Singer Thea Garrett yesterday celebrated her 18th birthday at a press event at the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana.

Malta's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest returned from a session in a German studio where she recorded 20 takes of her voice, parts of which will feature in the final version.

"I spent eight hours in the studio but they were well spent as I feel the end result is exceptional," Ms Garrett said in a calculated manner.

This was not her only birthday celebration; it started with friends on Saturday night and will continue at least until Thursday.

Opening the gift from a sponsor, a silver butterfly, she said: "How sweet; at least it's not a seagull!"

The singer will have her fair share of seagulls, though, as they will feature prominently in the promotional video Malta will be using in the run-up to the Oslo finals in May.

Head of delegation Joe Dimech said that instead of working on and investing in a music video, the song would be promoted with the recording of the Malta Eurosong finals, which will be enhanced with animations of seagulls flying around.

The delegation will not bother with television appearances in other countries for various reasons. A spokesman explained that appearing in a programme where another 10 contestants were featured was not very cost-effective.

Mr Dimech pointed out that production budgets overseas - Ms Garrett would have to be paid for appearing on a show - did not allow for contestants to promote their song in other shows. Instead, Malta's promotion will be focused on the internet.

Composer Jason Cassar said he was collaborating with a German producer on a remix of the song.