Madagascar has joined the International Music Contest “Intervision,” becoming yet another participating country. The honor of representing the island nation has fallen to the star duo Denise and D-Lain.
Denise and D-Lain have been friends since their childhood, united by their shared passion for music. The musical journey of Ratolojanary Lalaina Josia, better known as D-Lain, began in his early years. At the age of 8, he first realized his love for singing, and by his teenage years, he had joined a gospel choir. He trained at the prestigious Alliance Française vocal studio in Antananarivo and auditioned for global musicals like “Mamma Mia!” and “Notre Dame de Paris”. In 2009, he was recognized as the best gospel vocalist. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he won Castel Live Opera, outperforming competitors among eight African countries. His talent caught the attention of Universal Music France’s Island Africa, leading to a contract in Paris in 2013. After returning to Madagascar in 2017, D-Lain launched his solo career.
In 2014, Denise won “African Island Talents,” an African analogue of “American Idol”. The victory earned her a contract with Universal Music, but she chose to decline international tours to focus on her homeland. “I just want to show that Madagascar is not trash (fako), but rather a land full of promise,” she remarked. In 2015 she embarked on a major tour across Africa, performing in Nigeria, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. Additionally, she created Madagascar’s main music festival, “Makua”.
The duo stated that their primary goal is to showcase the cultural richness of Madagascar. Denise and D-Lain admitted that they joined “Intervision” without any hesitation.
This year, the “Intervision” International Music Contest will feature over 20 countries, including members of BRICS, the CIS, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Final will take place on September 20, 2025, at Moscow’s Live Arena.