Ilse DeLange

Ilse DeLange became the most successful Dutch singer of the past 30 years by putting her own unique spin on typical American music traditions like country and Americana. Born in Almelo on May 13, 1977, Ilse DeLange received numerous awards and music prizes during that period, including eight Edison Awards. Her albums have achieved platinum status 18 times. In 2014, she took second place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen as a member of the group The Common Linnets, along with singer Waylon. She also mentored Duncan Laurence, who went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.

Ilse DeLange was already performing on stage as a child, initially with impersonations and covers. Later, she also entered her own work in the many talent shows organized throughout the country. It was also during this early stage that she developed her sound, steeped in American country music. This ultimately led to a recording contract. In America, she recorded her debut album, "World Of Hurt," with renowned producer Barry Beckett, featuring the single "Not So Tough." Both the single and the album were a huge success, thanks in part to the support of Dutch radio and television. It marked the beginning of an unprecedentedly successful career that continues to this day.

Over the years she released albums such as Livin' on Love (2000), Clean Up (2003), The Great Escape (2006), Incredible (2008), Next To Me (2010), Eye Of The Hurricane (2012), Ilse DeLange (2018), Gravel & Dust (2019), Changes (2020) and Tainted (2024). The singer regularly reinvents herself by integrating pop, rock and sometimes even electronic influences into her sound. Yet she just as often returns to her familiar roots, such as with the critically acclaimed Gravel & Dust. She recorded it with the American producer T Bone  Burnett (including Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Counting Crows, Los Lobos, John Mellencamp, and Elvis Costello). A few years earlier, Ilse DeLange appeared in the American TV series Nashville, a role she owes to T Bone Burnett's wife.

2014 also saw the first edition of Tuckerfest, co-initiated by Ilse DeLange, which has featured performances by artists such as Tim Knol, Amy McDonald, The Common Linnets, Triggerfinger, George Ezra, and Carrie Underwood. In 2017, she sang with colleagues such as Barry Hay, Guus Meeuwis, Douwe Bob, and Ellen ten Damme on the music program Ilse's Veranda. Two years later, she appeared on the Flemish music program Liefde Voor Muziek. In the years that followed, Ilse DeLange made frequent appearances on German television, appearing in programs such as Sing meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert and Deutschland sucht den Superstar. She also kept a close eye on the Netherlands. In 2024, she'll shine brightly at festivals like Pinkpop and Zwarte Cross, and during her theater tours.