Fresh from her second victory in the world’s most over-the-top pop contest, the ‘nomad from the Atlas mountains’ talks about life in Sweden, the pain of competing and her search for a purpose
I meet Loreen in what I know, from meeting Sam Ryder here last year, is the fleeting habitat of the Eurovision elite – the Langham hotel in central London. Opposite the BBC, it is perfectly placed for the wave of broadcast interviews that ensue, and the ideal environment – subtle luxury in neutral tones – to be totally overwhelmed. The 39-year-old shouldn’t be overawed, though, since she has won before, in 2012, making her the first woman to win twice in the competition’s history.
Loreen’s winning entry for this year, Tattoo, has already been streamed 60m times on Spotify alone and, as I type, it is only Monday. A mere 48 hours after the event, it’s also the ninth most downloaded Eurovision song ever and it will go higher. If you haven’t heard it, it’s a well-executed piece of pop balladeering, with traces of Katy Perry to draw you in before it takes over with its own distinctive brio.
