Malik Harris is the ESC hope for Germany. In an interview, the singer reveals why his song “Rockstars” should win.
In just under three weeks the time has come: Malik Harris (24) will represent Germany in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14th. He wants to break up the German streak of bad luck of the past few years and convince with his song “Rockstars”. “But of course this contest has its own laws, which I can’t assess at all,” admits the 24-year-old in an interview with the news agency spot on news. The son of presenter Ricky Harris (59) has big plans after the finale, as he reveals. He also talks about the preparations for his big performance and explains why “Rockstars” should win the ESC.
Just under a month until you appear at the ESC final. How excited are you?
Malik Harris: Actually not that much. For me, the excitement always comes just before the performance. In the last few seconds before going on stage it really hits the pit of my stomach. Until then, I’m pretty relaxed.
What does participation mean to you?
Harris: It makes me incredibly proud. Just the thought of soon representing my entire homeland of Germany with my music and this song that I wrote down in my bedroom last year gives me goosebumps.
What preparations do you have to make due to the pandemic before you are allowed to perform?
Harris: Most of all testing, testing, testing. The good thing is that I will be alone on stage. Accordingly, at least the safety distance should not be a big problem.
How are you currently preparing for the Eurovision Song Contest?
Harris: There really isn’t much time to prepare as my days are really busy at the moment with interviews, traveling etc. But from May 4th I’ll be in Turin with my team and I’ll have a few days for rehearsals there. Until then, we’ll work out the production, which I’m really looking forward to. I’ve played the song enough times to be reasonably sure I’ve mastered it.
Do you have a certain ritual before you go on stage – or even a special one for the ESC?
Harris: Not really. I always have to go to the toilet before performances, but I’m not sure if that can be considered a ritual.
Which artists do you think could become your biggest competitors?
Harris: I don’t really see the ESC as a competition, but rather as a nice coming together of a wide variety of great artists from all over Europe. That’s why I personally wouldn’t speak of competitors. But I like the songs from Belgium, Great Britain and Italy best.
What chances do you give yourself?
Harris: Germany has always been at the bottom in recent years. I could imagine that this will change this year, because I think my song is very, very different from what Germany sent to the ESC last time. But of course this contest has its own rules, which I can’t assess at all.
Your song “Rockstars” is about growing up. What is the big message behind it?
Harris: I wrote “Rockstars” after watching an episode of US series “The Office” and someone in one scene said, ‘I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’ (In German, for example: “I wish there was a way to know that you were in the good old days before you left them.”, Editor’s note.) This quote triggered an incredible amount in me and me also directly moved to write “rock stars”.
This sentence made me realize how much time I spend reveling in the “good old days” and how much I wish I could have the lightheartedness and lightness of childhood back. But the sentence also showed me that we humans tend to very often only see the bad in the here and now and often the good in the past after it is over and we look back on it. That’s exactly what I think we should change, because there are always beautiful things around us. We just have to look for them in the moment and not in the past, because then the “good old days” will never end.
Why should “Rockstars” win the Eurovision Song Contest?
Harris: “Rockstars” is the most personal and vulnerable song I’ve ever written. I address feelings in this song that I think a lot of us can relate to right now. Nostalgia, the longing for the carefree times of the past, fears and worries. Still, you can find a lot of hope and confidence in this song, and I think that’s what we need right now. Nevertheless, I would not allow Ukraine to win the ESC and would be very happy with second place.
Can you already reveal what you are planning for your big ESC appearance on stage?
Harris: Unfortunately no. What I can say is that as always, I’ll be on stage alone and I’ll be singing while playing piano, drums and guitar using my Loop Station – it’s just my live style and it’s so incredibly fun. And what I can also say is that the performance becomes very intimate and emotional because I think that conveys the song and its very personal message best.
Participation in the ESC has given you further international recognition. How do you deal with that?
Harris: I absolutely enjoy it! My big goal is to be known and on the road worldwide with my music, and I have the feeling that taking part in the ESC has brought me a little bit closer to this goal. Also, it’s crazy to think that there are a lot of people in countries I’ve never been who are fans of my music. This is amazing and makes me incredibly grateful and proud.
What are your plans for the time after the ESC – regardless of how things turn out for you?
Harris: My first big headliner tour starts two days after the ESC final, I’m really looking forward to it! This tour has been postponed four times since 2020 and is finally happening! For me as a musician, playing live is the absolute greatest thing and to finally be able to start again means everything to me. That’s why the plan after the ESC is to play as much live as humanly possible in addition to my tour.
Didn’t you want to take a break after the ESC final?
Harris: No way, I’ve had enough breaks in the last two years. I totally miss being on the road all the time like I was in 2019 and playing one festival or concert after the other. That’s why it was clear to me that I’d take everything I could with me as soon as the measures allowed. And after my tour has already been postponed four times, I can’t wait to get started!
WIER’s new peace song “Better Days” has just been released, and you were involved in it – what was it like working in such a large artist collective?
Harris: It was totally relaxed and a lot of fun! However, I also had a very simple job, as I actually only had to sing the entire song. The real work was organizing all the different artists, contacting them and then finally getting all our different recordings together and making them sound homogeneous. That was definitely a huge effort and I have tremendous respect for those who took it upon themselves and then implemented it so perfectly.
The proceeds from the current song go to Arthelps for projects in the Ukraine – are there other activities planned that you will take part in?
Harris: Some – for example the “Letters for Better Days” campaign, which is supposed to be the biggest NFT charity campaign of all time and I think it’s a great idea: Both well-known personalities and normal people write a letter each by hand, in which they reflect on their thoughts, fears, worries, but also wishes and hopes about the current situation.
These letters are then digitized and auctioned off as sealed NFTs, the proceeds of which are donated to war victims through Arthelps. After 12 months, the donors can then open their digital letters and read through these thoughts. I think it’s a great campaign, which came about for a sad reason, but still gives me a lot of hope – because it shows that there are so many great, creative, empathetic and helpful people who show greatness and are committed to them who need your support. That’s what humanity is all about and gives me a lot of strength even on days like these.
You grew up in a musical family, your father Ricky is used to being in front of the camera. To what extent did that influence your own career?
Harris: Growing up in a musical family definitely shaped me a lot – being surrounded by great music all the time made developing a passion for music almost inevitable. My father’s career, on the other hand, didn’t really shape mine at all, because on the one hand he worked in a completely different industry and on the other hand his talk show days were a little longer ago. But I think it’s partly thanks to his genes that I don’t have a problem standing in front of cameras or large crowds, and actually enjoy it. I am very grateful for that.
Have you always followed the ESC?
Harris: Actually no. But I found that the ESC has always been a great event as it brings all of Europe together under the most beautiful motto in the world, which is music. It’s actually the only thing I associate with the word Europe, which is completely positive, peaceful and harmonious. In the current situation on this continent, I think we can tolerate this uniform peacefulness very well.
Do you have a favorite song from the past few years?
Harris: Definitely “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence. I love the intimacy and reducedness of the song and the performance because the emotions are conveyed so perfectly and no distractions are created, which I think is very atypical for the ESC.