The stakes are high for Ollie, as the winner will represent Estonia in Eurovision Song Contest
29-year-old rock singer and guitarist Oliver Mazurtshak, or simply Ollie, has made it to the semi-finals of Estonian Song contest, Eesti Laul 2023. His track ‘Venom’ will be open to vote for during the semi-finals, taking place January 12 and 14, at Viimsi Artium. The final will be held on February 11 at Tondiraba Ice Hall.
The son of famous drummer Jüri Mazurtshak, Ollie is known as an outstanding guitarist, winning multiple prizes in YouTube competitions with his solos. He also played the guitar in a five-piece electro-rock band Almost Natural.
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With his band, Ollie had already become familiar with the contest format. Most recently, Almost Natural competed in Eesti Laul 2017 with the track ‘Electric’, and in 2018 they made it to the semis with ‘On My Mind’. Now, Ollie will perform in the Estonian Song semi-final with his own song.
‘Venom’ shows Oliver’s post-grunge side and puts him sonically in the same row as Nickelback, Daughtry and Papa Roach. Listening to the song, it’s difficult to grasp that it’s not a band in question but a multi-instrumentalist, who made the whole track from the first till the last note. At Eesti Laul press conference, the musician admitted being both exhausted and happy and revealed what ‘Venom’ was about.
“The song is about the feelings you get when someone “imprints” himself in your blood so deeply that it’s impossible to get rid of him,” he said.
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