[Interview] The Ludvig, a winning comeback for Supernova 2025?
We were lucky enough to meet The Ludviga promising talent on the Latvian scene, who is preparing for the Supernova 2025 semi-final on Saturday. In this interview, he talks to us about his career, his song ‘Līgo’, his return to Latvian cultural roots, and his Eurovision experience. It's a sincere and passionate interview, in which he reveals his inspirations and ambitions for the future.
How are you feeling ahead of the semi-final? (from Supernova 2025) on Saturday?
Frankly, I feel great. Thanks for the support, it's been a real pleasure. But honestly, it's super intense. There's still so much to do, and the show is coming up so quickly. I've had some great feedback on my song, and knowing that people appreciate it puts a lot of pressure on me.
I'm a pretty anxious person, so even small things can stress me out. This is a big one, but I'm going to do my best. I'll be fine. But it's true that the waiting is killing me a bit.
Can you introduce yourself for those who don't know you yet?
Yes, of course. My name is Jēkabs Ludvigs Kalmanis, but people call me The Ludvig. I come from a very small town - not even a town, a village - called Palsi. I started music by playing the trombone, I didn't even know I could sing.
In fact, when I started out, I was a bit like the kid they teased at school. I didn't know what made me special, or really who I was. Then I took part in a little singing competition in my village, and I won. That day I felt a strength I'd never known before. It gave me confidence and pushed me to pursue this path.
Long story short, this is my second time at Supernova. The first was in 2017. I was 16, and at the time, the rules said you had to be 18 to take part. But after my audition, they changed the rules because of me, which caused quite a stir in the media. I came second that year, which was perfect, because I couldn't have managed a win while still at school.
Tell us about your song ‘Līgo’. What's the story behind it?
‘Līgo’ was born in a writing bootcamp dedicated to Eurovision. Basically, I was there as a producer, not a singer. I produced three demos in three days, two of which are taking part in Supernova this year on behalf of other artists (Editor's note; including « Chemical » from Rūta Dūduma) . But ‘Ligo’ wasn't my initial idea. The main producer, Jānis, sent me a demo of the song at the last minute, literally five hours before the deadline.
When I first heard the track, I knew it was a banger. I wrote the English lyrics and helped with the finishing touches. It was completely spontaneous and impulsive, but it worked. Initially, the song only had the beat and, of course, the main chorus. Incidentally, the voice you hear on the track is that of Rūta Dūduma.
For me, this song is above all a celebration of fun and experimentation. When we created it, it was almost a game: ‘What if we mixed this with that, just to see?’ No pressure, no expectations, just this desire to have fun with sounds and break codes. We sometimes forget that not every song needs to have a profound message to be important. Sometimes what counts is the energy, the spontaneity, that feeling that it comes from a real moment. With this song, that's exactly what we did, and that's how it came to life.
That's what music is all about: alchemy, not because it follows a recipe, but because it moves you. Maybe that's the secret to making music for its own sake.
The song is about the nights of the summer solstice, a very important tradition in Latvia. In the lyrics, I seem to be talking about love, but there are also nods to an old custom where young people look for a ‘magic flower’ - which is in fact a symbol for... finding love, let's say.
Is it important for you to show your cultural roots in your music?
Yes, absolutely. And even more so today. A lot of young Latvian artists write in English, with this dream of going elsewhere, convinced that the grass is greener elsewhere. But over the last two years, I've rediscovered and learned to appreciate my culture, and today I'm really proud of my country. This back-to-basics movement, which is still going strong, reflects a desire for authenticity and a new-found pride in local identity.
I embarked on a musical project entirely in Latvian, and that reconnected me with my roots. Today, I'm very patriotic and I see my country with new eyes. There's so much richness here, and it makes me proud to share it with the world. Finally, I've realised that the place where you feel most at home is always home.
Why return to Supernova this year?
I always thought about it, but I wanted my second participation to be as good as my first. I didn't want to come back with a run-of-the-mill song. After my first experience, some difficult things happened, and I had to refocus on myself. But this year, it made sense to come back and reawaken that part of me.
Do you have any secrets to tell us about your performance on Saturday?
Haha, I've only got secrets! ^^But I can say one thing: everything's going to be fine. I'm going to try not to throw up on stage, that's my biggest fear! If I forget the choreography, I can get away with it, but vomiting? That's it, you can't make up for it.
Do you have time to follow other national selections?
Not really. I've been watching what Lithuania have been doing because the selection process is going on right now. I know Gøya, she's a friend of friends and she's going to the final, so that's really good for her. And of course Tommy Cash.
What's your first favourite memory of Eurovision?
My first real memory of Eurovision is probably « Fairy Tale » by Alexander Rybak. It was the first song I really felt was my favourite. It was a defining moment for me, a kind of revelation. It was such a memorable song, and I still remember the scene with him playing the violin. It really made an impression on me, so much so that the following year there were seven artists with violins at Eurovision! It was like a kind of inspiration.
The second memory that stands out for me is when I took part in Supernova. I finished second, and after that I was invited to go and see Eurovision in person. At the time, my relatives were living in Kiev, and I went to the final. It was an incredible experience, even though at the time I was just a spectator, sitting in the audience. But it was already a first step in the Eurovision adventure.
Any final message for your fans?
Thank you for all the love and energy you send my way. I was a bit nervous about coming back, wondering what people would think. But your feedback has been incredible, and I'm so grateful. I'm going to do everything I can not to disappoint you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Interview by Alexa and Loic.
The Ludvig – Artist details – Instagram
