Growing up in a Greek environment, it comes as no surprise that Stephen Amos was initiated to the Eurovision ‘cult’ at an early age, a passion shared by many Hellenes across the globe.
“Our whole family have been big fans for a long time. I remember being maybe six or seven when we first saw it on TV and it grew from there,” he tells SBS Greek.
“We would watch it every year, sometimes getting up in the middle of the night, whatever time it was live in Australia[…] I just really loved it.”
Mr Amos was amongst the millions of disappointed fans who saw the event cancelled this year for the first time in its 64-year history, due to coronavirus.
But he was quick to find another way of celebrating “the end of the 'would be' Eurovision weekend”, uploading a cover of the Norwegian entry.
His online performance did not go unnoticed by Eurovision fans in Australia, who urged Mr Amos to take part in a cover contest run by Victoria Georgieva, the artist who was chosen to represent Bulgaria in Eurovision this year with the song ‘Tears Getting Sober’.
Mr Amos’ win was reported by Bulgaria’s state broadcaster and other media outlets, where Ms Georgieva stated:
“Over 50 singers and musicians took part and it was very difficult for us to choose the best versions of ‘Tears Getting Sober’. Stephen's cover really stood out. I'm also glad about the fact that many talented Bulgarians got involved."
Mr Amos says he didn’t anticipate his performance to be selected for the first place.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was also very last minute for me to put the entry. I wasn’t sure but feel very lucky about the outcome.”
As a winning prize, he was invited to participate in an online songwriting session with Ms Georgieva and her team in preparation of the artist’s upcoming album.
The Monash Arts & Music graduate took up singing as a child and it soon became his passion.
Stephen Amos Source: Supplied
“It grew into doing a lot of performing arts and musicals and teaching singing as well,” says the 24-year-old artist.
He has performed in many musical theatre shows, including Life Story Theatre Company’s ‘Ordinary Days’ and ‘Spring Awakenings by PEP Productions.
His Greek roots hail from a village near Kalamata, where his mother’s parents lived before migrating to Australia.
Source: Supplied
“I think listening to Greek music growing up as well as whatever was popular in Australia, really helped having a broader taste in music and different experiences.”
