
Albania’s got flower power: Dancing with Nikol Çabeli
25 October 2024 at 08:00 CEST
Nikol has well and truly earned her place at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. She competed in Albania’s selection show Junior Fest in 2023 with the song Vetëm Unë, and just missed out on the win.
But in 2024, she smashed the selection contest against 17 other songs, with her performance of Vallëzoj. Now she’s heading to Madrid with that same song.

The young star was born in Ioannina, Greece, and now lives in Gjirokastër in Albania, and has spent much of her childhood singing, dancing, and playing the piano.
She’s got plenty of experience in music competitions. She made the finals of Little Genius 8 and won first prize at a children’s festival in Shkodër. Next up — the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Put your hands up for the plants! Nikol’s song Vallëzoj might mean 'dance', but the lyrics are all about listening to nature and protecting the natural world. She sings about dancing with a flower in her hand.

Vallëzoj was written by two brilliant composers, Eriona Rushiti and Endri Muçaj.
Eriona has had her compositions performed all across Europe, not least at Eurovision and Junior Eurovision. She wrote the lyrics for Albina & Familja Kelmendi, who sang Duje at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, as well as both music and lyrics for Jonida Maliqi’s Ktheju tokës in the 2019 Contest.
She also wrote the lyrics for Albania’s last Junior Eurovision entry, Bota Ime sung by Viola Gjyzeli.
Aside from singing, dancing, and playing the piano, Nikol spends her spare time playing volleyball, watching TikTok dances, watching movies, and spending time with her niece.
She says that her niece being born was the best birthday present she’s ever received. Her birthday is only 4 days after the Junior Eurovision Grand Final, and we reckon a win would be a very good present. Although it’s hard to compete with a baby niece.
As if singing and piano weren’t enough, Nikol also plays the drums. Her dream is to become a singer and play her own songs on the piano. Competing in Junior Eurovision is certainly a great start!
She’s posted videos of her performances online, including a mash up between When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars and Flowers by Miley Cyrus, which she accompanies on the piano. The plant theme started early.
Nikol’s favourite popstar is Michael Jackson, but her all-time favourite song is Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good. She loves Amy’s melodies, and Nikol’s own song Vallëzoj has got a similar melancholic vibe.
The first song that Nikol learnt to sing was Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes’ Señorita. If you get time for a quick karaoke Nikol, we all want to hear this.
Nikol’s song certainly fits in with the 'Let’s Bloom' theme of Junior Eurovision 2024. Ahead of the Contest, she said: “[My song is] all about the love for nature, flowers, plants and the whole planet. I can’t wait to perform it!”
You can learn more about Nikol Çabeli from Albania right here.

You can now stream the official #JESC2024 album and watch all 17 songs over on the official #JESC YouTube channel!
Make sure to keep up to date with all the latest news and BTS action by following #JESC2024 on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, before Junior Eurovision returns LIVE from the Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday 16 November.
You can watch the show live on the #JESC YouTube channel and don't forget to vote for your favourites over at JESC.TV when voting opens!
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