Two strong, starting musicians from Brabant compete against each other in a titanic struggle at the Hilversum media park. For them, the famous 3FM Talent election is perhaps the springboard to national fame, just like artists such as Froukje, S10 and Goldband had that. This year both finalists, Hannah Roelofs (Hannah) and Julie Benoit (XXJULía), from Brabant are coming from Brabant. “That can’t be a coincidence?”
Anyone hearing Hannah does not hear a singer with a mask on. With electronic, English -language doll, she throws her soul on the table. “The songs are switching out of your comfort zone,” she says. She does that herself by making music: “Because that is scary. If people don’t like my music, it also felt like they don’t like me.”
Participating in 3FM Talent was a big step for her. And when she saw that she was in the final, next to girlfriend and great talent Julie Benoit, she could only be happy for a moment. “Then panic and very hard work followed. Once nominated, I really want to win.”
Hannah from Geldrop went to Rock City in Eindhoven and then studied at the Rock Academy in Tilburg. Since November she has been publishing her own music. Her music is madonna-like. In the texts she explores themes such as growing up and uncertainty. “I perform under my own name, because the music I make sincerely shows who I am.”
“I was never allowed to participate in children for children through my Brabant accent, but that doesn’t stop me now.”
She always wanted to participate in children for children, but that was not allowed, because she has a Brabant accent and no rolling r. Adapting to those wishes was not an option for her: “I am simply a Brabant girl who will never leave here,” she laughs. Moreover: “There is a lot of talent for culture and music in Brabant.”
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“Brabant has formed me and my music, I am more and more brutal here.”
Just like Hannah, Julie comes from the Rock Academy. She came from Belgium to Tilburg and decided to stay. Julie makes alternative soul pop, with influences from funk and jazz and does not shy away from the sharp edges. “I describe my music as a magazine, where I put people who annoy me on the front page,” she says.
She should explain that: “Take the number Berlin Boy.” That is about a Berlin boy with whom she was dating. “We had a good click, but when I had bought a ticket to Germany, he said casually that someone he thought was a little nicer. He even wanted to ‘combine’ us. Yes, day!”
She wrote the number and sent it to him. “He thought it was a nice melody – only the text a little less,” laughs Julie. He voted for her for 3FM talent. “The least he could do,” she chuckles.
Brabant also plays a major role in her life and music for Julie. “Since I decided to stay – I didn’t do that for nothing – it has shaped me. I am more myself, more brutal,” she says. Her portfolio took a flight here. And in addition to her musical talent, Julie also organized her own event. FXMME Frequency in Poppodium013: an evening about equality between men and women in music.
Julie promises to the people who vote for her that she is organizing a fries table in Tilburg. “With Belgian fries, but throwing that on the table is typically Dutch,” she laughs.
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“When I win, I first hug Hannah, then I call my parents.”
According to Julie, it cannot be a coincidence that both finalists come from the province. “That is the fun, that is contagious. Moreover, the Rock Academy also lends a hand, that you need to nominate yourself for the 3FM talent, you learn on that training.”
Thursday, May 15, in the mood, although Brabant wins anyway. Both women do everything to win, but there is no trace of rivalry between them. “We call daily, because we know exactly how exciting this is,” says Hannah. Julie: “When I win, I first give my musicians a hug, I jump for a moment and then I give a big one shout To Hannah. Then I call my parents. ”
The Belgian singer even hints for a collaboration: “I would love to make a song with Hannah.”
You can vote for one of these ladies here.