Estonia: A Two-way battle for Eesti Laul 2025

Two popular names from Estonia’s music scene are expected to dominate the spotlight at Eesti Laul, Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision 2025. Rapper Tommy Cash and Pop Idol winner Ant Nurhan have both confirmed their entries, setting the stage for a fierce competition as both are widely loved in Estonia.

Two Big Names in Eesti Laul

Tommy Cash responded to fans’ questions about Eurovision 2025 with a single photo, confirming his participation. Known for his eccentric style, Tommy Cash has often grabbed attention with his unique behavior and provocative lyrics, leading Eurovision fans to compare him to Joost Klein.

Ant Nurhan, the ninth-season winner of Pop Idol, also confirmed his entry into Eesti Laul during a radio interview. With the support of a mysterious group he called the “winners,” Nurhan revealed his desire to show his Turkish compatriots just how far he has come as an artist in Estonia. Winning Pop Idol carries a tradition of representing Estonia at Eurovision, as previous winners have often gone on to claim victory at Eesti Laul.

Ant Nurhan confirmed on Star FM Hommikuprogramm that he has submitted a song to Eesti Laul, with some help from “the winners”

He wants to go to Eurovision to show to the Turkish people how far he has gotten in Estonia as an artist

[ Star FM Hommikuprogramm 23.10.2024] pic.twitter.com/5tBC3Ui1wJ

— (fan-run) Eesti Laul updates in English (@EestiLaulUpdate) October 24, 2024

A Multicultural Background for Both Artists

Both artists share multicultural backgrounds. Ant Nurhan was born in Istanbul and is an immigrant to Estonia, while Tommy Cash has heritage from Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Despite his diverse background, Cash identifies as Estonian with a spirit rooted in Eastern Europe and a Scandinavian outlook.

What’s Next for Eesti Laul 2025?

A panel of 35 judges made up of singers, composers, producers, TV hosts, vocal coaches, and music enthusiasts will evaluate the 175 entries submitted to Eesti Laul 2025. The panel will review songs anonymously, unaware of the identity of the creators or artists. Fifteen artists will advance directly to the final, and the public will vote for a sixteenth finalist from the non-selected entries.

ERR will announce the jury’s decision in early November, and the songs will be released on the show “Start” on December 6. The final contestant will be revealed in early January.

The Eesti Laul final, featuring 16 artists, will take place on February 15, 2025. This year’s Eesti Laul winners, 5miinust and Puuluup, represented Estonia in Malmö, where they finished 20th in the Grand Final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSMMU2wX0Bk

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!