support you. All the best!
Shkodra Elektronike will be touring Europe on the following dates.
- 3 March- ITB [Berlin]
- 7 March - Stockholm
- 14 March - Eurovision Party [Thessaloniki]
- 20 march - Babel Music XP [Marseille]
- 22nd March - Nordic Eurovision Party [Oslo]
- 5 April - Eurovision in Concert [Amsterdam]
- 12 April - Manch Hagen (Manchester)
- 13 April - Eurovision Party [London]
- 19 April - Pre Party ES [Madrid]
Entry Details - Shkodra Elektronike
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