Tali Golergant
(Video: RTL)
Tsali Golergant, the 23-year-old Israeli-Luxembourg national, hasn't fully digested her win in the race to represent Luxembourg in the European Song Contest later this year.
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How do you feel after winning?
"I feel really happy. It's daunting, I experience a whole range of emotions," says Golergant. She was only six months old when her family moved to Chile for her father's banking job. However, that was just the beginning – after some time, they relocated to Argentina and later to Luxembourg where she lived until leaving home at 19 to pursue studies in New York. Since completing graduating, she has been working as a voice coach there.
Your Hebrew sounds quite good for someone who has never lived here.
"Since I was born, my parents thought it was important. My mom spoke to me in Hebrew, and my dad in Spanish. Both languages were like mother tongues to me, so I'm fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Hebrew. In Luxembourg, people generally speak French, and the locals speak Luxembourgish. I understand the language, but I don't speak it. Even though I've never lived in Israel, we come to visit every year. My parents see great importance in that."
How did the idea to participate in the selection for Eurovision in Luxembourg come about, after they were absent from the competition for more than 30 years?
"I was in New York and had no idea about the selection happening. One morning, I woke up to messages from friends telling me there was an audition for Eurovision. I thought, 'Okay, let's do it.' In November, there were the final auditions. I left everything and traveled to take part in the selection event in Luxembourg, despite not having much money. I focused on more private lessons and made it happen."
The beginning wasn't easy; Golergant submitted four songs that did not make the cut. Then came the song suggested by the Israeli producer who believed in her, Tali Eshkoli.
"At first, I was skeptical, but I decided to give it a listen. I instantly fell in love with the song, and they liked it too. With my other songs, I sometimes felt it wasn't working, but in the end, it happened."
You feel that you represent both Luxembourg and Israel
"Absolutely! I am Israeli, Luxembourgish, and Latin. The song encompasses all of me."
For Tali, these are challenging days – being on stage in Luxembourg while Israel is at war, and facing global anti-Semitism. When asked if she fears being a Jew living in a foreign country, she responds, "I've dealt with it all my life. I've been to different places, and I know what it's like to be Jewish in the world, and it's tough. You have to be a proud and cautious Jew. I don't hide it, but yes, I have to be smart and careful."
If you and Israel end up in the bottom rankings, who would you like to see win?
"Come on! What kind of question is that? I don't want to answer that," she laughs.
Do you believe you can win?
"Absolutely! But I don't follow the odds. It doesn't do me much good."