You’ve probably heard it pass by: the French-Dutch song Ladada (Mon DernierMoth) from newcomer Claude. It is currently the most listened to record inthe country on Spotify. The nineteen-year-old artist is compared to Stromae bythis debut single.
“It is of course a great compliment,” says Claude when NU.nl asks him aboutthe comparisons with one of his examples. “And because it is my debut single,I also understand that people are looking for similarities. Because of theFrench words and the attitude of the song, I understand that people getStromae vibes from it.”
He is not afraid that these comparisons will linger too long. “As soon as moreof my music comes out, people will hear more Claude in it.”
Claude is not entirely new to the music scene. The attentive talent showviewer has known him since he participated in 15 years old _The Voice Kids._He then – of course – sang a song by Stromae. Claude made it to the battlerounds, but then had to leave the field.
He had more success Are You Next? , a search for new pop talent by musicchannel Xite and record company Cloud 9 Music. Claude won, got a record dealand was allowed to enter the studio with hit producers Arno Krabman (knownfrom Maan, Suzan & Freek, S10) and Joren van der Voort (Jaap Reesema, KrisKross Amsterdam).
Claude was not familiar with their work at the time. In fact, it was only whenhe saw the gold records on the wall of the studio that it became clear to himwho he was dealing with. “I thought: wow, where have I ended up? Then I foundout that they made songs that I listened to on the way to the studio. Iimmediately knew I was in good hands.”
The atmosphere in the studio was immediately pleasant. “It’s exciting to startwriting with people you just met, but it clicked right away. You have toexpose yourself while writing and that is only possible if a bond of trust iscreated.”
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A mix of Dutch and French
Krabman and Van der Voort made together, among other things He ‘s mine _withKris Kross Amsterdam Maan, Bizzey and Tabitha and Krabman was co-responsiblefor Eurovision entry _The depth from S10. So in Dutch, and that was also theplan with Claude. But during a studio session he used a French term andKrabman saw an opportunity.
That’s where the debut single rolled Ladada (Mon Dernier Moth) from. Thatsong is about the end of a relationship. It is not written from my ownexperience. Ladada was quickly picked up by major radio stations andgarnered online success. At the time of writing, the counter on Spotify standsat about four million streams.
The singer, who came to the Netherlands from Congo at the age of nine, doesnot yet know whether he always wants to sing in two languages. At the momenthe enjoys that mix of French and Dutch. But he doesn’t rule out writing songsentirely in one of the two languages either.
Claude would not be the first artist to sign a record deal at a young age thathe no longer supports at a later age. The singer wanted to prevent that andhas enlisted help to make sure he knows what he is signing for. “Theconditions are very important and a good friend’s father helped me with that.It also helps that I have a good feeling about Cloud 9 Music and get creativefreedom.”
The success comes as a surprise, but Claude is already prepared for more.There are already the following potential singles ready. “We have to _Ladada_give it time to reach the audience now, but I really can’t wait to release the