Jamala will join the jury panel of the "Fabryka Zirok" (Star Factory) television show for the ninth prime, which will serve as the season's semi-final episode. This was announced by the press office of the SWEET.TV channel in an interview with Styler (an RBC-Ukraine project). The singer, who will also perform on stage that same evening, stated that she is accustomed to demanding a lot from herself and her team and intends to uphold these same principles when evaluating young performers. Thus, the season's key episode, which will determine the four finalists, will offer viewers a combination of a concert program and expert judging from one of the most recognizable Ukrainian artists on the international stage.
Judging principles: more than just vocal technique
In her comments to Styler, Jamala emphasized that flawless vocal technique will be far from the only criterion for her evaluation. The artist intends to pay attention to emotions, stage presence, and how well the performer understands the essence of their song. "It is important to understand what you are singing about, whom you are addressing your song to, and what you want to convey to the audience. So, I will look at everything comprehensively. For me, an artist on stage is a holistic story," the singer explained. She also noted that she wants to not only judge the contestants but also support them while maintaining impartiality in her verdicts.
"Don't waste time on idle talk": advice to participants
Addressing the contestants, Jamala compared participating in the project to an accelerated learning course: young artists receive numerous opportunities to work on their vocals, choreography, and acting skills, and every minute must be used productively. "If there is a difficult technical point you cannot master, repeat it until you get it right. If there is a difficult vocal passage, work on it. Use every minute. This is a huge chance, and it is important not to miss it," the singer urged, encouraging participants to focus on rehearsals and avoid wasting time on extraneous chatter.
A childhood lesson the artist still remembers
Jamala placed a special emphasis on an episode from her childhood: at the age of nine, she was so preoccupied with her outfit that she thought about her dress even during her performance. A teacher noticed this and gave her advice that the artist remembers to this day: "When you go on stage and in the first seconds you are thinking about how you look, you'd better go back. On stage, you should only think about what you are singing and who you are singing to." According to Jamala, even an uncomfortable stage outfit should not distract from the song or the connection with the audience — a principle she intends to apply as a judge as well.
Program for the ninth prime: who reaches the final and who will perform
The results of the audience vote, which determine the further participation of DYKYI, NEBOKRAI, and NASU in the show, will be announced during the ninth prime of "Fabryka Zirok." Based on the voting results, the four finalists will be determined, and they will present their own original songs that same evening. Joining the contestants on stage will be KADNAY, BRYKULETS, KATE SOUL, Oleksiy Kopylov, AZIZA, Yuliya Yurina, LYUDA BIELOUSOVA, and DOMIY. Masha Kondratenko will prepare a special number, and Jamala will combine a concert performance and her judging panel duties in one evening.
The ninth prime will be a turning point in the updated season of "Fabryka Zirok": after this, the show's format will move into its final phase, and Jamala's expert assessment may have a significant impact on how the participants perceive their own strengths and weaknesses. For the audience, this is a rare opportunity to see the singer in two roles simultaneously — as a performer and as an expert who articulates her criteria for evaluation publicly and argumentatively.
