Montaigne And Didirri Join The Race To Represent Australia At Eurovision 2020

Local favourites Montaigne and Didirri have been added to next year's Eurovision - Australia Decides competition, which will determine who will represent Australia at the global song contest in the Netherlands. 

The two songwriters join a line-up that already features names like Casey Donovan, Vanessa Amorosi and Mitch Tambo. 

"I’m excited to participate in Eurovision – Australia Decides for the opportunity to release the part of me that is dramatic and extreme," Montaigne said.

"I manage to do it without a massive international music event as impetus, but on the big stage in Europe in front of millions would be everything the drama queen egomaniac inside me could want and more. It’s licence to let her out. And of course to represent my country!

"I didn’t quite get that far in football, so it would be cool to do it in music. It’s like the World Cup for pop.”

Didirri added, "I have always been interested in writers. Although the world of Eurovision is new to me, from the outside it seems to respect a well written song above all else.

"People seem to be free to express their art in whatever way they want. I’m a fan of ABBA, they wrote unfiltered, iconic anthems. My sister and I used to sing their stuff together in the bathroom. Who knows how they have influenced me, I’m quite a mix bag of ideas. Personal experience inspires most of my own writing - all I hope to do is to help people express some part of themselves.

"I’m also over the moon to be joining the line-up with my friend Montaigne who I respect very much.”

Eurovision - Australia Decides takes place on the Gold Coast from 7 February and airs live the next night on SBS.

The inaugural Australia Decides competition featured big names like Sheppard, Courtney Act and Ella Hooper, as well as a breakout performance by BIGSOUND 2019 act Electric Fields, while Kate Miller-Heidke went on to win.

Miller-Heidke finished in ninth spot at Eurovision 2019 with her original song, Zero Gravity, while The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence was crowned the winner.