Loreen: Human rights work is essential to me

Euroradio: Loreen,  what is your next career goal after the victory at Eurovision?

Loreen: I'd like to make an album that would represent me, us, life, something thrilling. But the way, I am working on it right now. I have left the studio to talk to you.

Euroradio: Your parents are from Morocco. Did the Moroccan musical and dance traditions influence the victorious performance much?

Loreen: The way we feel music and life influenced it. We respect the nature of music very much, and it has great power. I realized it very well while singing Euphoria. As a child, I often visited Morocco, I went there every summer and sometimes in autumn. Morocco has taught me a lot of things, this country is very different and sometimes absolutely different from Scandinavia. It gave me a broader outlook and the ability to understand different cultures.

Euroradio: You are a fan of yoga. Could it affect Euphoria in any way?

Loreen: Some yoga movements, its tempo and fluency affected it. When the lights are on and five people are dancing on the stage, the tempo becomes very quick and it makes you nervous. I wanted a slower tempo so that people could comprehend and feel the information. It resembles yoga in some way.

Euroradio: What do you like more about yoga  - physical exercises or breathing practices?

Loreen: In my opinion, meditation and the opportunity to look within yourself is the most important thing. I like the movements, they resemble tai chi but meditation is more important. The society is very nervous now, many things are happening. It is necessary to be able to control your life, to look within in order to find what you really want.

Euroradio: Unfortunately, Belarusian singers have no luck at Eurovision. Can you give a piece of advice about the ways to win?

Loreen: The main thing is being honest to yourself and loving the things you do. If you are the author of the song, the performance is part of you... Looking at a singer, I want to see the truth, something that comes from within. Find a singer who is honest to himself and who loves and feels what he is doing next year. I think that it is essential.

Euroradio: Loreen, what is your personal life like? Are you in love with anybody?

Loreen: I am not in love with anyone particular at the moment. If you want to know whether I am free now - I am! (laughs). A relationship imposes responsibility which is time-consuming. If you lack time, you'd better wait.

Euroradio: You visited Belarus a month ago. What was your impression?

Loreen: Looking at people's feelings was more important to me than visiting sights of interest. I spent little time in Belarus but I noticed  Belarusians' friendliness and kindness. People were waiting near my hotel for a long time and were asking to be photographed with them. I appreciate it very much.

Euroradio: You also met Belarusian activists in the Swedish Embassy during your visit to Belarus. Swedish pilots have organized a scandalous action in Belarus recently - they landed teddy bears in Belarus in support of the freedom of speech. The protection of human rights is something inherent to Swedes, isn't it?

Loreen: What is my opinion about the teddy bears? First of all, I think that problems should be solved by peaceful diplomatic measures and that you need self-esteem. Sometimes provocations can be good if they are peaceful and well thought-out. Human rights work is essential to me. I live well and I want people nearby to have the same opportunity. Mutual self-esteem is a very important thing.