Photos: Janek by @caseywedstudio / An-Marlen by Henri-Valjak / Frants by Arabella Veskis photography
The wild raucous energy of (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi from 5miinust and Puuluup summed up the distinctive charm of Estonia at Eurovision last year. The Northern European nation looks set to provide Estonians with a further array of diversity when it comes to selecting their Eurovision Song Contest entry for 2025 through long-established national selection Eesti Laul from broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
We’ve listened to all the entries and cherry-picked some highlights, but as always with any rundown, the live performances could truly change things when the contest takes place on Saturday 15 February.
Janek – Frozen
Janek Valgepea and Kjetil Mørland collaborate on Frozen, a song that marks Janek’s return to the Eesti Laul stage after his performance of House of Glass in 2023. Frozen is powered by an electronic groove bubbling in the background, with Janek’s soulful vocals gliding over the track. The star delivers well-pitched emotion throughout, soaring as he tackles the powerhouse chorus with conviction.
Anna Sahlene – Love Me Low
After representing Estonia at Eurovision in 2002 and achieving an excellent third place with Runaway, Swedish songstress Anna Sahlene returns with schlager anthem Love Me Low. With an army of collaborators including David Lindgren Zahcarias, Bobby Ljunggren, Michaela Stridbeck, Dagmar Oja, and Kaire Vilgats, Anna is not playing with this powerhouse pop number. This is a real contender.
ELYSA – The Last to Know
The warm tones of ELYSA lead The Last to Know, a cinematic ballad that impresses with a poignant musicality and atmospheric piano melody. Working with Simon Peyron, Angelino Markenhorn, and Julie Aagaard, ELYSA’s The Last to Know showcases the star’s big vocals, emotional lyrics, and stands out as moving big pop ballad.
An-Marlen – Külm
The softly enticing voice of An-Marlen leads Külm with the musician gently singing atop club-ready electronic production, providing a contrast that helps the number stand out as one of the most intriguing of this year’s Eesti Laul. We’re excited to see how this translates into a live performance setting.
ANT – Tomorrow Never Comes
With its big pop choruses, epic vocals, and contemporary production, ANT’s Tomorrow Never Comes is poised to leave a lasting impression on the Eesti Laul stage. A standout male mid-tempo ballad, ANT and collaborators Kim Wennerström and Merili Käsper have delivered an impressive Eesti Laul entry.
Frants Tikerpuu – Trouble
Frants Tikerpuu channels a soulful nostalgic pop in the likeable Trouble which taps into the Teddy Swims, Rag n’ Bone Man, Benson Boone style of contemporary pop. With an enticing piano melody and Frants’ confident vocal, Trouble asserts itself as a genuinely impressive contender.
Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
It’s impossible to talk about Eesti Laul 2025 without mentioning the name Tommy Cash. Set to be an undeniable fan favourite, Tommy fuses Italian lyrics with English language to create a quirky, addictive pop concoction that is theatrical, distinctive and relentlessly playful and cheeky. With a largely established fanbase already, expect to see lots more of Tommy this contest.
Stereo Terror – Prty Till the End of the World
One for the rock fans, Stereo Terror channel Lordi level rock-pop energy on Prty Till the End of the World, brimming with gothic energy and big rock choruses. This danceable metal entry won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but does inject a bit of additional variety into the Eesti Laul line-up.
Listen to all the entries on the Eesti Rahvusringhääling website. Who are you backing for Eesti Laul victory?