Lena Meyer-Landrut: That’s why she had “total respect” for “WSMDS”

Lena Meyer-Landrut (32) is back as the coach of “The Voice Kids”. The twelfth season of the music show starts on Friday, March 15th, with the first edition of the blind auditions on Joyn (it starts on Friday, March 22nd on Sat.1). In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the singer reveals why she keeps coming back to the show and how she feels as the only woman among the coaches. She also talks about her participation in “Who’s Stealing the Show?”, her tour preparations, her state of health after her riding accident and, as the 2010 ESC winner, gives the German ESC act Isaak (29) tips for his participation.

This is your ninth time on “The Voice Kids.” What keeps you coming back to the show?

Lena Meyer-Landrut: What always brings me back is that I just think it’s a really nice format. I really enjoy being a part of it. It’s a competition, but still very positive. It’s not without reason that many children say afterwards, and sometimes even years later, that it was one of the best times of their lives. After 2015, I’m obviously hoping for a win again. Personally, it’s not that important to me whether I win or not, but I would of course be happy for my talents.

How do you feel as the only woman in the coaching group?

Meyer-Landrut: I would be happy to have female support on the chairs and would once again campaign for a woman to sit next to me next time. Of course it’s really fun and super entertaining with the boys. They all try to express their feminine sides (laughs).

You’re already talking about the next time – so can you imagine the tenth anniversary?

Meyer-Landrut: If “The Voice Kids” wants me again, then I definitely want it too.

What is the dynamic like among the coaches?

Meyer-Landrut: We’ve known each other for a few years now, especially the combination. Some people might say that it might be more interesting or have more flavor if there were new people with new dynamics there. But for me it makes everything much more pleasant and relaxed. This framework gives us so much freedom. We all know each other so well that we can easily assess each other’s weaknesses and strengths. That we can joke and say something to each other. You become more confident and courageous and know what works for others and what doesn’t.

How do you experience working with the kids? Have you learned anything about working together over the course of the season?

Meyer-Landrut: You’re constantly learning because times and therefore children are constantly changing. Today they are all very social media savvy, which simply didn’t exist in 2010 or 2011, when no one had a cell phone. It’s amazing to see what this does to the children. Today, even eight-year-olds come in styled from top to bottom and in the craziest outfits, simply because they know it from their smartphone screen and are familiar with it. The talents are now focusing much more on their own look, because for many it has become a passion to focus on their physical appearance. What has definitely remained the same about the show is that kids with these incredible voices keep coming up.

What is the most important thing you want to give them?

Meyer-Landrut: It really depends on who is standing in front of you. Is this a self-confident talent who needs more advice in this direction? Is it a talent that has an insecurity in singing? So you can’t generalize and I approach the talents very individually.

You’re also currently on “Who’s Stealing the Show?” to see. What is different about the show compared to your previous TV jobs?

Lena Meyer-Landrut: I had total respect for the show. Firstly because of the questions and the format of the quiz itself, secondly because of the long time you spend on the show with other people and in new surroundings. Although I am self-confident, I often lack the last bit of courage and confidence and I worry too much about what people will say about how I did. I know from the past when criticism or a shitstorm comes for some behavior or character traits.

It was and is definitely a task to break away from it. But I really had an amazing time, my teammates were great. I really like Klaas and Sarah and I get along really well. We know each other not only through the music world, but also privately. And Joko has also been a companion for a long time. So they were all friends who met each other. When the first episode came out and we had great ratings, a big weight was lifted from my heart. I received a lot of lovely messages from friends and also from my mother, which is always particularly important to me because she is very honest about this.

In addition to “WSMDS” and “The Voice Kids,” there are big things coming musically. How are the preparations for your tour going?

Meyer-Landrut: Of course, the first tour in five years also requires new music, so there are still releases waiting, etc. That’s definitely very exciting and very nerve-wracking for me. Preparing for the tour is taking up a lot of time at the moment and of course I’m really happy. I’m in the middle of planning the visuals, the stage design, the setlist. I actually must have handed it in the day before yesterday (laughs). A tour is always a new challenge. I said I would like to have eight weeks of rehearsals beforehand, but that would be too expensive (laughs). But I definitely want to rehearse a lot so that I have confidence on stage. It will be full months for me now.

Do you feel physically fit again after your riding accident last year?

Meyer-Landrut: I feel physically fit after the accident. I just find it very interesting how my discipline has gone to shit. When I was so damaged and I lay in bed all the time and wasn’t allowed to move or lift anything, I was so excited to get fit again, do sports and give it my all. I thought: “Now I know what it’s like when you can’t move. That’s bad. When I can again, I’ll give it my all.” I’ve been completely healed for a few months now. What haven’t I done once? Sports (laughs). I definitely have to do something for the tour, otherwise I’ll be out of breath.

In your Instagram annual review, you set your goal for 2024: “More with me. Back to me. Less pressure. More fun.” How do you want to implement this?

Meyer-Landrut: I hope I can find another good recipe (laughs). I think you just have to take care of yourself and take an hour or two out of your day and go for a walk, for example. I often have the problem that I’m exhausted in the evenings because I work so hard all day and then leave the apartment. Then I lose motivation to do sports or something for myself. I just lie down on the couch and watch some nonsense (laughs). But I think many people feel this way, and I’m not alone. I hope I can be more disciplined in the future and set myself small goals. Ten minutes of exercise is better than nothing.

The ESC currently determines the media. What advice can you give to the German Act Isaak?

Meyer-Landrut: This event is so wild, loud and complex. I would just try to suck it all up like a vacuum cleaner and enjoy it all. You should stick to yourself, don’t look at your cell phone much and don’t check too much feedback from outside. This just makes you feel insecure and any distraction is exhausting because so much is already happening. It’s good if you form a little bubble with the people who accompany you and then just stay in there for these ten days. I think this is the most pleasant way.