At its core, the story of Sidrit Vokshi is not only a story of music. It is a story of departure, identity and returning to oneself, through sound.

Everything begins very early, at a time when he was not yet able to fully understand the reality he was living. He was only 7 years old when he left Albania during the riots of 1997. “It was a difficult period for my family, but at that time, I didn’t understand much; it seemed like a game,” he recalls.

But what seemed like a game to a child was a difficult decision for the parents. Only later did he understand that “it was not an excursion, but a struggle and hope for a better life.”

When they arrived in Austria, they were placed in a refugee camp. Amid an unknown reality, a moment happens that would change the direction of his life. He finds a CD player and listens to a song for the first time in a language he does not understand. “I didn’t understand anything from the content; it was the first time I heard music in German, but I liked it very much. At that moment, my interest in piano was awakened.” And from there, everything towards music began for Sidrit Vokshi.

Music as a way to survive

In a new country, without language, without roots and without direction, music becomes the only way to communicate with the world.

The parents, worried that their son might be traumatised, gave him a small piano. And without knowing it, they gave him a tool that would change his life.

“The piano saved me and helped me integrate, because I didn’t know a single word in German,” he says.

At school, while others sang songs he did not know, he followed along differently: “Because I have a good ear, I could play the melodies.” This was his first language in Austria.

From music school to the conservatory, the path seemed to build itself, he recalls. Vokshi himself admits this with a reflection that sums it all up: music came naturally, “but I think nothing would have happened without that difficult situation,” he says.

From word to feeling

Like many artists who try to express themselves for the first time, Sidrit begins with hip-hop. For him, rap was not just a genre; it was a way of thinking.

He calls it a “royal discipline of the word”, explaining that what attracted him most was the lyrics: the moment when a verse touches you more than the melody.

But over time, something stopped being enough. He realised that there were emotions that he could not fit into the structure of rap – softer, more intimate, more vulnerable feelings.

This limit was broken in the strongest possible way: through pain.

When pain becomes voice

In this interview, he tells HAJDE his love story exclusively. After an 8-year relationship, Sidrit’s personal life changes fundamentally. Betrayal and separation do not remain just experiences; they become creative material.

“In the moment of pain, I wrote some songs,” he says.

But the most important thing was what happened inside him: he decided not to hide anymore. “I said these are my fears, and I will not cover them anymore; I will bring them out first.”

This was the point where he moved from hip-hop to pop. Not as a market strategy, but as a personal need.

And together with this transition came criticism from both sides: from hip-hop artists and fans on one side and from pop music on the other. But for the first time, this no longer mattered. He had understood that authenticity provokes more than the attempt to be liked by everyone.

“Verlieren”: a story that is no longer hidden

Today, he has released his newest song, “Verlieren” (Loss), which is not just a release but the most honest chapter of his life.

He describes it without filters: a love story that begins with a marriage proposal and ends in loss.

“I got down on my knees, I proposed… I got a positive answer… we had some very beautiful months. Later, this relationship became very stressful, and we lost it. The loss was very bitter.”

The song is only part of a bigger story. He has now created five songs that are connected and tell the same story.

“It speaks about the story of a man broken in heart, and that man is me,” says Sidrit, today from a much calmer position and with many big dreams ahead of him.

A chance that came twice, the road to Eurovision

In the middle of this personal and artistic transformation comes an important moment in his career: the selection in “Vienna Calling 2026”, held in February, a competition linked to Eurovision.

The story here also follows an unexpected trajectory. Initially selected, then excluded just days before the announcement of finalists. He remains “the 13th” in a list of 12 participants.

But then the unexpected happens: a contestant withdraws, and he returns to the competition.

“I didn’t believe that someone could leave the competition at this point… and then they told me from ÖRF: now it’s your chance.”

This experience changed the rhythm of his career. He describes it as a “booster”, a moment that has placed him in the best viewership he has ever had from the audience.

Eurovision: a dream with two sides

For Sidrit, Eurovision is a platform he admires but also has reservations about.

On the one hand, he values it as a space where music from all over the world comes together.

On the other hand, he is aware of the political dimension that often accompanies it: according to him, art and politics should not mix.

“I am a musician, and my desire is to make music wherever I can and not be connected with politics,” he says.

Between two languages, between two worlds

His artistic identity is built on a constant duality.

He speaks Albanian, but thinks in German. He feels in one language and writes in another.

He does not rule out the possibility of representing Albania in Eurovision one day, but modestly admits the competition is strong. He considers the Albanian scene very strong and international. He also expresses optimism that Albania’s contestant, Alis Kallaçi, could win Eurovision. But this will be understood in mid-May, when artists will gather in Vienna for the 70th edition.

At the same time, he is considering bringing more Albanian elements into his music.

Inspirations and the road ahead

His musical roots span cultures: from Ardit Gjebrea to Toto Cutugno and Gipsy Kings.

But beyond inspiration, reality remains challenging.

He speaks openly about fear and financial insecurity.

“If I survive this year, next year will be much better. If not, I must return to work and invest again in music.”

A story that continues

Today, Sidrit Vokshi is in motion: a new song, a new direction, and a decision to be honest.

“If you have a dream, try it… the path may be difficult, but it is the only one that leads you to yourself.”

And maybe, just like in his case, everything starts with an ununderstandable sound that feels deep and continues towards success.