EUROVISION | Satoshi: “I want people to associate Moldova with positive emotions”
The Republic of Moldova will open the Eurovision show on the evening of May 12, and Satoshi promises an energetic performance. With a single word in mind for Moldovans, “Unity,” and a desire to associate Moldova’s name with positive emotion, Vlad Sabajuc, known as Satoshi, reveals in an interview with Radio Moldova whom he dedicates his Eurovision performance to.
Radio Moldova: How are you feeling, Vlad?
Satoshi: We’re getting ready to head to the arena for tonight’s show. Everyone is rested and prepared. We are absolutely ready!
Radio Moldova: Knowing that you will open Eurovision tonight, what are your emotions now, as you are the first to perform?
Satoshi: There’s some pressure that comes with opening the show, but the fact that we’ll receive so much attention during an anniversary year of Eurovision helps us gain greater visibility.
Radio Moldova: Do you feel that you have the mission of setting the tone for the musical event?
Satoshi: Not only do we have that mission, we are going to do it.
Radio Moldova: What is the atmosphere backstage like before your performance? Is it the way we see it on television, or does it feel different?
Satoshi: It’s like what we see on screen, but it feels much more intense there.
In the area where the artists stay, it’s mostly quiet. Everyone has their own dressing room, and you exchange a few words with someone from another country.
In general, everyone tries to stay focused because you need enough energy for the whole day, and everyone tries not to get tired too early.
Radio Moldova: You walked the turquoise carpet in Vienna and said it felt like you were in a movie. What kind of movie does the Eurovision experience feel like to you now?
Satoshi: I think it’s an adventure comedy at the same time. It mixes emotions with adventure, comedy, tension, and a beautiful experience.
There’s a lot of travelling, many challenges, and a difficult journey.
Radio Moldova: How would you describe the preparations for one of the biggest shows of your career?
Satoshi: We have been preparing since December. These are the most serious and intense preparations we have ever had for any musical project.
We’ve gone through countless rehearsals, recordings, adjustments, filming sessions, trips, performances, and interviews.
It has been a very busy and long period, with hundreds of interactions.
Radio Moldova: How much has your performance changed from the first rehearsals until now?
Satoshi: It has changed quite a lot since the first rehearsals, but our stage energy has stayed active, just like it usually is at my concerts.
Radio Moldova: When did you first feel that you were truly living the Eurovision experience?
Satoshi: During the national final in Chișinău.
Radio Moldova: What was the most unexpected reaction you received in Vienna?
Satoshi: People from Australia came to see us, and I also gave an interview to a listener from Japan.
I think those were the more special and unexpected moments.
Radio Moldova: Did this experience help you discover something about yourself as well?
Satoshi: Probably, yes.
Radio Moldova: What qualities did you discover in yourself?
Satoshi: Time will show that.
It’s still too early to talk about things like that. I’m still going through the process, so I can’t draw conclusions yet.
Radio Moldova: Before you go on stage, do you prefer silence or the energy of the team?
Satoshi: Definitely the team’s energy.
Radio Moldova: What do you want the audience to remember after your performance?
Satoshi: I want them to associate Moldova with positive emotions.
Radio Moldova: If you could send just one word back home, what would it be?
Satoshi: Unity!
Radio Moldova: Would you like to dedicate this Eurovision show to someone?
Satoshi: Yes, to my parents.
Radio Moldova: Would you like to look back on this experience in a certain way years from now?
Satoshi: I don’t know. It’s too early to say.
Radio Moldova: What message do you have for those who will watch you tonight, for Moldovans around the world?
Satoshi: I want them to know that we stand united. We are a very strong force, no matter how small our country may be.
We have proven that many times, and now, once again, we have the chance to show our human potential.
How you can support your favorites at Eurovision
Voting in the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will open immediately after the live performances of the 15 participating countries conclude.
In both the semifinals and the final, the results will come equally from public voting and national juries, with each accounting for 50%.
Viewers can vote through several methods, depending on the country: via the official Eurovision Song Contest app, online at esc.vote , by SMS, or by phone call, using the numbers provided by national broadcasters during the live broadcasts.
For the 2026 edition, organizers also introduced a voting limit. Each viewer can cast a maximum of 10 votes for each payment method, compared to 20 in previous years. The measure aims to prevent an excessive concentration of votes for a single contestant.
Fans can support several contestants, but they cannot vote for their own country.
The diaspora can support Moldova’s representative by voting from the country where they live, provided that country participates in the semi-final on May 12.
At the end of the voting process, the 10 countries that qualify for the Eurovision 2026 final will be announced live.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 semifinal on May 12 will air live at 10:00 p.m. on Moldova 1 and on the broadcaster’s website. The public television channel will also broadcast the semifinal on May 14 and the final on May 16.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, after Johannes Pietsch, better known as “JJ”, won the 2025 edition in Switzerland.
Eurovision 2026, which brings together 35 participating countries, marks the 70th edition of the international music competition and will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle.
