Australian Singer Vassy Steps in for the U.S. at Intervision Contest Following Last-Minute Dropout

Australian singer Vassy will be representing the United States at Russia’s alternative to Eurovision, known as Intervision, after R&B artist B. Howard withdrew just days before the event, organizers announced on Wednesday.

Intervision aims to revive an alternative to Eurovision that was briefly held during the Soviet era in the 1960s and 1970s. Russia was barred from participating in Eurovision in February 2022 due to its large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Vassy, whose full name is Vasiliki Karagiorgos, was born in Australia to Greek immigrant parents and gained U.S. citizenship during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her official website highlights her as “one of the leading names” in electronic dance music, recognizing her collaborations with renowned DJs such as David Guetta and Tiësto. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first female recipient of the ICON award at the Electronic Dance Music Awards.

The exiled news outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Wednesday that references to Vassy’s support for LGBTQ+ rights have recently been removed from her Wikipedia page.

Howard, who was initially set to represent the U.S., stepped back for what organizers have cited as “family reasons.”

Intervision is set to begin on September 20, positioning itself as a “depoliticized” celebration of music. Nevertheless, President Vladimir Putin has personally appointed high-ranking Kremlin officials to the event’s board and organizing committee.

This year’s competition is anticipated to see participation from dozens of other countries.