Interview to POLLAPONK - Iceland 2014 for Eurovision Song Contest

Pollapönk - ''We have a message that the world ends have to hear''.

Hello Pollapönk:

It's an honor for us that you dedicated a space of your time to answer these questions for Latinos eurofans, first of all, congratulations for winning the Icelandic selection with Enga Fordóma, a song with a very special message for the children.

Now, for all the fans of Eurovision in Latin America tell us.

OGAE RoW Latin America •  Who are Pollapönk? What can you tell us about the group?

Pollapönk or Pollpunk was founded in 2006 by guitarists Haraldur Freyr Gíslason and Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson of the Icelandic post-punk trio Botnleðja.

They created Pollapönk when graduating as Bachelors of education from the University of Iceland. The purpose was to write and perform music that children and adults alike would enjoy and be able to sing-a-long to. The first album Pollapönk was a major hit in Iceland.

In 2007 drummer Arnar Þór Gíslason who is Haraldur‘s brother and bassplayer Guðni Finnsson joined Pollapönk which then became a quartet. Pollapönk have made two more albums, and played numerous gigs for children and grown-ups all over Iceland. In everyday life Haraldur Freyr is the chairman of the Association of Pre-school Teachers, Heiðar Örn is a Pre-school teacher and Arnar Þór and Guðni are professional musicians.

OGAE R.O.L.A. • A question that we believe many of us are doing, what means Pollapönk?

The word Pollapönk has two meanings. Puddle punk and dude or small guy punk

OGAE R.O.L.A.• What prompted you to participate in the Söngvakeppni? How was the process of creating the entry which you won the right to represent Iceland at Eurovision ?

Pollapönk - The song and the lyric was specially written for Eurovision, we wanted to try to make song that was not a typical Eurovision song, (if you can say that there is something that you can call a typical Eurovision song) but, with a catchy melody, we also wanted to try to write a lyric that had a message that would be a contribution to human rights campaign, we were very happy to wine. This is a dream come true for us, we are proud and we thank the Icelandic public to give us this opportunity

OGAE R.O.L.A.• Fordóma Enga, is a song against bullying mainly in children, also you decided to sing in English so that this message can reach more people, why you decided to choose thie theme?

Pollapönk - We want to try to get the message to as many people as posible, we had an idea to have the lyric in many languages but we found it to complicated, we hope our message will get through to the beautiful people of the world, we will fight prejudice and discrimination with love.

 

 

OGAE R.O.L.A. • Do you plan of doing any other changes to the song? Whay can you tell us about the staging?

Pollapönk - There are no big plans on the table to change the song, just some minor changes, we have been thinking a lot of the stage performance in Copenhagen and there are meetings taking place every day on that matter, one thing's for sure! It we be amazing!

OGAE R.O.L.A. • According to the opinion of many Latino fans Eurovision, Iceland is always not well valued even you carry great songs to the festival such as in 2010 with Hera Björk, in 2011 with Sjonni 's Friends and, in 2012 with Greta Salome & Jonsi , which qualities do you have as a group to achieve a good position in the semifinal and maybe in the Big Final?

Pollapönk - We have catchy tune, a lot of energy, a message that the world ends have to hear and our heart is full of love.

OGAE R.O.L.A.• Do you know that Eurovision awakens passions in Latin America? What do you think?

Pollapönk - That is fantastic we did not know that.

OGAE R.O.L.A.• Would you like to expand you horizons to our continent ?

Pollapönk - That would be a blast to be able to visit your continent one day

OGAE R.O.L.A. - Once again thank you very much for the time you spent for us, we wish you the best in Copenhagen and please, send a final message for the latin fans of the festival.

Pollapönk - No prejudice!

"No Prejudice" is their entry for ESC 2014