The entire world is watching as you secure second-to-last place in the Eurovision competition. What's your next move? If you're Mae Muller, you put on a brave face for the public and create a lighthearted TikTok video addressing the loss.
In a brief 10-second clip captioned "when someone asks me how well I did at Eurovision," the 26-year-old mimes "ask me another question." However, this video doesn't tell the whole story.
Mae tells Elharam News, "When I made that TikTok, I was still spiraling." Placing 25th in Eurovision, just a year after the UK's Sam Ryder came close to winning, left Mae feeling upset and hurt. She recalls thinking, "Oh my God, my life is over," but she knew she had to address it in her own way.
For Mae, this TikTok was part of her coping mechanism, an attempt to control the narrative surrounding her Eurovision experience in Liverpool back in May. She didn't want it to become a "doom and gloom moment" and didn't want people to pity her. "The second I did that, everyone laughed it off with me, and it highlighted that it's not the end of the world."
Now, reflecting on the competition, Mae chooses to focus on the support she received and the fun she had with fans. Despite the pressure, she felt like she could be herself.
She's also proud of how her Eurovision entry, "I Wrote a Song," performed outside the competition arena. It received substantial airplay, over eight million Spotify streams, and made it into the UK top 10. She acknowledges that she needed to appreciate these achievements despite being in a bit of a daze.
Writing songs is Mae's passion, a way to process emotions and feelings. However, due to the demands of Eurovision, she had to temporarily set it aside. After the competition, she went six months without writing a song because it was all-consuming.
Fortunately, her new album, "Sorry I'm Late," was already prepared for release. Initially scheduled for March, it was postponed when she became the UK's Eurovision entry. Mae sees this as a blessing, as it kept her busy.
Mae draws inspiration from artists like Lily Allen, whose album "Alright Still" was a favorite during her upbringing. Like Lily, Mae's songs feature candid and comedic lyrics. She wants her songs to be conversational, something you and your friends would say to each other.
The album's release is a significant milestone for Mae, and she's excited for people to listen to it. With the album out, she's eager to return to the studio and get back into the creative flow.
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