I wish Armenia wins at Eurovision: Vahe Tilbian
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS: The popular Ethiopian-Armenian singer Vahe Tilbian is known for his style – from rock to techno, reggae to R&B, Armenian to Ethiopian and a lot of Latin music. This mix of culture reflects Vahe’s personality and separates him as a unique artist. Though Vahe was born and raised in Ethiopia both his parents, Garo Tilbian and Ani Aslanian, are of Armenian origin. His paternal grandfather escaped the Armenian Genocide in 1923 and by way of Syria eventually settled in Ethiopia. Vahe told Armenpress about his participation in Eurovision in the band Genealogy, about his love towards music and other interesting details.
- Vahe, you will represent Armenia in the 60th International Music Contest of Eurovision along with other five Armenian talented singers. What does the contest and being the member of Genealogy mean for you?
- For me it is very important to realize that I was given the opportunity to represent Armenia in Eurovision along with other five artists. I could not even imagine that a singer from Ethiopia, who is on a great distance, could ever have such an opportunity. This is a great chance, honor and a tremendous experience, which I had never expected and that is why it is just an indescribable feeling.
- What do you expect from the contest? What do you think, what kind of song is “Don’t deny”?
- Certainly, I would like Armenia to win, as our team consists of very good singers. I tell this not only because I am one of the members of the band, but I really think so. Our band is very good, the song – as well. Besides, the contest will give me the opportunity to make my voice hearable in the entire Europe and the whole world.
- How did everything start? How did you like the music, the dance?
- Since my early childhood I sang and danced, though I cannot say that I was entirely in all that. At that time it was just a hobby. When I went to India for ten days, where my cousin died in an accident, I understood that the life is very short and we should live and do what will make us happy (gets excited). This was a bad experience, surely, but it showed that we should go ahead in life… (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)
Interview by Roza Grigoryan
Vahe was born and raised in Ethiopia both his parents (Garo Tilbian and Ani Aslanian) are of Armenian origin. His paternal grandfather escaped the Armenian Genocide in 1923 and by way of Syria eventually settled in Ethiopia. His mother’s side of the family all left the ancient lands of Western Armenia by the late 1890s or early 1900s.Vahe values his Armenian roots and believes that it was the cruel history of Armenia that built his unique artistic character.
Vahe heard the call of the stage as a singer later in life after he graduated from University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada studying Biology and earning a diploma of BSc in General Science. Vahe has always been involved in dancing and being a professional International Style Latin American ballroom dancer was the co-creator and choreographer of the Salsegnochu Dance Group. Within this period of time Vahe was singing as a lead tenor in a choir in Addis Ababa called The Motley Singers.
After working in the business sector for over 3 years as a young college graduate, in 2008 Vahe left his job and started working in music full-time. He joined the band Z Beyaynetus with the support of his friend Bitik Emlaelu and Ledj Leo. Soon, Kenny Allen, performer and producer from DC residing in Ethiopia, heard him at one of the local bars and asked to sing supporting vocals (backing vocals) for his album release show with the 251 Band. He agreed and became his permanent supporting vocalist and worked together around town and on local music festival stages for many years. Following which Vahe decided to diversify his genre and repertoire joining a salsa band called Eshee Havana and worked on original remixes of Ethiopian songs into salsa music. In 2011 he made the final auditions to the Big Brother Africa show.
Vahe wrote the lyrics to his first song called “Life or Something Like it” and Michael Hailu put the melody together and they recorded it in 2010. This gave him the enthusiasm and courage to write more lyrics and create songs. Vahe’s single “Don’t Stop” was nominated for an Armenian Pulse Music Award for the best song in English by an Armenian artist in 2012. The song won the 3rd place by online voting.
In November 2012 Vahe finished his album titled “Mixology”, and released it for free.
In May 2013 Vahe released a music video for the song Yene Tizita, which means nostalgia or memories, directed and produced by Aramazt Kalayjian and Mulugeta Amaru. This was a new rendition of the old Ethiopian song form.
It has been over 2 years that Vahe became the lead singer at Zemen Band. Vahe worked with well-established Ethiopian singers Zeritu Kebede and Michael Belayneh and the musical group Nubian Arc Band. He also was the backing vocalist as well as an opening act for artists like Ledj Leo, Abby Lakew, Nhatty, Tsedenya Gebremarkos, Eyob Mekonnen, Shewandagn Hailu, as well as artists from other African countries like Oliver Mtukudzi, Vee and Liz Ogumbo when they visited Ethiopia.
Vahe has been a columnist at Zoma Magazine published in Addis Ababa.
The name of the second participant of Genealogy band, representing Armenian in Eurovision 2015 international song contest, was announced on February 20. Tamar Kaprelian represents the American continent.
“Excited (and absolutely honored) to announce..... I'll be participating in this year’s Eurovision!!!” Tamar Kaprelian stated this on her Facebook page.
Tamar Kaprelian is an Armenian American musician and singer. She is best known for her single "New Day" and for winning the OneRepublic "Apologize" Cover Contest in March 2008. She was selected to be part of Genealogy, a collective Armenian international music band to represent Armenia in 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with the song "Don't Deny".
Wax Ltd produced her song "New Day," which went on to be her first single, and her first album Sinner or a Saint on Interscope records was released August 24, 2010. During 2010, she performed Dev's part of "Like a G6" with The Far East Movement at selected live performances. Her first EP, California, was released on June 19, 2012.
Previously it was reported that the first member of the group is French-Armenian singer Yesayi Altunyan from Europe. Yesayi Altunyan has captured the hearts of all Europeans with his charming voice. He is also a songwriter, a pianist and an actor. For Yesayi, music is a way of uniting people and their hearts, a universal language and a call for peace that fills people’s hearts and souls with happiness.
The France-based and highly popular singer has many Armenian fans and has written songs for several renowned French performers. Yesayi was visiting Armenia to present his new song “Je n’oubile pas” (I Won’t Forget), which is dedicated to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide committed a century ago.
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