Jamala Discusses Meeting with Joe Biden and Her 2023 Year

Ukrainian singer Jamala, who gained international fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest, recently opened up about her experiences in 2023 and recounted an important meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden that took place during her visit to the United States. This information was revealed in a comprehensive interview she conducted as part of the project hosted by Masha Efrosinina.

In her conversation with Efrosinina, Jamala summarized the developments in her personal life and career during the ongoing war, noting that the past two years have presented her with numerous opportunities due to the heightened attention on Ukraine. The singer emphasized that despite the many opportunities that have come her way, she has not used them for personal gain, as her primary goal has been to amplify Ukraine's voice to the global community.

Specifically, Jamala recounted her meetings with notable figures such as Julia Roberts and Bono during her trips to the United States. She shared her feelings when Bono mentioned that he follows her on Instagram and supports her fight for Ukraine. 'I have missed out on a lot. I pushed myself not just to the background. For me, this is all uncomfortable. I talk about Ukraine. What kind of artistic life can I arrange for myself at this moment?' the singer confessed.

Jamala also discussed how her status as a Eurovision winner has aided her during the war. She remarked that it has opened doors to many significant meetings. 'I still entered as a Eurovision winner. And in general, they are all aware of the situation. Of course, for Americans, it is not as big of a competition as it is for Europeans, but still, there are no ex-winners. You are still in that status. And this has really helped me during the war,' she added.

One of the most significant events was her meeting with then-President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Jamala described how she received an invitation to this meeting, which occurred during the award ceremony for the band U2 at the Kennedy Center. 'It was precisely at the time when I was invited to the Kennedy Center to award the band U2 for their contribution to American music. The President [of the United States] was simultaneously having meetings with people he wanted to meet to greet,' she explained.

The singer recalled receiving a large letter from the White House while she and her husband were in Kyiv during a blackout. 'Imagine, we are lying in bed at night in Kyiv, without electricity, a complete blackout, as we know, at that moment the mobile internet is very slow, and the file is loading. And the sponsor for my visa becomes Nancy Pelosi,' she shared.

When asked what Biden wanted during their meeting, Jamala responded, 'He wanted to greet me. And I took the opportunity to talk to him about Crimea. I was prepared; I had one minute. The entire meeting lasted two and a half minutes: to say hello, take a photo, and that was it.' The singer expressed her joy at being able to convey the importance of the Ukrainian issue to the U.S. President, not as a politician, but simply as a mother of two children.

Recently, Jamala released her new eighth album titled 'Rukh Moy,' marking another significant milestone in her career, which continues to evolve even amidst the ongoing war.