With her new single, Hey, Hello!, out recently, Gaia Cauchi is back. In an interview with Iggy Fenech, she reveals the details behind her new visual-song, discusses her musical career following her win at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and talks growing up in the spotlight.
It’s hard to believe that Gaia Cauchi, who is still just 14 years old, has been in the public eye for over four years. But, with her incredible win at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 at the age of 11, she cemented her name in local pop culture history. Yet, while many of us have seen Gaia in adverts and at local events over the course of the past few years, her musical career seemed to be on hiatus.
That wasn’t the case, of course, and over the past four years, Gaia won the New Wave Music Festival in Crimea, Russia, as well as the Overall Award; was a jury member for Sanremo Junior in Ukraine; won the selection and came second in the final for Next Star in Romania; and made it through the selection process for The Voice in France, although she wasn’t accepted due to her not speaking French… And that’s just naming but a few of her many successes.
“I’ve been quite busy over the past three years, but things have finally calmed down,” Gaia, who came accompanied by her mother and manager Joanne, tells me. “Now I can finally focus more on creating new music and there’s an album in the works, too.
“Growing up in the spotlight has been quite an experience – I would imagine different to most other childhoods, too. My friends tease me quite a bit when someone recognises me on the streets, but they’ve been very supportive and I’ve never regretted growing up in the public eye. In fact, I really appreciate everyone’s comments and support.”
Yet, Gaia has always been mature for her age – she’s had to be. And, in fact, when singer-songwriter Matthew Mercieca, better known as ‘Muxu’, first wrote the lyrics for The Start – the song with which Gaia represented Malta and won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, they were appropriate for a girl her age but felt too immature for Gaia, whose voice and presence were well beyond her age.
“As soon as Muxu heard me sing, he updated the lyrics to make them less childish, which led to the song as we know it today,” she reminisces. “Muxu is incredible and we have a great time working together… We’re constantly Snapchatting and going live on Facebook when we’re together, but we work hard too, and Hey, Hello! is a collaboration between us.”
Unlike Gaia’s usual sound, Hey, Hello! is not a ballad but an upbeat, fun pop anthem that has ‘summer hit’ written all over it. With music by Cyprian Cassar and a video created by Rodney Gauci and Alexia Camilleri from Three Wise Men Media, Hey, Hello!, which was produced by Gaia’s mum, is a visual song.
“We’ve been working on the song for well over a year, but I was considered too young to sing a song with these words and meaning,” she reveals. “It’s completely different to my normal sound… It’s my first pop song, in fact. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure of it at first, but once I heard it produced, I absolutely love it!”
The video sees Gaia fall in love with a boy (played by Andy Shaw) who reciprocates her love but doesn’t tell her. The ending, as Gaia explained, and as some of you may have already seen, is a happy one. The song and the video were created together, and to truly appreciate the story, one must hear the song while watching the video.
Of course, Gaia has also been busy with school. She is currently a student at St Francis in Sliema where she studies accounts, economics and biology – all of which she thoroughly enjoys. Once she finishes Sixth Form, however, Gaia’s plan is to move abroad to study music.
A true inspiration at 14 years old – at her age, all I did was go to school and watch TV – Gaia is definitely going places. But, before our interview comes to an end, I want to know if there is one place in particular she’s hoping to go.
“And are you considering taking part in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest?” I ask her.
“There are no plans for the Eurovision at this point!” she giggles. “A lot of people ask me if I will, but I don’t think so… But who knows?” she concludes.Read more at:red prom dress | unique prom dresses
