Jeangu Macrooy

BIOGRAPHY

The seeds for the musical journey of Jeangu Macrooy (Paramaribo, 1993) are planted when he receives a guitar from his parents at age thirteen. Shortly after, a musical duo is formed with his twin brother Xillan. However, Jeangu’s musical ambitions are big, and lead to his move from Suriname to the Netherlands in 2014. There, a musical collaboration takes off with producer/composer Perquisite, who signs him to his label Unexpected Records and becomes his producer and manager. His debut EP Brave Enough is released in April 2016 and from that moment on, Jeangu’s career finds itself on the fast track. He is named 3FM Talent, performs as a supporting act for artists including Selah Sue, becomes a recurring guest on Dutch national television, plays at Eurosonic Noorderslag and is nominated for Best New Artist at the Edison Pop Awards (Dutch Grammys).

Jeangu’s soulful debut album High on You (2017) is also nominated for the Edison Pop Awards, this time for Best Album, bringing him and his band to major live slots at Lowlands and North Sea Jazz. A homecoming show in Jeangu’s native Suriname follows, after his single High On You has held the number one position in the Surinamese music charts for seven weeks straight. Upon returning to the Netherlands, Jeangu personifies the character of Judas in the TV production of The Passion, viewed by over three million people, and does support shows for Curtis Harding and Ayo on their German tours.

On his second album Horizon (2019) Jeangu showcases more musical diversity. He has evolved into a confident artist, exploring the world, driven by a lust for life. The album presentation takes place in the sold-out main hall of the Paradiso in Amsterdam, and is followed by a club tour throughout the Netherlands.

In early 2020, it is announced that Jeangu Macrooy has been selected to represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest with his song Grow. Eurovision cannot take place that year due to the pandemic, but Jeangu’s song receives widespread critical acclaim: a premiere on Dutch national television, placements in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists in twelve countries, coverage on all major Dutch media platforms, millions of streams and views, and placement in the Dutch charts. On March 4, 2021, exactly one year after the release of Grow, Birth Of A New Age is released: Jeangu’s new submission for Eurovision. The music video, directed by Kevin Osepa and partially shot in the Rijksmuseum, has been viewed almost two million times and the song has been reviewed by The New York Times, among others.

Jeangu Macrooy’s third studio album Summer Moon, which he made together with producer Bud Kolk, was released on November 11, 2022 and is his most candid album yet. In terms of sound, Jeangu partly returns to the soulful sound of his debut album, but Summer Moon also has electronic and disco influences. The album is nominated for the Edison Pop Awards in the category Best Soul/R&B/Funk. In March 2023, Jeangu releases Space. The single is named TopSong by NPO Radio 2, the fourth in his career to date. Later that year he and his band launch the Summer Moon tour.

At the end of 2023, it is announced that Jeangu will play the role of Jesus in the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, directed by Ivo van Hove. The theater spectacle runs from January 2024 to November 2024 and receives rave 5-star reviews in all national newspapers. Jeangu is also nominated for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Major Musical at the 2024 Musical Awards. Jeangu’s fourth studio album produced by Jasper Zuidervaart (Chef’Special), is scheduled for release in the fall of 2025; the first four singles have already been released and have been positively received.

Website: jeangumacrooy.com

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