The Roop ”Discoteque” | Lithuania Eurovision 2021 INTERVIEW

The Roop — Lithuania's Eurovision 2021 group — tell us all about their song "Discoteque", which is a call to set yourself free. As lead singer Vaidotas Valiukevičius says, "It's about liberating yourself. When you move, you feel good. By dancing you can reduce your depression and bad mood. It's very good for your mental and physical health. We want people to be happy and healthy." Last year, after Eurovision was cancelled, the group knew they had to move forward. "We told ourselves we had to move on because we're not one-hit wonders," Vaidotas says. And move on they did. They managed to write an entire album, which they'll release after ESC. As for their Eurovision song, they were determined NOT to copy "On Fire". In October 2020, Vaidotas dreamed up the melody line for "Discoteque.". "I was in the woods in a wooden house, alone, and I remember that I sang to myself, 'It is OK to dance alone.' I thought, 'That's a good idea.'" After meeting up with his bandmates the song was done in a week. Mantas says "it was organic and natural and that's a very good sign." They also discuss their mixed feelings about having to compete in Lithuania's national final Eurovizijos atranka 2021. Robertas sees a silver lining: "Maybe it made us kick ourselves in the butt and do something better, rather than having the spot and feeling safe." They say the music always comes before the dance moves, which frequently reference their childhood idols like David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury and the basketball star Arvydas Sabonis. Why all the yellow? It's the colour of hope and you will see it in Rotterdam.