Aussievision team: Kiel

Name and where you live

I'm Kiel, I'm in my mid-30s and I live in Melbourne's outer east.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Music and writing/storytelling are my two favourite things, and I've been lucky to combine both of them into a career and follow my passions. Rock and metal are my genres of choice, but I won't say no to a great hip-hop track or pop song (hello Eurovision!)

I'm a born and bred Melbourne boy but I've had stints living in Shepparton and Colac and a tiny bit of time in London too. Most recently I spent 6.5 years as a reporter with Leader and the Herald Sun. Earlier this year I made the move into comms and I now work at a local council near me.

Outside of my day job, going to gigs and taking photos, you can find me occasionally on an aisle as an usher at Marvel Stadium, zooming around on my eScooter, and cheering on my favourite sport teams. I thrive on the energy of big events and if it's the hottest ticket in town and a guaranteed good time, I want to be amongst it. I'm fueled by coffee in the morning and beer at night. And I'm always on the hunt for a great parma, burger or brunch spot.

What is your Eurovision journey?

The first Eurovision I rember watching closely was 2012, mainly cause I was writing for Music Feeds at the time and doing a few stories. The Russian Nannas and Loreen obviously stood out!

But then when Australia started competing in 2015, that's when my interest really kicked in. X-Factor and Idol were long gone, The Voice was painful to watch, and I wanted a new TV song contest to get into.

I really enjoy how Eurovision serves as a showcase of new artists with original songs too - it allows me to discover new acts from other parts of the world every year.

In 2020 I started watching a lot of vids from Wiwibloggs during lockdown to pass the time, so that got me into the contest even more. I was increasingly looking for an outlet to again combine my passions (writing and Eurovision), so I joined the Aussievision team in late 2022, and here we are!

I haven't been to Eurovision or Australia Decides yet, but all going to plan, you'll see me on the ground in Malmö in 2024.

Do you have any affinity to nations other than Australia?

My dad's side of the family has Dutch roots so I guess the Netherlands are my default second faves. And given some of my all time favourite artists from Eurovision are from there, and cause they love their heavy music as well, I'd say I have a soft spot for Finland too, as well as the Swedes given they do pop music so well.

Any Aussievision highlights?

Filming videos with (fellow Melbournite) Liv has been really fun - we make a great team. And I've loved contributing to the podcasts and the rankings articles to bring out the music judge/critic in me which I've always wanted a platform for.

But best of all it's been great just to connect with fellow passionate Eurovision fans in the team and banter and collaborate with them, its been the group of fellow fans that I never had!

Kiel and Liv with Danny from Voyager after the band’s Melbourne gig in June.

Quick questions on Eurovision entries

Best winner: 'Hard Rock Hallelujah' (Finland 2006)

Favourite three non-Australian entries: 'Hold Me Closer' (Sweden 2022), 'Cha Cha Cha' (Finland 2023), 'Viszlát Nyár (Goodbye Summer)' (Hungary, 2018).

Favourite Australian entry: Gotta be Voyager and 'Promise' - but I wish they got to compete with 'Dreamer' instead. Outside of that, Kate Miller-Heidke and 'Zero Gravity' - fittingly our first ever Australia Decides winner. Plus her piano version of the track is just beautiful.

Your personal 12-point getters from the last five contests:

2019 - 'Arcade' (Netherlands)

2020 - 'Attention' (Norway)

2021 - 'Adrenalina' (San Marino) and 'Dark Side' (Finland) - how bout I just give them both 11?

2022 - 'Hold Me Closer' (Sweden)

2023 - 'Cha Cha Cha' (Finland)

Robberies: Senhit and Flo Rida were criminally shunned with 'Adrenalina' in 2022 - at a minimum it should have been San Marino's best ever result and got a top 10 finish. I blame the producers for giving her the closing performance of the final and Europe for only having eyes for Italy, France and Switzerland that year.

I also think Eleni Foureria (Cyprus, 2018) and Chanel (Spain, 2022) were unlucky not to win in their respective years. Both of them absolutely slayed the competition with their sizzling performances.

Finally, Lord of The Lost finishing last for Germany this year (2023) was ridiculous, especially for the amount of pyro they packed in and how much they owned the stage! But they then went off to support Iron Maiden around Europe after the contest, so they've had the last laugh.

Makes you dance: I daresay I pile out the routine to Käärijä's 'Cha Cha Cha' in the kitchen at least once or twice a week! Also, hard not to get your groove on to 'Fuego' or 'SloMo' and 'Get That Wolf A Banana'.

Guilty pleasure: 'La La Love' by Ivi Adamou (Cyprus 2012)

Favourite non-qualifier: 'Stripper' (San Marino, 2022), plus the ace hot mess that was 'Ingraka' (Montenegro, 2013)

Favourite Eurovision year: For bloodline reasons, probably 2019 with Duncan Lawrence triumphing for the Netherlands with 'Arcade' - and Kate Miller-Heidke's jaw-dropping performance of 'Zero Gravity'. She deserved much better than 9th!

Favourite national finals: Australia Decides, UMK (Finland), Melodifestivalen (Sweden), Melodi Grand Prix (Norway).

Favourite national final songs: 'Little Fires' - Jaguar Jonze (Australia Decides 2022), 'Attention' - Ulrikke (Melodi Grand Prix, 2020 - she never made it to the Eurovision stage, so I think it's fair to label it a national final song!), and 'Samaa Taivasta Katsotaan' - Portion Boys (UMK 2023).

Any final comments?

If you're worried about whether it's cool to like Eurovision - you CAN be a single straight bloke who loves heavy music and Eurovision too!

I think the stigmas of Eurovision being a cheesy pop contest only loved by the LGBTIQ community are starting to wane, and as each year passes, it's being seen by more people, demographics and music fans as a hugely credible song contest with broad appeal, like a yearly Olympics of music. It's great to see and I love immersing myself in it more and more each year.