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The Kalush Orchestra says they will be cultural “soldiers” for Ukraine when they take the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs).
The bill at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany features Eurovision Song Contest champions alongside international acts including Stormzy, Lewis Capaldi, Gorillaz, Bebe Rexha and David Guetta.
Harry Styles leads the pack with seven nominations, including best artist including best song and best video for smash hit As It Was, followed by Taylor Swift with six nods.
Speaking through an interpreter on the red carpet, lead singer Oleh Syuk told the PA news agency: “We’re feeling a bit of pressure because it’s so huge. We feel pressure to perform for Ukraine and today we want everyone to show that Ukrainian culture is very unique.”
He added that “now it is war and culture is one of our weapons, so today we are soldiers who represent the culture of Ukraine”.
Speaking about Liverpool hosting the 2023 competition in Ukraine’s place, Ciuk added: “We are very grateful to the UK for helping to deal with this situation.
“And of course we hope the UK can incorporate some details of our culture – which is important for Ukraine because we gave our best last year.
“This year our country will produce the best artists, the best music, win once more. So when we win the war, Eurovision 2023 can be in Kyiv.”
Asked if the Kalush Orchestra would perform in Liverpool, he replied: “We don’t know for sure how everything will go right now.
“But we’d be happy if we could be special guests or something like that.”
Sam Ryder, who came second for the UK during Eurovision, said he was excited to see Stormzy perform during the awards show.
The singer, who is presenting the award for best collaboration, told PA: “I’m not going to say because it’s a trap and I’m not going to fall into that trap. What can I say I’m excited to see Stormzy. He is an inspiration and a kind soul and a good guy.”
Asked how he felt about Eurovision being held in Liverpool next year, he added: “I’ve been a Eurovision fan since I was a kid and it never mattered where it was.
“If I was in Liverpool it might be a different story. I’d be like, ‘Oh my God, it’s coming here’. The traffic is getting mental. I’d enjoy it wherever it was.”
Asked whether he would perform at the 2023 competition, Ryder replied: “For my role, I can’t even begin to guess. I just want to be there. I want to see it and experience it at home with everyone else.
“It’s such an amazing city. As we know it, it gave us the foundation of music. But also the richness of Ukrainian culture.
Muse singer Matt Bellamy said the people’s struggle for independence in Ukraine and Iran provided inspiration for their music.
The British band is performing at the event and is also nominated for Best Rock Artist.
Bellamy told PA: “Our songs always have a bit of a political bent to them, but not necessarily a specific direction that we take.
“But the things that are going on in Iran, for example, and what’s going on in Ukraine, obviously, we feel that what’s going on there is such a real struggle for people fighting for their freedom and fighting for their lives. their freedom. We empathize with it greatly and it inspires a lot of our music.”
One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder hit the red carpet after playing in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in the last 48 hours and said he was heading to South Africa next.
He praised Swift, who has been nominated in numerous categories and tipped for big wins, telling PA: “I would say that followers and social media, I’m not going to lie, it’s a lot more important than I want it to be.
“Your ability to write great material is your single most effective asset as an artist—more than your looks, more than your attitude. Your talent. How good are you at telling your story?
“Look at Taylor Swift. He is a prime example. She is the best writer. That’s why he’s winning.”
US singer Gayle, 18, said it means “absolutely everything” to her after performing her viral hit Abcdefu at an awards show after writing it with friends when she was 16.
He told PA: “I wrote the song when I was 16 with my best friend, who was 19 at the time, and another friend of ours, and we wrote the song in a room with a guitar and the fact that a song we wrote went to a place where We’ve never been before, and to be able to play this song means absolutely everything to me.”
He was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best Push alongside a host of top world musicians.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by celebrity power couple singer-songwriter Rita Ora and Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, and marks the sixth time the awards show has been held in Germany.
The couple will be working together for the first time after keeping their partnership mostly out of the spotlight as they sparked relationship rumors after appearing alongside each other on the red carpet last year.
In terms of nominations, former One Direction star Styles will compete against fellow Brit Adele for the best artist award in a category dominated by Americans, including Beyoncé, Swift and Nicki Minaj, as well as Spanish singer Rosalia.
British stars including Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and Coldplay are also among the nominees.
A raft of famous faces including Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder and singer and John Lennon’s son Julian Lennon will also take over the award presentation.
The MTV EMAs 2022 will be broadcast live on MTV at 8pm GMT on 13 November and will be available to watch on Paramount+ UK from 14 November.
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