Interview: Tess Merkel & Martin Rolinski on BWO vs Alcazar, New Single 'Let There Be Love' and Eurovision

Alcazar’s Tess Merkel and BWO’s Martin Rolinski have joined forces for their BWO vs Alcazar touring project, delighting pop fans across the globe, and now release their first music as a duo. The track Let There Be Love arrives today, bringing the euphoric Scandinavian pop sensibilities, big vocals and celebratory vibes that Tess and Martin’s discographies are known for. The duo sat down to chat with Culture Fix editor Andrew to discuss the single, their musical history and their upcoming performance at the Eurovision Village in Vienna.

Tess and Martin discuss how the shared project first came about and when the prospect of new music was first discussed. The duo describe the single as a gift to pop fans, many of whom have grown up and continued to share their love of BWO and Alcazar over the years. Let There Be Love is just the first step in their long-term musical ambitions, with Martin teasing some exciting prospects on the horizon for the project.

The single comes accompanied by a standout new video, which you can watch below, with natural comparisons to Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s legendary hit factory evident in its themes, not to mention plenty of Eurovision Song Contest homages.

In our chat, we also discuss the legacy and shared musical DNA of Alcazar and BWO, whether Andrew’s dreams of a supergroup with Army of Lovers could ever come true, and what Tess and Martin have enjoyed most about performing each other’s songs.

Thanks to Tess and Martin for chatting, and to their team for organising the interview. You can connect with Tess, Martin and the BWO vs Alcazar channels. Watch the video for Let There Be Love below.