Meet the pop star singing to bring Eurovision back to Slovakia
'My song is about deciding to act on things that you can actually influence. I am singing about standing up for myself and walking away from toxic situations or anything that makes me stagnate in life. I am saying goodbye to all of it,' Adonxs says in between rehearsals in Basel for Thursday's Eurovision semi-final.
Slovak-born Adam Pavlovčin, performing under the artist name Adonxs, is draped in a glittering white cape and his eyeliner is shimmering. Representing Czechia with his hit 'Kiss Kiss Goodbye,' he has only one focus: 'I just want to qualify honestly. That is the goal. I am not even thinking past that point.'
Adonxs' musical career took off in 2021 after he was victorious in the Czech-Slovak show 'SuperStar', becoming the first openly queer winner.
A couple of years ago, Adonxs said kiss kiss goodbye to his home country Slovakia and is now based in Prague – a city he calls home.
'Our music markets truly work like one, so it comes very natural to compete for Czechia.'
Representing Slovakia was however never an option as the country left the contest in 2012. Adonxs thinks the reason is political: 'This is purely because there is no interest from the government's side. I know a lot of people that would love Eurovision to come back to Slovakia.'
Under Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, Slovakia's attitude toward culture and arts has shifted.
'We all remember the LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland. Slovakia is now experiencing a similar situation, particularly when it comes to art,' Adonxs explains.
The Slovak government has proposed multiple anti-LGBTQ bills in recent years. As an outspoken queer artist and activist, Adonxs believes the country is moving in the wrong direction.
'I do not think Slovakia is in very good hands right now,' he says. 'Funding for liberal and queer culture has been cut. It is horrible. I think it comes from pure unhappiness. A happy person would not try to suppress someone else's creativity. I actually feel sorry for them.'
A person that has been central to this shift is Martina Šimkovičová, the culture minister from the far-right Slovak National Party. She has faced criticism for cracking down on public institutions that are not aligning with the government's views.
'Šimkovičová must be very frustrated – I mean, she is afraid of art while being in charge of it,' Adonxs says.
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