My English friend asked me when Trijntje Oosterhuis performs again (in 2008 Cosmo Polite was invited to a surprise concert of hers). My Southafrican friend had to tell me that Caro Emerald is Dutch! Dutch Esmee Denters, the YouTube girl discovered by Justin Timberlake, was mistaken for a California girl by a Cosmo Polite Member. In short, it’s time for an update about Dutch music talents who perform in English.

Part 1: Settled Dutch Artists
Part 2: New Dutch Talents (this post)

In 2007 Caro Emerald recorded the demo of ‘Back It Up’ as a replacement for the demo singer who couldn't make it. A year later she got the chance to perform "Back It Up" on Amsterdam’s local TV station AT5. It caught on right away: viewers just wouldn't stop calling and e-mailing about that lovely girl with her catchy song. Caro and a friend produced a no budget video which ended up on Youtube, and again, the response was overwhelming. Caro and her team decided to focus on a full album, resulting in an exciting and hugely accessible record, featuring ballroom jazz, cinematic tangoes, groovin' jazz tracks and infectious mambo's that sound like they were recorded in 1951 in Hollywood's most famous recording studios. In 2009 Caro Emerald’s name was put on the list.



Giovanca started as a background singer, but since 2006 she has been working on her solo career. In 2008 Giovanca made her name with her debut Subway Silence. She enticed both pop and jazz fans with her voice, charisma and singular style. The reviews were very positive and was asked to play at places as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and various stages in Europe and Japan (a country where her album sold particularly well). On 3 March 2010, she received a Silver Harp that awards young artists who ‘have already made a significant contribution to Dutch music while still having a huge future ahead of them.’ Source: http://www.giovanca.nl



Laura Jansen is a singer/songwriter managed to become a regular at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, the place where the careers of many big names started (John Mayer, Katy Perry, Jason Mraz, to name a few). In 2009 she was ‘discovered’ and got signed on by Universal Music. In September last year her album Bells came out and with the use of (social) networks, her group of fans is growing rapidly. Source: http://www.laurajansenmusic.nl



Esmée was 17 when she began posting videos of herself on YouTube singing her favorite hits by Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and the likes, which she recorded in the bedroom. Within nine months, Esmée’s videos had racked up 21 million views and the teenager became the No. 1 Most-Subscribed to Musician in the history of the popular video-sharing website. It may have been her YouTube popularity that led Timberlake to seek out Esmée six months after her videos began to appear online, but it was her silky, soulful voice, natural charisma, and songwriting talent that sold him on signing her to his label, executive producing and co-producing the majority of her debut album. Source: http://www.esmeeworld.com



Waylon is the first Dutch artist signed on by Motown. After becoming second in TV competition ‘Holland’s Got Talent’, Waylon’s single Wicked Ways came out. Last Monday this single became gold, meaning over 10.000 have been sold.



Karsu Donmez performs every Friday and Saturday in her father’s Turkish restaurant Kilim in De Pijp. Karsu’s voice is often compared to Norah Jones. Though she has been classically educated (piano), the Carnegie Hall in New York asked her to perform jazz. Ever since, Karsu is gaining recognition as a soulful, smooth and clear jazz singer. Source: www.nieuwe-amsterdammers.nl



Destine (2006) is the Dutch version of punkpop bands as Fall Out Boy, Paramore and Simple Plan. In 2008, Destined was signed on by Sony Music and recorded their first album with the well-known punkpop-producer James Paul Wisner. James was very impressed with the quality of Destine’s songwriting and expects that the band will gain international success. Source: http://www.tmfawards.nl/nl/line-up/stage/2