After hosting Eurovision in 2024, Sweden are definitely in it to win it again in 2025! In November, broadcaster SVT revealed the list of artists whose mission it is to bring Eurovision back to Swedish soil for 2026.

Of the 30 artists competing in Sweden’s national final, Melodifestivalen, 17 acts are new to the program this year. Dave recently had the pleasure of chatting with one of the youngest artists on that list, Stockholm’s own, Adrian Macéus!

For someone competing in his first Melfest, his song title Vår första gång could not be any more appropriate. Translated, it means Our first time, but it turns out the song has nothing to do with Adrian’s Mello journey:

“It’s about how […] when everything feels good [in a relationship], it feels really, really good. And, you know, if something happens, it doesn’t have to be in the relationship really, but, you know, if anything happens around, that could [harm] the relationship […] it feels like the world is falling apart, kind of. And then those times, in those moments, I think it’s important to go back to the first time you met someone. So, the first time, and reflect that’s like why ‘we’ became ‘us’. Because it’s important to not forget that in those moments. Because I mean, you know, relationships have their ups and downs. All relationships, not only love relationships.”

— Adrian Macéus

Even the writers of Vår första gång are newbies to the Melfest world, something Adrian thinks will help the song stand out. In particular, he was thrilled to work with Adam Englund on this song, as Adam often works with Victor Leksell, one of Sweden’s biggest rising musicians. About the song itself, Adrian had this to say:

“It’s a really dynamic song I would say. It’s perfect for an arena, which is fun. It’s it’s a big, but at the same time it’s really emotional […] it’s a really honest song, I think. I think everybody can relate to it somehow.”

— Adrian Macéus

We’ll have to wait until 20:00 CET on Saturday, 1st February to see Adrian’s Mello début as he’s scheduled to perform in Heat 1 of Melodifestivalen 2025, live from Luleå!

Until then, be sure and check out the full interview with Adrian Macéus (above) to learn more about the meaning behind Vår första gång, what spot he’s hoping to get in the running order, and get some hints at what his staging might look like. The episode is available now wherever you get your favourite Eurovision podcasts!

We wish Adrian the best of luck on his first Melodifestivalen journey, one that might lead him to Eurovision in 2025! Let us know in the comments and on our social media profiles @buildingbridgespod what you thought of the interview!