Bambie Thug on Eurovision 2024: “I know that my heart is in the right place”

nme.com:

Eurovision entry Bambie Thug has spoken to NME about navigating the controversy surrounding the competition this year, along with the key inspirations behind their metal-infused “ouija-pop” sound and representing their nation as a queer, non-binary contestant.The Irish singer-songwriter (real name Bambie Ray Robinson) won RTÉ’s Eurosong contest in January with their song ‘Doomsday Blues’.

Robinson penned the track with Cassyette, Wargasm’s Sam Matlock and songwriter Tylr Rydr.They currently rank in the top 10 favourites to win the competition this year, of which they said: “Ireland has only qualified once for the final in the last 10 years – the fact that we are there even in the top 10 is incredible.

But to be honest, I’m never one to try and look at the odds. In my brain, you could always beat the odds, because anyone can make the odds go up and down with a bit of money.“I’m glad people are betting on me, but I’m just going to give the best performance I can do and try to connect in those three minutes to those millions of viewers.

Hopefully my performance shines on the night and they crown the witch!”Robinson told NME their witchcraft influences were owed to Ireland’s historic pagan roots, and their interest in paganism reignited when they made friends with a witch community in London’s Muswell Hill.“It’s been a form of therapy, putting an intention or feeling onto certain objects, or putting things into a potion to signify something,” they said. “It’s all arts and crafts, it’s all creating and play.