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For the second time running, Gliesetonia is sending an entry to the annual NationStates Eurovision Song Contest (NESC). The electro- and synth-pop artist STS - Skylar will represent Gliesetonia with her song "Soul in Neon!". This year's NESC will be held in the city of Thessaloniki in the nation of Yahlia. After coming 13th place in the final in last years contest, which was held in Snowby, enthusiasm is very high for this years performance.

STS - Skylar's winning performance at the Strathwell Music Festival

STS - Skylar has won the Strathwell Music Festival (SMF) with her song "Soul in Neon!", claiming victory with a total of 275 points out of a possible 500. The Strathwell music festival is hosted in the Gliesetonian City of Strathwell and regularly draws crowds of up to 250,000 people.

As the victor of the SMF, STS - Skylar now has the opportunity to represent Gliesetonia at the NationStates Eurovision Song Contest 2024, which is hosted by Yahlia in Thessaloniki. "I am so, so grateful to be given this wonderful opportunity and want to thank all of the fans and people at home that voted for me!", STS - Skylar exclaimed during an interview with the Gliesetonian Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) after the festival.

The Artist

STS - Skylar, whose real name is Skylaren Östersund, is an up-and-coming artist from the town of St. George in Reignhamshire. Born in 1994, Skylar often felt trapped and like an outsider in her hometown, hence why her artist name references the name of NASA's Space Shuttle programme (STS). At age 18, she left St. George to live in Libertis, the largest city in Gliesetonia. This is what inspired her to write the song "Soul in Neon". Libertis is well known for Lastonen, a major road intersection and transportation hub in the city centre. Skylar recounts: "As I got off the metro at Lastonen, I was just surrounded by all these neon lights and the hustle and bustle of the city. I was not used to this, being from a much smaller town, but I immediately loved it!"

The Song

"Soul in Neon!" is an up-tempo fusion of electronic music and synthpop. It tells the story of someone who feels lost but gradually finds themselves while being surrounded by neon lights. Skylar: "It was inspired by my own journey into Libertis and my struggle to find my identity in my hometown, as well as in the big city." Many have also interpreted the song as having a more broad message of the importance of self-actualisation.

We wish STS - Skylar a successful performance and hope for a warm reception by the public at the NationStates Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Credits to Yahlia for the branding and the organisation of this year's Eurovision, as well as Skarlagen Broadcasting Company for the factbook template.