When 26-year-old Lisa Harms came home at half past two last night, she couldn’t believe her eyes. A large sheet hung in front of the window of her house in Ter Apel with the text: Lisa Harms, winner Drèents Liedtiesfestival 2023. “So nice that they did that,” she laughs.
Of course they eat cake today and meanwhile her phone is ringing red. Friend requests on Facebook, RTV Noord, Radio 5 and of course RTV Drenthe.
She has been living in Ter Apel for ten years and yet she participated in the Drèents Liedtiesfestival. How is that possible? “Well, I come from Emmer-Compascuum. So I am and will always be a Drent.”
Her participation came unexpectedly. “Last November I was with a friend in a party tent in Emmer-Compascuum. A friend of mine then said: ‘Come with me to Roy’. Roy Keuter was a DJ there. She took me behind the scenes and said to Roy: ‘I have someone for you for the Drèents Liedtiesfestival’ We exchanged numbers and a week later I was at Roy’s house and we wrote the song Until the sun pours written,” she says.
“I told him everything I’ve been through and the lyrics are based on that. The song is about my father. He died when I was ten years old. The song has something sad, but there is also a positive message in it Harms said.
She works as a nurse in home care. She was actually supposed to work tonight, but luckily she was able to swap with a colleague, because the idea of having a party arose spontaneously. Because this success should of course be celebrated.
Harms plays the piano every day at home and often also the guitar and trumpet. Until now, she actually only did singing in the shower. But that is about to change. The prize also includes the prize that she can record and release her song. And there are performances ahead.
She qualifies for the Region Song Contest, where each regional broadcaster sends its own artist for the final. Harms therefore travels for RTV Drenthe. In addition, she will represent Low Saxon at the European Song Contest for Minority Languages in Udine, Italy.
Does she want to continue professionally in music? “If I can continue in music, I’ll sign for it. With everything. With vocals, trumpet and piano.”