Richard Edwards is someone who definitely believes that overcoming obstacles only helps make you stronger. His song, Look At Me Now, is all about surviving a bad relationship and emerging a better, happier person. However, he tells me, it could apply to anything: whether you’re dependent on drugs and want to clean up, whether you’ve fought a critical illness and survived to tell the tale, whether you suffered from bullying and overcame it... Life, he tells me, is all about overcoming struggles and finding the silver linings.
“I believe the song will do well because it is very in keeping with current styles and I won’t be giving anything less than my 100%.”
This will be Richard’s fourth attempt at clinching the right to represent Malta. He says that this event is indubitably the best platform for Maltese artists and that he is happy to have the support of a lot of his friends who are taking the weight off several preparations off his shoulders.
“My good friend Mario Borg has already picked my outfit: this year it’s a D&G military-inspired outfit. Mario also takes care of my hair and anything to do with my image. Then there’s my brilliant sister, who co-ordinates all the rehearsals and who makes sure we all sound good on stage. They really remove the burden off me.”
Richard’s day starts relatively late, towards nine, with coffee. Then it’s off to catch up with email, work on some music, do a couple of workouts and then chill a bit before leaving for work at about six. Singing is Richard’s fulltime career, which means that work usually involves singing at a wedding, a hotel or maybe a pub. After work it’s a quick midnight snack, some television and off to bed. Asked whether he always knew he’d be a professional musician, he laughs and remembers his childhood dreams:
“There was a funny phase in my life when I wanted to be just about anyone. I used to see the postman ride his bike, so I wanted to be a postman. Then I saw the refuse collector ride at the back of the truck and wanted to be that too. At one point I even wanted to be a singing drag queen after my mum took me to watch a show when I was about nine!”
Getting to know Richard
Favourite singers: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Sting, Paul McCartney, Eva Cassidy, Aretha Franklin.
On his MP3 player: A bunch of vocal workouts, the backing track to his song and a few playlists.
Web addiction? Not really. But always seems to spend a good deal of time on Facebook...
Favourite gadget: Something self-built that will be present on stage this year.
Favourite fast food: Turkish and pizza.
Would like to visit: Australia, particularly to meet up with relatives.
Wants to retire: in Malta.
Drives: a Seat Ibiza.
Last book he read: Something to do with IEE wiring regulations, for an exam.