Akylas on Second Programme 103.7: “I want to make my country and the people who supported me proud”
Akylas gave a personal confession as a guest of Margarita Mytilinaiou on the show “Volta” on Second Programme 103.7, on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Greece’s representative at Eurovision 2026 spoke about his personal journey leading up to his participation in the 70th Contest, noting that the love he receives from the public is something that deeply moves him.
With nearly 40 days left until his appearance in the First Semi-Final of Eurovision on May 12, 2026, he mentioned that he is doing intensive rehearsals: “I am a perfectionist, I believe we will be just fine, but there is also a bit of stress, as ‘Ferto’ has brought a certain weight with it; people have become passionate about the song.”
When asked everywhere whether he will “bring it home,” Akylas replied: “I will do the best I can. I want to make my country proud, as well as the people who supported me. It is a great honor for me that the public and the committees chose me, voting for me without a direct assignment. I want to give 200 percent.”
Specifically about “Ferto,” he stated: “I wanted to do something crazy. I’m happy that we created something that is so much like me, as crazy as I want it to be, because the Eurovision stage gives you that freedom.”
Akylas also referred to the difficulties he has gone through, which he even captured in the song “Fthinokrasso.” He spoke about his first steps in singing, on a cruise ship—“a big school,” as he described it—about his decision to leave a stable income and sing on the street, as well as his first live performances. “I don’t fit into the conventional boxes and standards of a singer-performer in Greece; venue owners I had worked with in some small live shows considered it a negative that I sing Elvis and dance at the same time—but for me, that is my strong point, what brought me here today.”
Listen to Akylas’ interview with Margarita Mytilinaiou here.
