Emin - "Being invited to perform at Eurovision, in my home country, in front of a global audience, is a truly life changing opportunity"

Emin is a star in both his home country of Azerbaijan and Russia, and a rising star in Britain where his second album ‘After The Thunder’ will be released in May. Emin is well versed in performing to arena audiences but being invited to perform on the global stage of the Eurovision Song Contest is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and personal honour for Emin.

“It is probably the single biggest opportunity to be able to perform as a guest during the Eurovision in the country which is your home country, how often does that happen? Once in a lifetime and it’s great. Every time you perform for a big crowd it is very exciting, if you perform in your home country it is twice as exciting and if there are also hundreds of millions of people watching then it is just unbelievable. I think I don’t even understand what it will feel like but I am very excited”

As well as being a personal highlight, Emin sees this as an important event for Azerbaijan.

“I think it’s an incredible showcase for my country, that will inspire an interest to learn about the beautiful culture and people and perhaps visit.”

2012 is a very big year for Emin. As well as Eurovision, Emin will be releasing his new album ‘After The Thunder’ on May 21st.

Recorded with Brian Rawling (James Morrison, Olly Murs, JLS, Enrique, Cher) ‘After The Thunder’ follows Emin’s 2011 album ‘Wonder which saw the singer’s signature blend of adult pop with contemporary production received extremely well in the UK, with BBC Radio 2 naming it their Album of the Week and play listing both singles.

Emin Agalarov's life story is certainly a very international one. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, his family relocated to Moscow when he was three. He moved to Europe to pursue his education when he was a teenager, which Emin says was to “open my mind to the world.” He completed his studies in New Jersey, USA, where he not only developed a flair for being a businessman, but a love of music that wouldn’t let go.

“There was always music playing in our home, like Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdink, Sade, Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin. My mother gave me a couple of tapes, which were compilations of young Elvis and that inspired me. I really admired singers with big voices and longed to sing like Elvis myself!”

It was as an entrepreneur that Emin first found his forte. Starting his own online store while at college, he opened a shoe boutique in Manhattan before returning to Russia to build a hugely successful fashion and retail portfolio. Despite his extraordinary business achievements, there was still something missing in Emin’s life and 6 years ago, he decided to follow his heart.

“Whatever I was doing in my life, I always dreamed of being a singer,” he explains. “It was always about the music. I thought if I don’t do it now, I'll be 40 years old before I know it, and regretting that I hadn't even tried.”

The result was his 2006 debut album 'Still', which was an immediate success, followed up by three subsequent albums, 'Incredible' (2007), 'Obsession' (2008) and 'Devotion' (2009). Emin sold ever-increasing quantities as he started filling arena-size venues across Russia. With characteristic ambition Emin realised that he couldn’t develop further on his own.

“I was doing everything; I was the singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and even my own stylist!”

The ambition and focus that underpinned his business career would influence his next step.

“I wanted to move onto something bigger and my friends and management in the UK helped me find that direction”.

That direction would be steered by London-based producer Brian Rawling and his team of world-class songwriters at Metrophonic studios, such as the multiple Ivor Novello winner Paul Barry (Enrique's 'Hero') and Wayne Hector (Westlife, James Morrison, JLS). Working with Rawling encouraged Emin to stretch his vocal talent, while pushing himself as an artist to discover a whole new range of song-writing possibilities.

This was reflected in his last album Wonder (2011), which was named Radio 2’s ‘Album of the Week’ and saw two of its singles 'Obvious' and 'Any Time You Fall' (both co-written by Emin) chosen as ‘Single of the Week’.

With strong support from Radio 2, Magic FM and BBC Local Radio, Emin also charmed TV audiences with performances for This Morning and Titchmarsh as well as a Channel 4 documentary. Additionally Emin made waves in the US when he donated his song ‘All I Need Tonight’ to the David Lynch Foundation’s charity album ‘Download for Good’ alongside tracks from Maroon 5, Peter Gabriel, Moby and more.

As a result Emin was shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the Grammys and was brought to the attention of EMI, who signed him to a deal worldwide.

Emin teamed back up with Rawling and his ‘Wonder’ songwriters, along with some new names and now having a greater hand in the writing himself, his new album ‘After The Thunder’ is a mature, honest and confident pop record.

Released in May, ‘After The Thunder’ is the perfect reintroduction to the more self-assured, more expressive singer whose charm and personality informs every moment of this new record, the result of a lifetime’s passion.