Here is full translation of Tommy Cash press conference held on February 15 at Unibet Arena after him winning Eesti Laul 2025 with "Espresso Macchiato".
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Anna-Maria (Õhtuleht): What does it feel like to be an idol?
Tommy Cash: It feels good, especially when you feel that feeling while you're on stage. And if you really do it and succeed in what you're doing. For me, it was a case of either a great victory or a big loss, because I didn't understand if the media was on my side or against me. But it’s like playing a game of building me up or tearing me down in the end. So it's very interesting, but it's a good feeling, and I always felt it, but it's still a competition. I can't control people; there are so many factors – the show, my voice, what day it is, how are the the contestants, so many things.
Merilin (Kroonika): Some international fans complained that your show was not shocking enough, not "Tommy Cash" enough.
Tommy Cash: Okay, let's talk about this right away. Let's talk about this right away. From the day the song "Espresso Macchiato" was released, I read so many comments from my so-called fans, who said that this is not a Tommy Cash song. The next day, this song was number one on every streaming platform. On Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, YouTube Music. None of Tommy Cash's previous songs had ever done that before. Eurovision is not about thinking like Tommy Cash. Eurovision is Eurovision. It has its own rules, it is its own kind of zoo. In a good way. And you have to think differently here. But we didn't sit down to make this song, thinking, "Now we are making 'Espresso Macchiato'." It happened naturally. And everything came together, and here we are.
Jaanus Koort (Kanal 2): You predicted and nailed it, that you would win Eesti Laul.
Tommy Cash: Yes.
What place do you predict for Eurovision?
Tommy Cash: Are all the artists already announced for Eurovision? Around half?
I have seen that many strong women are going to Eurovision. I want to see the final lineup, who will be there, but I really think that because I have alliances with strong performers from previous years at Eurovision. They have my back too. I think those will help, and all my fans around the world will help us too. I really want to win Eurovision.
I know it's much harder, because so many things come into play here. Social media and everything else. It's a different game now. As I told Anu (Välba - etitors note), who interviewed me from stage – I know that Estonia is not a big country, and we don't have as much money behind us as... I don't know.... Germany or others who have millions, they just throw millions behind their artists, and it's like you have an ad in Times Square, you have a plane flying with an ad, and they manipulate the Eurovision market in a way that their performer becomes the winner. But it's not about money. It's not at all about the money, and I have been doing this for years, knowing what game we will be playing. I'm talking about the TikTok game, the Instagram game, the YouTube game, and it will get very exciting.
Jaanus Koort (Kanal 2): Is coming second losing?
Tommy Cash: I think getting second place is more painful than first, especially if you lose when first place is at 83%.
You promised first place.
Tommy Cash: Yes, I want first place, and I am going for it. But there are still three months left, right? And we will start working on it, so already next week you will see things starting to happen.
You are good friends with Joost and Käärijä. What advice did they give you?
It's absolutely horrible to be familiar with them because you have two completely different parents. One is very easy-going, and the other is thoughtful, maybe reserved, but I get advice from both of them, and then I have to kind of put those two worlds together for myself. And in the end, we still create what is Tommy Cash's world. And Tommy Cash's world was before Joost Klein's world and before Käärijä's world. And maybe, because I am finally here at Eesti Laul, people go online and look back a couple of years to see who has done what. And what the world has been like. But it's super that I have such parents.
Hi Tommy, congratulations. I'm part of the group of British media and Australian media representing Aussievision.net, BSC Extra, BSC Global, and that Eurovision site.
Tommy Cash: So great to have you here. Oh my god, I'm so relieved to talk in English finally.
I just wanted to know, we know you're a good friend with Käärijä, who was here tonight with you. Do you feel that he's helped pave the way for bold and adventurous artists like yourself to take part in national finals and try to go to Eurovision?
He definitely paved the way so I could come to Eurovision because it was never on my mind. It was never on my mind because as an artist, I'm a made artist. I could be, of course, I could be even bigger, and there's time for that, but it was never on my mind that I should come to Eurovision. But it happened naturally, and I'm really happy that I'm doing this and can represent Estonia and do the best for my country.
Are you the most famous Estonian artist in the world?
I have been the most famous Estonian artist in the world for a very, very, very long time.
If you hadn't made it to the final with all this hype, if you hadn't come first, would you have quit music?
No, no, no. I think this is just the beginning. Well, not just the beginning, but it wouldn't have affected my career at all.
What's the secret to your success?
Well, a man promises, a man does.
Cool. Thank you.
Ülo Külm (Nelli Teataja): How many cups of coffee do you drink in a day on average, and what kind of coffee is your favorite?
I jump from Espresso Macchiato to flat white. Honestly, even if I’m on stage, there's no real coffee in my cup. But thanks to that cup and that dance, my coffee craving has decreased. But usually, I'd say 5-6 cups. Quite a lot.
Yes, you had a very fun and dance-filled performance today. At Eurovision, will you keep the same pace, or are you planning a new show? Specifically in terms of dance.
In terms of dance... did you like the dance?
I really liked it, it was...
And it was, you know, such a risk – not a risk, but freedom from the fact that our video didn't give away anything. And that we came with this show, I think many might have thought that I would just drink coffee on stage or stand with a microphone, just sing the song, and say, oh yeah, vote for me. But Joost also told me that I should prepare my set depending on the stage, so there's a beautiful square stage, we'll definitely gather information and feedback from different people. What people are saying online. We already had plans for configurations and things we want to do for the show. But I think dance is a big part of this character, and the idea was to create movement characteristic of the character rather than choreography.
Merje Merdik (Sky.ee): Could we get you to show the dance one more time for us here?
Tommy Cash: You know... I'm really embarrased to decline. It's like declining your grandmothers' wish for you to sing at the dinner table and say "Sorry, grandma, I don't want to sing tonight". So thank you all!