Two weeks ago, it was revealed that 18 acts have been selected by RTVSLO to compete in EMA FREŠ. This selection, which starts next week, will act as a pre-selection for EMA 2020. Following this, the full line-up was revealed. Now, it has been announced who will be facing who in the ‘duel’ rounds.

With the competition due to start this coming Monday (4th November), EMA’s Instagram account has revealed who each act will be taking on in the ‘duel’ rounds:

Duel 1: 4th November

Stella – Ne vem, če sem v redu (I don’t know if I’m okay)

Pia Nina – Tukaj in zdaj (Here and now)

Duel 2: 5th November

Soulution – Bil bom s teboj (I’ll be with you)

Younite – The Cure

Duel 3: 6th November

Astrid in Avantgarden – Sing To Me

Martina – Pleši (Dance)

Duel 4: 11th November

Klarity – Diham (I’m breathing)

Tilen Lotrič – Jaz in ti (Me and you)

Duel 5: 12th November

Marko Škof – Hočem da je vse kot prej (I want everything as before)

Petra Ceglar – Srce naglas (Heart out loud)

Duel 6: 13th November

Parvani Violet – Cupid

Sara Petešič – Sanjaj / Dream

Duel 7: 18th November

Ljudmila Frelih – Vztrajaj, ker je vredno (Persevere because it’s worth it)

Saška – Še kar lovim tvoj nasmeh (I’m still chasing your smile)

Duel 8: 19th November

Alfirev – Črno bela lika (Black and white figure)

Nuša Pliberšek – Življenje je čarovnija (Life is magic)

Duel 9: 20th November

Lana Hrvatin – Dream

Marmoris – Moj pristan (My haven)

Um…so how does this all work, then?

From November 4 onwards, two acts will be presented per day, each week, from Monday to Wednesday. The public will vote for a winner from each ‘daily duel’. From each duel, one will progress to Friday’s round, where the winner of the week will be selected. Each week, the jury will also select a winner.

After the first three weeks, six artists will have qualified for the EMA Freš final. The remaining four finalists will by determined by a “happy losers” round, an additional online vote.

The final 10 will then compete for one of two spots in EMA 2020. One of these will be determined by a public vote, and another by the jury. These acts will compete against established Slovenian artists in the selection for Eurovision 2020! The submissions for EMA are due to close on November 18th.

Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest

Slovenia has competed 24 times as an independent nation. Previously, they have competed as Yugoslavia alongside: Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As Yugoslavia, only four of the 27 entries were from Slovenia.

Slovenia officially debuted in 1993, where they won the right to compete after winning Kvalifikacija za Millstreet. They qualified along with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, who finished second and third respectively. Slovenia were represented in 1993 by 1X Band who sang “Tih deževen dan”. They finished in 22nd with Nine points.

Slovenia’s best ever finish at Eurovision is Seventh Place, which they have achieved twice. The first of those came in 1995, when Darja Švajger sang “Prisluhni mi”. Likewise the second of those came in 2001, when Nuša Derenda sang “Energy”.

What do you think of this format? Are you looking forward to seeing who Slovenia send to Rotterdam? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates!