Check out the compilation of the most important and interesting facts about Kaleen, representing Austria at Eurovision 2024
- The singer’s real name is Marie-Sophie Kreissl.
- Kaleen was born on 12 November 1994 in a small village of Ried im Traunkreis in Northern Austria.
- She is the granddaughter of Austrian folk and pop composer and producer Hanneliese Kreissl-Wurth.
- Kaleen is well-known in her home country as a professional dancer and choreographer. She started ballet lessons at the age of two and won her first national championship at the age of seven!
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- Overall, Kaleen has won more than 100 national and European dance championships and five world championships.
- Her musical inspirations are Katy Perry and Ariana Grande. “I’m a fan of pop music that puts you in a good mood,” says Kaleen.
- Her first independently released single ‘Too Good To Not’ was released in September 2021 under her own label Wifi Records, followed by debut album Stripping Feelings two years later.
- Kaleen’s career has been tightly connected to Eurovision. She has been a stand-in artist for the Eurovision rehearsals, including Eleni Foureira’s ‘Fuego’. Watch the rehersal footage below:
- She was also a dancer and choreographer for the interval acts at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon.
- In 2021, Kaleen worked as a creative director for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for Spain and Bulgaria. She was responsible for the entire production of Junior Eurovision in 2022.
- Last year, she helped Armenia (Brunette – ‘Future Lover’), Germany (Lord Of The Lost – ‘Blood And Glitter’), Austria (Teya & Salena – ‘Who The Hell Is Edgar?’), and Georgia (Iru – ‘Echo’) to stage their Eurovision performances.
- Kaleen wanted to represent Austria at Eurovision in 2023 but she didn’t win back then.
“Last year after I got the message that I won’t go to Eurovision with my song, then I was so devastated. Completely. I was shattered and I was like “Okay, but what am I going to do now? […] When will my life be okay?” Fast forward to that moment where I am right now, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It makes so much sense now because I think in that past year […] there’s been a lot of character development and […] finding artistically what I want to do,” she told Wiwibloggs.
- Marie-Sophie says being Kaleen is putting on another personality for her. “It’s fun for me to slip into this role, sexier than in everyday life, to have more courage, to wear different things and to appear different. There are two personalities in me,” she opens up.
- Eurovision motto this year is “United By Music”, and that’s exactly what the contest symbolizes for Kaleen:
“It represents a unique platform where artists from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate music, culture, and unity”, the singer told Daily Magazine. “It’s a chance to make meaningful connections, inspire others, and leave a lasting impact through our artistry. Ultimately, Eurovision symbolizes the power of music to transcend barriers and bring people together, and I am honored to be a part of this incredible journey.”
- Kaleen says that the Eurovision songs that describe her best are ‘We got love’ (Jessica Mauboy), ‘Fuego’ (Eleni Foureira), ‘Take me to your heaven’ (Charlotte Perrelli).
Watch Kaleen rave on Eurovision stage in Malmö, Sweden this May, with the semi-finals on May 7 and May 9 and the Grand Final on Saturday May, 11. In the meantime, follow us and drop your thoughts on AlteRock Facebook and AlteRock Twitter!
Kaleen’s Eurovision music video for ‘We Will Rave’:
