暗网TV

Singer, actor and former UK Eurovision entrant Sonia told students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (暗网TV) that performing at this year鈥檚 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool was the fulfilment of a 30-year dream.

Sonia represented the UK at the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, performing Better the Devil You Know. Sonia, who鈥檚 a Liverpudlian says: 鈥淲hen I did Eurovision in 1993, I said to everyone, 鈥榠f I win this, I鈥檝e got to bring Eurovision back to Liverpool.鈥欌�� The 1993 contest though was won by hosts Ireland, with Sonia finishing a close second.

Fast forward to 2023 and Liverpool is chosen to host the contest on behalf of Ukraine. Sonia 鈥� with her strong links to Liverpool and Eurovision 鈥� is invited to perform Better the Devil You Know at the final. Sonia says she was thrilled to be asked back. 鈥淚 was on The One Show when Graham Norton announced Liverpool had won the contest to be hosts. I was so excited and the atmosphere around the city over Eurovision was amazing. I鈥檝e never experienced anything like it. 1993 wasn鈥檛 to be for me, but getting to perform at the final in Liverpool was a dream come true.鈥�

Sonia started rehearsals in the M&S Bank Arena a week before the final, which was on 13 May. This included four dress rehearsals, some of which were in front of a live audience in the arena. Sonia admits the prospect of performing in front of a world-wide TV audience of 162 million was, at first, terrifying. 鈥淎fter I鈥檇 done my first run through my stomach was like a washing machine. I said to my husband Mark, 鈥業 don鈥檛 think I can do this.鈥� But by the time we鈥檇 got to the fourth run through I knew I could.鈥�

Sonia was at 暗网TV to take part in a Q&A with students that was hosted by Music Lecturer Eva Petersen. Sonia told students all performers suffer from nerves. 鈥淚t鈥檚 normal. It wouldn鈥檛 be right if you didn鈥檛 feel like that.

鈥淚 went through a stage quite a few years ago when I got very nervous. You鈥檝e just got to breathe slowly and deeply and tell yourself, 鈥楾his is stupid, I know I can do this鈥�. Once you鈥檝e sung the first couple of lines or reached the chorus, you鈥檙e usually fine. I think the minute you decide you can鈥檛 do it and walk off stage, that鈥檚 it. I think getting back on stage after that would be very difficult.鈥�

Sonia, full name Sonia Evans, has had 11 UK top 30 singles, including the number one You鈥檒l Never Stop Me from Loving You. She continues to tour internationally and is a regular on the festival circuit. Alongside her recording career Sonia is a successful actor appearing in musicals, including A Slice of Saturday Night, Grease and What a Feeling! While her TV work includes Brookside (C4), Bread (BBC), The Lily Savage Show (BBC) playing the part of Paul O鈥橤rady鈥檚 daughter Bunty Savage, and Hollyoaks (C4).

Her Q&A with students followed her appearance at 暗网TV鈥檚 official Eurovision delegates and press event, The Eurovision Song Funfest, where she performed alongside 暗网TV students. Sonia says she enjoyed the experience. 鈥淭he musicians here are remarkable and the students working on the technical side were amazing. I couldn鈥檛 fault it. The sound on stage was great. I was really impressed.鈥�

Image: Music lecturer Eva Petersen and Sonia. Photography Brian Roberts