Raiven, a singer and harpist known for fusing pop with alternative and operatic styles, will represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest next year. "I'm very happy, very grateful, and a little bit scared," Raiven said as she was announced as the winning pick on 12 December.

Raiven, the stage name of Sara Briški Cirman, was picked by an international judging panel commissioned by public broadcaster RTV Slovenija after an internal jury shortlisted five contestants from over 100 applications. She was the only contestant to win votes from all international judges.

"After all the points were tallied and one performer who will represent Slovenia in Sweden won more than half of all possible points, it was clear that there is no competition," said Vanja Vardjan, the editor-in-chief of entertainment programmes at RTV Slovenija.

After teen darlings Joker Out finished 21st at the Eurovision Song Contest this year and went on to win international success touring Europe, the broadcaster decided that the new entrant must have not only a good song but also "a clear vision and charisma, and all other features that will bring results that reverberate beyond Eurovision," said Maša Kljun, the head of the Slovenian Eurovision delegation.

Raiven has been a major presence on Slovenian stages for almost a decade. She has been on the cusp of being selected but placed second three times in the national selection, called EMA, in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Raiven performing her 2017 EMA entry Zažarim/Wicked Game

A regular performer at Slovenian pop festivals, she is known for her dark, ambient songs in which she blends pop, electro pop and opera. She has dual master's degrees in solo singing and opera from the Ljubljana Academy of Music.

The song which she will perform in Malmö, Sweden next spring will be presented in a special TV show in January.