Ilse DeLange

Perhaps best known in the UK for her performance at 2014’s Eurovision Song Contest as part of Dutch country band The Common Linnets, Ilse DeLange has actually been consistently producing quality country music since 1998 with the release of her first single I’m Not So Tough. The soulful yet cheeky performance Ilse gave at Eurovision 2014 is typical of this immensely talented artist. She truly is a joy to watch. Performing in her home country, the Netherlands, earlier this year, Ilse proved that she doesn’t need anything more than her dazzling voice and her guitar to seduce an audience. Singing eyes-closed and alone on stage, she transported us away from the stress of our day-to-day lives and soothed us with treasured songs such as Miracle, Endless Highway and World of Hurt.
It doesn’t matter how many people she performs in front of, Ilse’s performances always feel surprisingly intimate. Whether it’s her mastery as a singer-songwriter, totally in control of the music, or the simplicity of her set-up during concerts, seeing Ilse perform live feels like a one-on-one private event. Her stage-presence makes you forget everything around you, and all you can do is focus on the moment. Seeing Ilse feels unique every time, and it’s something you have to experience.