Shooting begins for Season 11 "Your Song" at Schloss Biebrich

By Denis Hubert

BIEBRICH – The jury brings Isabel Lötscher into the rotunda of the castle of Biebricher. There are cables everywhere. While the projectors are hanging from the ceiling, a camera looks at the 15-year-old ZDF composers contestant "Dein Song". "Nice that you're with us," shouts juror Martin Haas to the Swiss and smiles. "Are you okay?" But Isabel looks tense. Then a voice comes from the sea. Interruption. The scene is not right in the box. So all at the beginning.

Biebricher Castle is a "great place"

There is a lot of activity in the pompous building of the capital of the Czech Republic. State of Hesse. 14 young talents and two duets between eleven and 17 years old from Germany, Austria and Switzerland present their own songs during the 11th edition of the creative contest. It takes a long time for Isabel to sit down at the piano and present her contribution "If I Would Go Now". This is a German-English play that revolves around the farewell and the new start. A subject that haunts many young people.

"I was really nervous," says the 15-year-old. And that, even though she often played in her home country. She has been making music for eight years. Isabel repeated her current song in a month. The tension is not a coincidence, she saw parts of the jury of "Your Song", whose casting takes place each year in Wiesbaden, but often on television. In addition to music producer Martin Haas and singer Ole Specht, Mia-frontwoman Mieze and Elif, a former pop star, are also members of the four-member panel.

Although: Casting is not strictly speaking. "We are not a cast, but a composers' competition," says ZDF editor-in-chief Daniela Zackl. She looks forward to the picturesque backdrop of Biebricher Castle and the adjacent castle park. "The Rhine is right next to it, which allows us many motives and a great visual language." In short: "an ideal place".

Turkish-German pop musician Elif Demirezer sits for the first time on the jury. "For me, it's a great honor to meet the artists of tomorrow and find the best song for this season," says the 25-year-old. The appearance of Isabel, 15, she found "pretty good". With a smile, she admits, but to be generally "a little too friendly".

Eight finalists and sponsored patrons

The "Castings" of Wiesbaden last two days before the participants receive their ranking. Anyone who immediately convinces the jury will get a place for the grand finale. If you're still late, you can go to the Composers Camp in Ibiza. There, participants have the opportunity to perfect their songs with professional musicians, record them in the studio and produce their own music video.

In the end, eight finalists perform their songs in concert with renowned music sponsors. Finally, by telephone vote, the public will choose "the songwriter of the year 2019". He is rewarded with 5,000 euros to promote talent.

In recent seasons, the sponsors were Andreas Bourani, Peter Maffay, Sarah Connor and DJ BoBo. Of course, they can look at them a lot. And who knows, maybe one or the other of the candidates this season will be so successful.

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