Silvester Belt

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Silvester Belt

| native_name =

| image = Silvester Belt 01 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Belt in 2024

| birth_name = Silvestras Beltė

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|11|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kaunas, Lithuania

| origin =

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|electronic|rave}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}

| instrument =

| years_active = 2010–present

| label = OpenPlay

| website =

}}

Silvestras Beltė ({{IPA|lt|sʲɪlʲˈvʲɛstrɐs ˈbʲɛlʲtʲeː}}, born 26 November 1997),{{cite web |date=2024-02-17 |title=Į "Euroviziją" keliauja Silvester Belt |trans-title=Silvester Belt is going to Eurovision |url=https://www.moteris.lt/lt/veidai/g-85914-i-eurovizija-keliauja-silvester-belt |website=moteris.lt |access-date=2024-03-03 |language=lt}} professionally known as Silvester Belt, is a Lithuanian singer and songwriter. He represented {{esccnty|Lithuania|y=2024}} at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "{{lang|lt|Luktelk|i=no}}".

Early life

Beltė was born in Kaunas, Lithuania. At the age of four, he developed an interest in music and began to attend music school. After his graduation, he continued his studies at the Juozas Gruodis Conservatory in Kaunas.{{Cite web |last=Liandzbergienė |first=Grytė |date=2024-02-22 |title=Lietuvos atstovas "Eurovizijoje" Silvester Belt: "Neatsidūriau didžiojoje scenoje per vieną dieną" |trans-title=Lithuanian representative at Eurovision Silvester Belt: "I didn't end up on the big stage in one day" |url=https://zmones.15min.lt/naujiena/lietuvos-atstovas-eurovizijoje-silvester-belt-neatsiduriau-didziojoje-scenoje-per-viena-diena-W7VvyXNEQ2A |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Žmonės |language=lt}}

In 2019, he graduated from the University of Westminster in London with a degree in Commercial Music Performance.{{Cite web |last=Juršėnaitė |first=Eimantė |date=2024-02-26 |title=Silvester Belt on Junior Eurovision, failures, and being himself – interview |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2204724/silvester-belt-on-junior-eurovision-failures-and-being-himself-interview |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=LRT |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Valaitis |first=Jonas |date=2021-09-22 |title=Silvestras Beltė: "Tos svajonės - pernelyg sureikšmintas dalykas" |trans-title=Silvestras Beltė: "Those dreams are an overemphasized thing" |url=https://www.jarmo.net/2021/09/silvestras-belte.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=JARMO |language=lt}} After graduation, he began working in a beauty salon. In January 2021, he returned to Lithuania where he signed with a record label; initially, he intended to return to London, but could not due to quarantine regulations.

Career

In 2010, Beltė competed in Vaikų Eurovizijos nacionalinė atranka, the Lithuanian preselection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010. He performed the song "Pi-pa-po" and qualified to the final, later placing 8th out of 12 finalists.{{Cite web |first= |date=2010-09-13 |title=Pirmojo "Vaikų Eurovizijos" atrankos pusfinalio rezultatai [papildyta] |trans-title=Results of the first "Junior Eurovision" selection semi-final [added] |url=https://eurodiena.lt/18716/eurovizija/pirmojo-%e2%80%9evaiku-eurovizijos%e2%80%9c-atrankos-pusfinalio-rezultatai/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Eurodiena |language=lt-LT}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-19 |title=Silvester Belt laimę bandė ir "Mažosios Eurovizijos" atrankoje – prisiminkite jo pasirodymą |trans-title=Silvester Belt also tried his luck at the "Little Eurovision" selection - remember his performance |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/veidai/14/2199148/silvester-belt-laime-bande-ir-mazosios-eurovizijos-atrankoje-prisiminkite-jo-pasirodyma |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=LRT |language=lt}}

In 2017, after being encouraged by his sister to apply, Beltė competed and later won the Lithuanian reality competition television show {{lang|lt|Aš – superhitas}} (I Am a Superhit). Upon winning, he moved from his hometown to Vilnius, where he later released his debut single, "Noise".{{cite web |date=2017-05-17 |title=Silvestras Belte prakalbo apie smarkiai pasikeitusį gyvenimą

|trans-title=Silvestras Belte spoke about his life that has changed dramatically |url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/zmones/silvestras-belte-prakalbo-apie-smarkiai-pasikeitusi-gyvenima-n911054 |website=TV3 |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=lt}}{{cite web |date=2017-04-26 |title=Gėjų klube koncertuosiantis Silvestras: kad aš esu "kitoks" yra akivaizdu |trans-title=Silvestras performing in a gay club: that I am "different" is obvious |url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/zmones/geju-klube-koncertuosiantis-silvestras-kad-as-esu-kitoks-yra-akivaizdu-n908595 |website=TV3 |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=lt}} Shortly after winning the show, he worked behind the scenes of the television show {{lang|lt|2 Barai}}, the Lithuanian counterpart of the reality competition The Bar.{{cite web |date=2017-08-10 |title=Realybės šou "2 Barai" už kadro dirbantis Silvestras gerbėjams paruošė staigmeną |trans-title=

Silvestras, who works behind the scenes of the reality show "2 Barai", prepared a surprise for his fans |url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/zmones/realybes-sou-2-barai-uz-kadro-dirbantis-silvestras-gerbejams-paruose-staigmena-n921178 |website=TV3 |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=lt}} The following year, he competed in the sixth season of X Faktorius, the Lithuanian version of The X Factor, where he was eliminated in the fourth week.{{cite web |date=2018-09-29 |title=Dėl seksualinės orientacijos žinomas dainininkas emigravo iš Lietuvos |trans-title=The singer, known for his sexual orientation, emigrated from Lithuania |url=https://www.lrytas.lt/zmones/tv-antena/2018/09/29/news/del-seksualines-orientacijos-as-superhitas-nugaletojas-silvestras-ryzosi-emigruoti-7727060 |website=Lrytas.lt |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=lt}}

File:Silvester Belt Eurovison Song Contest 2024 Final Malmö dress rehearsal semi-final 4.jpg

On 19 December 2023, it was announced that Beltė would be competing in Eurovizija.LT, Lithuania's national selection to select the country's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "{{lang|lt|Luktelk|i=no}}".{{cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=Lithuania 2024: 'EUROVIZIJA.LT' participants and details released |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/lithuania-2024-eurovizijalt |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=en-gb}} He went on to win the competition, earning the right to represent Lithuania at the contest.{{Cite web |last=Carabaña Menéndez |first=Hugo |date=2024-02-17 |title=Silvester Belt gana Eurovizija.LT 2024 y representará a Lituania en Eurovisión 2024 con «Luktelk» |trans-title=Silvester Belt wins Eurovizija.LT 2024 and will represent Lithuania at Eurovision 2024 with "Luktelk" |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision/2024/silvester-belt-gana-eurovizija-lt-2024-y-representara-a-lituania-en-eurovision-2024-con-luktelk/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=ESCplus España |language=es-ES}} In the contest itself, held in Malmö, Sweden, he performed in the first semi-final, held on 7 May 2024, where he placed 4th out of 15 with 119 points, qualifying to the final, where he placed 14th out of 26 with 90 points.{{Cite news |last=Holdiness |first=Timothy |title=Eurovision 2024 Semi-Final One Qualifiers |url=https://escxtra.com/2024/05/07/eurovision-2024-semi-final-one-qualifiers/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |work=ESCXTRA |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Sturtridge |first=Isaac |title=REVEALED: The Eurovision 2024 semi-final and final jury/televote detailed voting results |url=https://escxtra.com/2024/05/12/revealed-the-eurovision-2024-semi-final-and-final-jury-televote-detailed-voting-results/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |work=ESCXTRA |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Juršėnaitė |first=Eimantė |date=2024-01-09 |title=Filmuojama pirmoji eurovizinės atrankos laida: sceną išbando pirmasis dalyvių aštuonetas |trans-title=The first Eurovision selection show is filmed: the first eight contestants test the stage |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/muzika/680/2167183/filmuojama-pirmoji-eurovizines-atrankos-laida-scena-isbando-pirmasis-dalyviu-astuonetas |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=LRT |language=lt}}{{Cite web |last=Juršėnaitė |first=Eimantė |date=2024-01-13 |title=Du EUROVIZIJA.LT dalyviai jau užsitikrino vietą atrankos finale: vakaro favoritas – Silvester Belt |trans-title=Two EUROVIZIJA.LT participants have already secured a place in the selection final: the favourite of the evening – Silvester Belt |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/muzika/680/2170319/du-eurovizija-lt-dalyviai-jau-uzsitikrino-vieta-atrankos-finale-vakaro-favoritas-silvester-belt |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=LRT |language=lt}}

On 29 March 2024, several entrants, including Silvester Belt, released a joint statement calling for "an immediate and lasting ceasefire" in Gaza, as well as "the safe return of all hostages".{{cite news |title=Eurovision: Olly Alexander and other competitors reject calls to boycott over Israel participation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/29/eurovision-olly-alexander-and-other-competitors-reject-calls-to-boycott-over-israel-participation |work=The Guardian |date=29 March 2024}}

Artistry

Beltė describes his music as mainly pop, with some electronic, rave and techno influences. He cites Troye Sivan as his "all time inspiration."{{cite web |last=Terry |first=Connor "CJ" |date=2024-01-12 |title=🇱🇹 Silvester Belt Interview: "My all time inspiration is Troye Sivan". |url=https://www.escunited.com/🇱🇹-silvester-belt-interview-my-all-time-inspiration-is-troye-sivan/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=ESC United |language=en-gb}}{{cite web |date=2024-02-18 |title=Lithuania picks Silvester Belt to go to Eurovision |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2197956/lithuania-picks-silvester-belt-to-go-to-eurovision |website=LRT |access-date=2024-02-18}}

Personal life

Beltė is openly bisexual and came out publicly in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Jančiukaitė |first=Elena |date=2018-12-13 |title=Homoseksualumo neslepiantis "X faktoriaus" dalyvis Silvestras: "Nėra ko bijoti" |trans-title="X Factor" participant Silvester, who does not hide his homosexuality: "There is nothing to fear" |url=https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/zmones/homoseksualumo-neslepiantis-x-faktoriaus-dalyvis-silvestras-nera-ko-bijoti-n984244 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=TV3.lt |language=lt}}

Discography

= Singles =

== As lead artist ==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certification

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album or EP

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | LTU
Peak chart positions for singles in Lithuania:

"Ar dar matai": {{cite web |date=2024-02-23 |title=2024 8-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100) |trans-title=2024 8th week's most listened to (TOP 100) |url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s8-3/ |publisher=AGATA |access-date=2024-03-10 |language=lt}}
"Luktelk": {{cite web |date=2024-01-26 |title=2024 4-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100) |trans-title=2024 4th week's most listened to (TOP 100) |url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s4-2/ |publisher=AGATA |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=lt}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | FIN
{{cite web|url=https://ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/silvester+belt/luktelk/|title=Silvester Belt: Luktelk|publisher=Musiikkituottajat|language=fi|access-date=18 May 2024}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | SWE
{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2024&dspp=20|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=17 May 2024}}

scope="row" | "Noise"

| rowspan="2" | 2017

| rowspan="2" {{n/a|*}} || — || —

| rowspan="7" {{Non-album singles}}

scope="row" | "{{lang|lt|Tave radau|i=no}}"

| — || —

scope="row" | "Enough 4 U"

| 2020

| — || — || —

scope="row" | "{{lang|lt|Ar dar matai|i=no}}"

| 2022

| 48 || — || —

scope="row" | "{{lang|lt|Vidury naktų|i=no}}"

| 2023

| — || — || —

scope="row" | "{{lang|lt|Luktelk|i=no}}"

| rowspan="2"| 2024

| 1 || 44 || 83

AGATA: Gold{{Cite web|url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/muzika/680/2426342/lietuvos-muzikos-zvaigzdems-isdalyti-auksiniai-platininiai-ir-deimantiniai-apdovanojimai|title=Lietuvos muzikos žvaigždėms išdalyti Auksiniai, Platininiai ir Deimantiniai apdovanojimai|lang=lt|date=28 November 2024|publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television|access-date=28 January 2025}}

scope="row" | "{{lang|lt|Tyliai tyliai|i=no}}"

| —{{efn|"Tyliai tyliai" did not enter the AGATA Singlų Top 100, but peaked at No. 19 on the TopHit Lithuanian Airplay chart.{{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/lt/weekly/20240802-20240808|title=Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Aug 8, 2024|publisher=TopHit|access-date=24 September 2024}}|group=upper-alpha}} || — || —

colspan="7" style="font-size:85%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
" * " denotes that the chart did not exist at that time.

== As featured artist ==

scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" \| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Album or EP
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" \| LTU Peak chart positions for singles in Lithuania: "Drugiai": {{cite web \|date=2022-02-04 \|title=2022 5-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100) \|trans-title=2022 5th week's most listened to (TOP 100) \|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s05/ \|website=AGATA \|access-date=2024-02-14 \|language=lt}}
scope="row" \| "My Drug" (Romen Jewels featuring Silvester Belt) \| 2018 \| — \| {{n/a\|Non-album single}}
scope="row" \| "{{lang\|lt\|Drugiai\|i=no}}" (Jessica Shy featuring Silvester Belt) \| 2022 \| 73 \| Apkabinti prisiminimus
colspan="4" style="font-size:85%" \| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Nominee(s) ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" \| {{Ref.\|abbr\|References}}
rowspan="2" \| 2024 \| rowspan="2" \| Eurovision Awards \| #ALBM Cover of the Year \| Himself{{efn\|For his performance of the song "Rush" by Troye Sivan.}} \| {{won}} \| rowspan="2" \| {{center\|{{cite web \|date=6 December 2024 \|title=Vote now in the Eurovision Awards 2024 \|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/vote-eurovision-awards-2024 \|website=eurovision.tv \|publisher=European Broadcasting Union \|access-date=21 December 2024}}{{cite web \|date=31 December 2024 \|title=The Eurovision Awards 2024: The Winners! \|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-awards-2024-winners \|website=eurovision.tv \|publisher=European Broadcasting Union \|access-date=1 January 2025}}}}
Best Luscious Locks \| rowspan="2" \| Himself \| {{won}}
rowspan="3" \| 2025 \| rowspan="3" \| M.A.M.A. Awards \| Breakthrough of the Year \| {{won}} \| rowspan="3" \| {{center\|{{cite web \|date=24 January 2025 \|title=M.A.M.A drebino areną: triumfavo Jessica Shy, Free Finga, „Žemaitukai“, staigmena – „Kamanių šilelis“ ir Žvagulis \|trans-title=M.A.M.A trembled the arena: triumphed by Jessica Shy, Free Finga, "Žemaitukai", surprise – "Kamanių šilelis" and Žvagulis \|url=https://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/lietuva/zalgirio-arena-drebina-muzikine-m-a-m-a-kas-taps-metu-geriausiais-1050-2382806 \|work=15min \|access-date=27 January 2025 \|lang=lt}}}}
M.A.M.A. Top 40 \| rowspan="2" \| "{{lang\|lt\|Luktelk\|i=no}}" \| {{won}}
Song of the Year \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Nominee(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" | {{Ref.|abbr|References}}

rowspan="2" | 2024

| rowspan="2" | Eurovision Awards

| #ALBM Cover of the Year

| Himself{{efn|For his performance of the song "Rush" by Troye Sivan.}}

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" | {{center|{{cite web |date=6 December 2024 |title=Vote now in the Eurovision Awards 2024 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/vote-eurovision-awards-2024 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=21 December 2024}}{{cite web |date=31 December 2024 |title=The Eurovision Awards 2024: The Winners! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-awards-2024-winners |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 January 2025}}}}

Best Luscious Locks

| rowspan="2" | Himself

| {{won}}

rowspan="3" | 2025

| rowspan="3" | M.A.M.A. Awards

| Breakthrough of the Year

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" | {{center|{{cite web |date=24 January 2025 |title=M.A.M.A drebino areną: triumfavo Jessica Shy, Free Finga, „Žemaitukai“, staigmena – „Kamanių šilelis“ ir Žvagulis |trans-title=M.A.M.A trembled the arena: triumphed by Jessica Shy, Free Finga, "Žemaitukai", surprise – "Kamanių šilelis" and Žvagulis |url=https://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/lietuva/zalgirio-arena-drebina-muzikine-m-a-m-a-kas-taps-metu-geriausiais-1050-2382806 |work=15min |access-date=27 January 2025 |lang=lt}}}}

M.A.M.A. Top 40

| rowspan="2" | "{{lang|lt|Luktelk|i=no}}"

| {{won}}

Song of the Year

| {{nom}}