Måns Zelmerlöw (30) was already a star in his native Sweden before his victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. He had a harder time in Switzerland.
It's almost two years since Måns Zelmerlöw (30) won the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna for his home country of Sweden. His show with the stick figures, his song "Heroes" and his charisma won him the title. Now he is back - with the album "Chameleon".
It is his second album since his victory at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. "My life was in total disarray back then, but now it's settled down again," he says. "My focus now is on making a name for myself in Europe alongside Eurovision."
However, Zelmerlöw does not rule out the possibility of ever taking part in the ESC again: "I don't want to at the moment, but who knows!" After all, Loreen, who won the ESC for Sweden with "Euphoria" before Zelmerlöw, is back in the Swedish preliminary round this year. "She's a great artist, why shouldn't she take part again?"
Many exiled Swedes were also present at his last concert in Zurich. Of course, he also sang an extra song in Swedish. "But I've always sung a local song too, in Switzerland it was something by DJ Bobo," he says. "There will also be a surprise on the next tour. But I don't know what that is yet."
"I feel like a chameleon. I wanted to incorporate all my sides into the new album."
Your new album is called "Chameleon", although there is no song of the same name on it. Why this title then?
Måns Zelmerlöw: Because I've shown different facets throughout my career - that's why I feel like a chameleon. I wanted to incorporate all my sides into the new album.
You won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2015 and hosted it the following year. Has your life calmed down a bit now?
2016 was even more hectic than 2015, but now I've found a good level. At the moment, I'm concentrating on my European tour in the spring.
What will be new on the tour?
I'm touring with a bigger band and we have a lot more time to rehearse. This means we can coordinate the concerts better. The fans also know my songs better in the meantime.
How will you be following the ESC in May?
I might have a performance in Kiev at the same time. So I can imagine watching the ESC live. But that's not certain yet.
What does Switzerland need to do better at the contest?
Standing out is everything. You need a message and you have to captivate the audience with your performance from the very first second. Switzerland has had good pop songs in recent years, so there's not really much missing.
Do you know Switzerland well?
Yes, I once wanted to work in Verbier for a season. But as I was there early, in November, there was no snow yet. So we couldn't ski - and I couldn't find a job. After a month of playing cards, I flew home again.
Loreen, the Swedish ESC winner from 2012, has now taken part in the Swedish preliminary round again. Would that also be conceivable for you at some point?
Of course. I've always loved the Swedish preliminary round - the Melodifestivalen. But I think I'll need a few more years to return. I'll probably miss it in five years' time. And if I find the right song then, I'm sure I'll be back.
The Swedish music industry is huge. Which unknown artist do we need to know?
Veronica Maggio. She makes Swedish pop and has a very striking voice. I also really like her lyrics.
