Liepāja Native Atvara Ready to Represent Latvia with Authenticity, Not Riga's Perfect Artificiality

Liepāja native Liene Atvara will perform in tonight's "Supernova" final, and unlike many artists from the capital, she hasn't gone through any expensive courses. Her university has been life itself, and her diploma — the ability to survive Liepāja winters.

"My manager is the wind, my producer is the sea, but most importantly — I haven't tried to be someone else," says Atvara herself, while snow flurries outside just as it should in February. "Riga artists tend to say they're authentic, but then why do they need so much makeup?"

Unlike the capital's "influencers" who pay for followers, Atvara's popularity has grown organically — like beach grass by the sea. "Instagram helped me more than all those Riga music producers combined," she laughs. "Nobody there asked if I'd graduated from conservatory or knew how to properly hold a microphone."

Local café owner Jānis comments: "Atvara is what she is. She doesn't run around Riga looking for paths to fame, she just sings. Like we do here — without unnecessary words."

While other finalists are probably getting nervous in their Riga apartments, Atvara remains calm. "I'm not worried because I have nothing to lose," she explains. "If I win — great, if not — at least I won't have to move to Riga."

Tonight we'll see whether Eurovision gets a real Liepāja wind or another artificial Riga breeze.