The Austrian singer JJ was the sixth artist of the day to rehearse on the Eurovision 2025 stage in Basel, Switzerland, with the song “Wasted Love”. He will perform as song number 6 in the second semi-final on May 15th. This year’s contest features 37 countries.

Up next is Austria’s JJ, real name Johannes Pietsch from Vienna. He’s taken a break from his role as a countertenor at the Vienna State Opera to bring Wasted Love to the Eurovision stage. Like many others this year, the song was selected internally, so until now, all we had was the official video’s eerie forest atmosphere as a clue.

In the video released from the performance, which is entirely filmed in black and white, JJ sits wrapped up, hugging a white cloth. The camera closes in on him and he sings a quiet part of his song. He reaches out and sends off a paper boat, which floats through the air and slowly sails away from his hand. It seems Austria decided to reveal only the beginning of the performance, leaving us eager for the dramatic parts.

 

 

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Austria at Eurovision 2025: More Details About the Rehearsal Performance

The staging is designed by artistic director Sergio Jaen, who also created Bambie Thug’s dramatic setup last year and Theo Evan’s concept yesterday.

So what can we expect from Austria? First off, the entire performance is broadcast in black and white – no easy technical feat. The lighting is crafted to create sharp contrasts of light and shadow, with brightness rising in sync with the tempo and intensity of the music.

And the drama? Plenty of it. JJ’s operatic voice and the staging work together to deliver high emotion. The key set piece is a simple boat that looks like it’s made from shipping crates, complete with a wooden mast and a white sail. JJ stays in the boat the entire time, gripping the mast as a fierce storm brews during the second chorus. The illusion of the boat rocking wildly is created through smart camera angles and a wind machine at full blast. JJ performs choreography that feels like a contemporary dance, battling the storm, and as the drum and bass section kicks in toward the end, the storm escalates – waves and storm clouds fill the LED screen, the camera spins, strobe lights flash, and JJ holds on for dear life without missing a single note.

In the final moments, an overhead shot makes it appear as though the boat is being pulled into a swirling vortex on the LED floor, and suddenly a massive lighthouse appears on the main LED wall, shining like a beacon of hope as everything comes to a sudden stop. There’s probably a ton of detail we missed – there was just too much to take in all at once. But that should give you a strong sense of it.

Oh, and JJ’s outfit: a long black leather coat with metallic details.

The photos from the rehearsal will be updated later on this page.

Austria at Eurovision 2025

“Wasted Love” is the song to be performed by JJ, representing Austria in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025 on May 15th in Basel, Switzerland, The song was written by the singer, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, alongside Thomas Turner and Teya, Austria’s representative at Eurovision 2023 with Salena and their song “Who The Hell Is Edgar?“. The song is performed in English.

The lyrics explore the pain and loss of unrequited or unfulfilled love. JJ describes himself as an “ocean of love,” while the object of his affection fears “drowning” in his emotions and chooses to pull away. The song conveys abandonment, depicting a struggle to hold onto a connection that ultimately leaves him adrift in emotional turmoil, unable to reclaim what was lost.

Currently, Austria ranks second in the betting odds for Eurovision 2025.

 

JJ – Who Are You?

Johannes Pietsch, or JJ, is a 23-year-old Austrian opera singer with a soprano voice type. Raised in Dubai, he previously participated in The Voice UK in 2020, impressing judges with his high voice. JJ also took part in the series Starmania 21 and currently performs at the Vienna State Opera.