Minus One are a Cypriot rock band formed in Nicosia in 2009. They gained prominence in 2016 for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Minus One | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Nicosia, Cyprus |
Genres | Rock |
Years active | 2009–present |
Members | Andreas Kapatais Constantinos Amerikanos Harrys Pari Orestis Savva Christopher Ioannides |
Minus One began as a cover band, but later started performing their own music.[1]
They tried to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Shine", but placed third in the national final.[2] After being internally selected, they represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Alter Ego", which they co-wrote with Swedish musician Thomas G:son.[3][4] The band reached 8th place with 164 points in the semi-final,[5] and finished in 21st place with 96 points in the final.[6]
As a part of their "Alter Ego Tour" in 2016, the band performed in Amsterdam, Limassol, London, and Moscow.[7]
In February 2017, they opened for British musician Glenn Hughes on his Resonate Tour in Vienna, Bologna, and Milan.[8] On 16 December 2017, the band released a cover of the 1964 song "You Don't Own Me", originally performed by Lesley Gore. In the Minus One version, the band is joined by 15-year-old Cypriot singer Semeli Panayiotou.[9]
Minus One's first album, Red Black White, was released on 14 December 2018. It was recorded at Medley Studios in Copenhagen and released by Danish label Mighty Music.[10]