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Claude (singer)

Not to be confused with Claud (singer).

Claude
Claude in 2023
Claude in 2023
Background information
Birth nameClaude Kiambe
Born (2003-09-16) 16 September 2003 (age 21)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
OriginEnkhuizen, Netherlands
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present

Claude Kiambe (born 16 September 2003[1]), known mononymously as Claude (/klaʊd/),[A] is a Congolese-born Dutch singer-songwriter. His debut single "Ladada (Mon dernier mot)" topped the Dutch Singles Chart in 2022, followed by a further four charting singles.[4][5] His debut album, Parler français, was released in 2024. He is set to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

Career

[edit]

In 2019, Kiambe took part in the eighth season of The Voice Kids, where he was eliminated in the battle stage.[6] The following year, he won the casting show Are You Next?, signing a contract with the record label Cloud 9.[7] Kiambe released his first single "Ladada (Mon dernier mot)" in 2022, which topped the Dutch Top 40. The song earned him multiple awards, such as 3FM Award for Best Newcomer or the Qmusic Artist of the Year award. He has cited Stromae and Lewis Capaldi as inspirations for his music.[8][3] He was scheduled to open Stromae's 2023 concerts at the Ziggo Dome before they were cancelled due to Stromae's health problems.[3]

On 19 December 2024, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that Kiambe would be representing the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.[9]

Personal life

[edit]

Kiambe was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His mother fled to the Netherlands with him and his siblings when he was nine years old, first living in an asylum center in Alkmaar. The family later moved to Enkhuizen, where he finished his Hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs (HAVO) education. He later studied hotel management, but discontinued the studies.[10] He speaks Dutch, French and English.[3]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
NLD
[11]
Parler français 6

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
Beste Zangers 2024 (Claude)

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album or EP
NLD
[11] 		BEL
(Fl)
[14]
"Ladada (Mon dernier mot)" 2022 1 — Parler français
"Layla (Take Me on Your Way) [nl]" 2023 11 — Non-album single
"Vas-y (Ga maar) [nl]"
(with Suzan & Freek) 		8 44 Parler français
"Écoutez-moi [nl]" 2024 32 —
"Parler français" —[B] —
"La pression" —[C] —
"Je t'aime"
(with Zoë Tauran [nl]) 		72 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The singer originally pronounced his name as [klodə] but when he came to the Netherlands he was bullied as his name sounded like kloot and so he started to introduce himself as /klaʊd/.[2][3]
  2. ^ "Parler français" did not enter the Dutch Single Top 100, but peaked at No. 27 on the Single Tip chart.[17]
  3. ^ "La pression" did not enter the Dutch Single Top 100, but peaked at No. 1 on the Single Tip chart.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Claude Kiambe op Instagram". instagram.com. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Behind The Scenes: Claude - Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)". YouTube. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Kuyper, Amanda (14 April 2023). "Ja, de muziek van de 19-jarige Claude is dansbaar en vrolijk, maar de onderwerpen zijn zwaarder dan je denkt". NRC (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Claude is de Nederlandse Stromae!". 538.nl. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Het vriendenboekje van Claude". Kidsweek (in Dutch). 22 January 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.ad.nl/show/het-verhaal-van-claude-19-gevlucht-uit-congo-en-nu-op-1-in-de-top-40-bizar-toch~a4416a8b/. Retrieved 19 December 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ "Na zijn deelname aan The Voice Kids wint Claude Kiambe een andere zangcompetitie: 'Zo gek om jezelf op de radio te horen'". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). 5 November 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Claude is de Nederlandse Stromae!". Radio 538 (in Dutch). 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Claude will represent the Netherlands at Eurovision in Basel". eurovision.tv. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Claude (19) over razendsnelle succes: 'Moet m'n bijbaan opzeggen'". www.linda.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Discografie Claude [NL]". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Parler Français – Album by Claude". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Beste Zangers 2024 (Claude) – Album by Claude, Beste Zangers". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Discografie Claude [NL]". Ultratop (in Flemish). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Dutch certifications – Claude" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 21 December 2024. Enter Claude in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2023 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  16. ^ "Dutch certifications – Claude" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 21 December 2024. Enter Claude in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2024 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  17. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 08/06/2024". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 23/11/2024". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
2025 		Succeeded by
TBD