Who the hell is Edgar? Austria's song for Eurovision 2023 released

Teya & Salena were selected internally by the Austrian broadcaster ORF back in January to represent the country at this year's Eurovision.

This morning, Teya & Salena have released the song they'll perform on the Eurovision stage in Liverpool this May: "Who the hell is Edgar?"

Who the hell is Edgar? was written by Teya & Salena themselves, along with Ronald Janeček and Pele Loriano.

Head of the Austrian Delegation, Stefan Zechner, describes the song:

– The song catches your ear quickly and comes across as light, but on the second level it has a very nice message and therefore a certain seriousness. Teya & Salena see themselves as members of the song contest family and it’s great when someone sees the entire event as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

Salena adds:

– This song is a snapshot of the fun we had writing it. It started with wanting to convey what it feels like when a good song is made. Sometimes creativity rushes through you like you’re possessed by a ghost.

Teya:

– But we also wanted to pack our personal experiences as songwriters into the song. It often feels like you have to keep proving yourself to be taken seriously. By presenting Edgar Allan Poe as the actual writer of the song, we want to draw attention to this part of the music business. It’s satire.

Teya & Salena

Since their involvement in the ORF casting program Starmania 21, the 22-year-old Viennese Teodora Spiric and the 24-year-old Styrian Selina-Maria Edbau have become friends. Both have a lifelong love of music and a wealth of experience in the music and entertainment industries.

At age 17, Teya started creating her own songs and got her first stage experience playing in a jazz orchestra. She participated in the national selections for Serbia and Austria in 2020.

The fact that now she's finally going to Eurovision is the fulfillment of a big dream for Teya:

– I wanted to go to the Eurovision Song Contest as a child, because it has always meant to me that even big dreams can come true, regardless of who you are and where you come from. I can't wait for the first step on stage, says Teya.

Salena gained her initial experience performing at family gatherings and at school, both as a solo performer and in bands. She first submitted an application for the Austrian selection for Eurovision in 2019. Since 2020, she's been heard daily on Radio Ö3 on Station Voice, as well as doing voiceovers for commercials.

Salena deliberately pursued her goal of winning Eurovision:

– I saw Conchita on stage at the time and told my parents that I wanted exactly that – a giant stage and people who feel music as much as I do. From this point on, I have worked even more on myself and my singing.

Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest

Austria has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 54 times since its debut in 1957.

They have won the competion twice: in 1966 (Udo Jürgens - Merci Chérie) and in 2014 (Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a Phoenix). They came in last in the competition eight times (zero points in 1962, 1988, 1991 and 2015).

Since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004, Austria has only qualified for the Grand Final 7 out of 14 times.