Tue 25 Feb 2025 - 19:30
Panel
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST – CRAFTING AND PERFORMING HITS
ROCKLAB MEMBER MEETING
Practical Info
Promoter: Rocklab
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About
What makes a Eurovision-winning song truly stand out? The Eurovision Song Contest has launched countless careers and introduced iconic songs to global audiences. In this session, featuring Luxembourg’s Winner of the 2025 LSC and official national candidate for the ESC in Basel 2025, we’ll delve into the art and strategy of crafting songs for Eurovision. Topics will cover the creative process, preparation, and the keys to delivering a memorable live performance.
Speakers:
Laura Thorn (Artist / Performer):
Since Laura was little, she quickly discovered a passion for music and dance. She joined a dance school at the age of 5, which she attended until she was 19. During those years, she participated in numerous dance competitions organized by CND France. At the age of 8, she entered the music conservatory in Luxembourg, where she started with music theory (solfeggio), followed by instrumental training (piano and cello). Laura then continued with other disciplines (chamber music, keyboard and string sight-reading, choir conducting, harmony, and counterpoint). She completed her studies at the conservatory in 2023. Over the years, she received several first prizes (in Solfeggio, piano, keyboard sight-reading, harmony, and counterpoint). After obtaining her high school diploma with a focus on music, she enrolled in a higher music school, IMEP in Namur, Belgium, to pursue a Master’s degree in Music theory (Solfeggio) and pedagogy, which she successfully completed last year. Since this school had recently opened a « pop » singing section a few years earlier, and she had always had a passion for singing but no vocal technique, she also joined this section. She successfully finished her Master’s in « pop » singing this year. Besides her studies, she has also participated in many concerts as a solo singer as well as a part of a choir called « Almakalia », which participated at the Eurovision Choir 2019. With her academic journey complete, she has started teaching singing and music theory at the Conservatory of Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg.
Julien Salvia (Composer & Music Producer):
Julien Salvia composed & co-produced Luxembourg’s Eurovision 2025 entry, « La Poupée Monte le Son. » With an engineering degree from the Ecole Centrale Paris in hand, Julien embarked on an artistic career a composer, author, director and performer, notably in the field of musicals. He’s been working with Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal as a musical theatre writing team for more that 15 years. They started their collaboration with the creation of two epic musicals for which Julien created the music: in 2005, Revolution, an original creation which takes place during the French Revolution, and in 2006, The Man Who Laughs, an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous novel.
In 2017, their musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer opened at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris. It received a Molières Awards nomination in 2019. It also received 11 nominations at Trophées de la Comédie Musicale Awards (a record for a French Original Show for this ceremony) in 2018, winning Best Original Score, Best Family Musical and Audience’s Choice Award.
In 2019, Matches the Musical started its first Chinese Tour. And in 2020, their new show, Around the World in 80 Days opened at the Théâtre Mogador. It received a Molières Awards nomination the same year and 6 nominations at the Trophées de la Comédie Musicale
In 2020, they joined the pool of screenwriters for the new animated series Living with Dad, broadcasted on the TV Channels M6 and Gulli in 2023.
In 2024, Julien directed their new musical, C’est du Délire! which debuted at the Théâtre Panoramix at Parc Astérix.The show was Highly Commended at Park World Excellence Award, and is nominated in the Most Creative Theatrical Production Limited Operation category at the IAAPA. That same year, they wrote the Parc Spirou theme song, « Le Voyage Commence ».
The pair also have several new projects in progress: original creations, The World’s Greatest Lover, Ave Maria (co-written with Matthieu D’Aurey), and Ron For America (co-written with Anthony Michineau), as well as adaptations of several movies and books into musicals, notably Humbug! adapted from Dicken’s A Christmas Carol (book by Anthony Michineau) and A Foreign Field (Incognito), and Tink (with book by Joe Leather)
In addition to his creative work, Julien has also had the opportunity to work as a singing actor in various musicals like Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, A Fiddler On A Roof and many more.
Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal (Lyricist & Music Producer):
Ludovic-Alexandre wrote and co-produced Luxembourg’s Eurovision 2025 entry, « La Poupée Monte le Son ». After a Ph.D. in project management at Ecole Centrale Paris, Ludovic-Alexandre started his career as a musical theatre bookwriter and lyricst in partnership with Julien Salvia as a composer. They wrote the shows « Revolution » (2005), « The Man Who Laughs » (2006), and « The Prince And The Pauper » (2008) which won the Marius award for Best Family Musical in France in 2008, before pursuing an international career in festivals (Montreal’s Next Wave (2010), New York’s MITF (2011) – 1 award and 5 nominations including Outstanding Music & Lyrics).
With Julien, they also co-wrote several musicals such as « Rapunzel The Musical » (2014) and « Matches The Musical » (2015) both nominated at the Molières 2016, as well as « Tom Sawyer The Musical” (2018) which opened at the Théâtre Mogador in February 2018 and was awarded with 3 Trophées de la Comédie Musicale in June 2018 including Best Original Score (with a total of 11 nominations, a record for a French creation for this ceremony) and a nomination for the Molières 2019. Then came their musical theatre adaptation of Jules Verne’s « Around The World In 80 Days » at the Théâtre Mogador (2020), also nominated at the Molières 2020 and awarded with 1 Trophée de la Comédie Musicale. They also wrote “C’est Du Délire ! (It’s Madness!)” (2024), the first musical of Parc Astérix, the famous French theme park based upon the adventures of Asterix The Gaul.
Together, they are also currently developing several projects in the United Kingdom, including « A Foreign Field », presented in a showcase in London in November 2018. They are also working on the development of a new musical « Tink », for which they sign the songs (book by Joe Leather). They are also writing the new musical, “World’s Greatest Lover”, presented in concert at New York’s 54 Below in December 2024, and the first production of which is going to premier in 2025.
Ludovic-Alexandre is also the co-author with François Chouquet and Jacques Pessis of the book of « Mistinguett, Queen Of The Roaring Twenties » (2014), and the co-author/adaptor of « Amusingly Magic » (2014) with the world-famous magician Alain Choquette, with whom he has also collaborated on his new show « The Memory Of Time » (2019). He also wrote the show “The Dream Factory” (with Matt Hoverman) (2020), “Alice & The Queen of Hearts” and “Tales of Magic” (with Sara Wordsworth) (2025) for Disneyland Paris.
As an adaptor, he signed the French adaptations (book and lyrics) of « Legally Blonde The Musical » (2012) and « Jekyll & Hyde » (2014). He also co-adapted (with Nicolas Nebot) for Stage Entertainment France the musicals « Sister Act » (2012), « Beauty And The Beast » (2013), « Tanz Der Vampire » (2014) and « Cats » (2014). He also co-wrote the adaptations of « Dirty Dancing » (2015 & 2024) and « Bodyguard » (2018) at the Palais des Sports. Ludovic-Alexandre recently signed the French adaptation of the songs from « Charlie and the Chocolate Factory » (2021) and Madagascar (2024).
Christophe Houssin (Music Producer):
Christophe Houssin co-produced Luxembourg’s Eurovision 2025 entry, « La poupée monte le son« . As a young child, Christophe already knew what he would do later: become a musician! He began studying classical piano at the age of 8 and ended, 12 years later, his musical studies with a degree in musicology in pocket at the prestigious university of «Paris IV Sorbonne» (where he learned the art of harmony, counterpoint, orchestration).
As a teenager, he discovered pop rock music, and throughout his musical career, he never stopped mixing classical and rock music. This mix of styles (orchestral, pop, rock, electro) will be found in a large part of his musical projects and will even become his «trademark».
In 1992 he founded the progressive rock band «Cafeïne» with which he will release 2 albums: «La citadelle» 1994 MSI/DISCOGS and «Nouveaux Mondes» 1998 MUSEA/DISCOGS. The band became the «DID» project in 2018 with the release of the album «D.I.D» (with famous singers like Michael Sadler from SAGA).
In 1998 began a collaboration with «Nolwen», a Celtic pop singer with a pure voice and Celtic sound. They will make 5 albums together. He composes all the music and makes the 5 albums.
In 2007, Christophe created with the author Franck Harscouet and the singer Malaurie Duffaud the band «La fille d’Octobre», whose atypical style is a kind of intersection between rock, orchestral, gothic and cinematographic music. After many scenes the band finally released an album: «Hurle-vent» 2007 NIGHTBIRD MUSIC.
In addition to his career as a songwriter, Christophe especially likes to write for the cinema. He has composed several film musics, including Sheila O’Connor’s “Duo”, Guilhem Méric’s transmedia project “Myrihandes” (with the song “Kill me Now” sung by Laurent Ban), “Le Café des veuves” by Geoffroy Koeberlé, “Le dernier Sanctuaire” by Denis Lagrange…
From 2010, Christophe also started a collaboration with the company «Tip Touch» (founded by Jean Guy de Gabriac) specialized in «wellness» and body care. With them he will compose a large number of relaxing music, played in treatment rooms, for prestigious cosmetics brands. In 2018, he composed «3 musical journeys to the Dead sea», a huge compilation (9 hours of music! Inspired by the dead sea) for «Ahava» whose parent Chinese company («Fosun») is located in Shanghai.
Since 2017 Christophe actively collaborates with the singer Laurent Ban. He first writes several songs on the album «Prima» and mixes part of the album. Then after several tours and concerts (China, Taiwan) they decided (in 2020) with Laurent to write together a new album especially intended for Asia (with the support of Saturday Studio in Taipei) : « Aura » (Christophe writes everything on it).
It is in this musical context that Christophe – at the request of Studio Saturday – writes and arranges the song «Together». This charitable title is interpreted by the greatest French singers of musicals in order to fight against the Coronavirus that is rampant and provide a very strong moral support to the populations affected in Asia: «We are together».
The song is a huge success in Asia and totals more than 170 million views worldwide !!!
In 2025, Christophe is actually co-writing a musical « Mulan, i’m a legend” with Pascal Joseph. At the same time, he returns to China for two exceptionnals french Gala concerts in the famous Shanghai Culture Square (musical director and pianist). And will follow a big Chinese tour in April 2025 all over China (13 shows).
Eric Lehmann (Head of the Luxembourgish Delegation at Eurovision):
Eric has been deeply involved in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1998, starting as a journalist covering the event before embracing his role as a delegate. His extensive experience and expertise in the Eurovision sphere have led to his present position as the Head of the Luxembourgish Delegation.
Over the years, Eric has served as a jury member for various national televised preselections across multiple participating countries. Currently, he is an integral part of the production team at RTL for the Luxembourg Song Contest, playing a key role in involving external production parties, selecting jury members and artists, guiding contestants, and representing Luxembourg as Head of Delegation at Eurovision.
His further contributions to the Eurovision community include producing and hosting 8 editions of the Eurovision Gala in Luxembourg, an event held under the High Patronage of the Representation of the European Commission. With years of engagement in both organizing and supporting artists, Eric is dedicated to strengthening Luxembourg’s presence on the Eurovision stage.
Panel Moderator:
Lisa Burke
In partnership with:
