Five Belgian Artists You Need to Know

BY ANTOINE AARENS
5belgianartists

You may have heard of this tiny little country thanks to its beer, chocolate, or soccer team. But what about its up-and-coming and established artists? Here are five we think you should be paying attention to.

1 // Netsky

After two LPs on the British label Hospital Records, Boris Dhaenen is expected to release new music very soon via Sony Music. He teased us almost a year ago with “Running Low,” which featured Gossip’s singer, Beth Ditto.

Netsky has become famous for producing drum & bass music with a lot of instrumental layers and funky influences.The stages of Coachella and Ultra Music won’t soon forget his incredible live performances, the kind you seldom see in electronic dance music.

2 // Selah Sue

It all started at an open mic night in her hometown of Leuven (where Stella Artois comes from, FYI), and the rest is history. This young lady already has toured as a supporting act for Ed Sheeran, opened for Prince, and performed on the biggest stages of Eastern Europe.

Her second album, Reason, was released a few weeks ago.

3 // Goose

This Belgian electro band is quite underrated here in the U.S. despite a long career and successful tours in Europe and Asia.

Recently described by The Guardian as an “onstage powerhouse, successfully bridging the gap between electronic music and rock,” Goose has already released three albums. The group’s first, Bring It On, became a reference in Belgian electronic music.

4 // Soulwax

The Dewaele brothers started their career as a rock band influenced by Kyuss and Monster Magnet named Soulwax. Aside from that project, they also play records under the name 2manydjs.

In 2006, the band remixed its album Any Minute Now, renaming it Nite Versions. Soulwax is also famous for its live performances, which you can see in the documentary “Part of the Weekend Never Dies.” Oh, and the group also has a radio station featured in the video game “Grand Theft Auto V.”

5 // Stromae

“Who the Hell Is Stromae,” Time Out New York recently titled one of its cover stories. With an acclaimed U.S. tour and Coachella performance this year, and collaborations with Lorde and Kanye West, the 29-year-old musician shouldn’t need an introduction anymore; he’s the biggest Belgian export since Stella Artois, period.

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