Laura Thorn: Luxembourg's 'pop doll' is ready for Eurovision

Luxembourg returns to the Eurovision stage this year - and does so with a notable self-irony, a musical reference to its past and a new young hope. Laura Thorn, a 25-year-old singer and music teacher from Schifflange, will represent the country in the second semi-final wave on 15 May in Basel with the song La poupée monte le son.

In an interview with L'essentiel, Laura confesses that the last few weeks have been the busiest and happiest period of her life. European tours, rehearsals, interviews - all this she combines with her work at the Esch Conservatoire, where she teaches music: "This is my first academic year and I didn't want to leave my students. I've only missed half an hour of class since I got my Eurovision ticket".

This approach says a lot about the artist's character: humble, hardworking and dedicated.

Laura is not alone in this "Eurovision madness". She has her partner by her side, who, she says, helps her keep her balance: "Sometimes I just need some privacy. I'm not a very social person and I value time to myself".

A special support is provided by Tali, the Luxembourg representative for the 2024 contest, with whom they have become friends. The dancers involved in Laura's production have already performed on the Eurovision stage - they are a team with experience.

The song La poupée monte le son is a conscious reference to France Gall, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 with the song Poupée de cire, poupée de son, also representing Luxembourg. For Laura it was important to convey the heritage, ease and identity of her country: "I grew up in Luxembourg, I studied here, my family is here - it's my home. I want people to know that Luxembourg has its own language, its own history, its own face".

Although the song is sung in French, Laura does not rule out a version in Luxembourgish - although she admits that she has never sung in that language before.

The promotional tour already covers Amsterdam, London, with Madrid ahead. Networking with the other participants is another facet of the experience. Laura shares her musical passions: Malta makes her smile, and Estonia has become a "guilty pleasure" - at first she didn't like it, but now she listens to it all the time.