In a list of names of Dutch women who have also become very well-known and popular in Germany, it doesn't take long to come across Ilse DeLange. At the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, the singer came second in Copenhagen together with Dutch singer Waylon as The Common Linnets with their hit "Calm After The Storm", narrowly beating Conchita Wurst. The name Ilse DeLange has been on everyone's lips ever since this performance. With the exception of her second album "Livin' On Love" (number 5), her first seven albums all reached number 1 in the Dutch album charts. Eight Edison Awards as best Dutch singer since 1998, six number 1 albums in her home country, 1.8 million records sold and a total of 15 platinum awards are testimony to the enormous success of her career. In 2024, you will be able to see Ilse DeLange live at seven concerts in Germany.
But DeLange is not only successful in the Netherlands: her album "Changes", released in 2020, entered the German album charts at number 14 and stayed there for 11 weeks. The Dutchwoman, who speaks fluent German, is also a welcome guest on the TV stage. In addition to her work as a coach on "The Voice Of Holland" (2013 & 2014), she appeared on German TV in 2020 as a participant in the 7th season of "Sing meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert" and in 2021 as a music mentor in the KiKa songwriting competition "Dein Song". In the same year, she took part in the 14th season of the RTL show "Let's Dance" together with Evgeny Vinokurov. In 2022, she was part of the jury on "Deutschland sucht den Superstar".
Born in Almelo in the Netherlands, Ilse DeLange found her musical roots in country music. When her first number 1 album "World Of Hurt" was produced in Nashville in 1998, DeLange was just 21 years old. Her sound: American, dreamy and imbued with a youthful lightness, she hit a nerve and stayed in the Dutch Top 100 for 138 weeks. In her home country, "World Of Hurt" achieved platinum status five times over. Nevertheless, it was not until 2008 that she landed her first number 1 single with "Miracle" from the album "Incredible". The track - a minimalist ballad carried by a minimalist instrumental with piano accompaniment, strings and Ilse DeLange's gentle vocals - shows her music from a rousing and emotional pop rock side. Her latest album "Changes", on the other hand, has moved away from the country sound of the early days in places. With driving beats, melodic acoustic guitar and modern sound design, the title track "Changes" delivers a catchy pop anthem that makes you think and sweeps you away with an explosive chorus.
With her current singles "Quiet" and "Confetti Shotgun", 46-year-old Ilse DeLange shows a modern side that is still subtly reminiscent of the singer's country roots, but complements them with a driving indie-pop sound and electronic beats that invite you to dance. The focus is still on her unique vocals, which have matured over the years and are even more irresistible and catchy than before.
This content has been machine translated.