Jasper Erkens

The Early Years:

• Born in Diest (Belgium) on October 1st, 1992
• A guitar for his 11th birthday
• Writing his own songs at 12
• First concert at 13
• First Award at 15 (silver medal and audience prize in HUMO Magazine’s Rock Rally 2008)

The Middle Ages (2008 – 2009):

• Spring & Summer 2008: Opening sets for stars like Adele, Colbie Callait, Kelly Clarkson Scott Matthew, Milow and Chris Thompson, jams with Elliot Murphy,...
• October 2008: first official single, his cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ has effortlessly won everyone over
• Februari 2009: Second single ‘Waiting like a dog’ enters all major playlists in Belgium and reaches n°1 in (national radio) Studio Brussels chart De Afrekening.
• March 23rd, 2009: Debut album ‘The Brighter Story’ released. The album will reach n°3 position and was ‘most downloaded album’ on I-Tunes for 4 weeks
• June 2009: 3rd single ‘Stay Alive’ also reaches n°1 position, just like previous single ‘Waiting like a dog’.
• July 4th 2009: Youngest artist ever (16) to perform, Jasper plays an unforgettable set at the worlds best festival: Rock Werchter!
• September 2009: Titletrack “The Brighter Story” released as 4rth single, again playlisted widely and again reaching n° 1 position in Studio Brussels De Afrekening.
• October 2009: Jasper wins three (3!!!) TMF Music Awards (Best Male Artist, Best New Artist and Best Video clip for ‘Waiting like a Dog’).

History as it happens (2010):

• January: Jasper (now 17) wins the Music Industry Award for ‘Best Debut’, a price given by Industry people only.
• March 2010: Jasper auditions at the BRIT School in London and gets offered a place in the number one talent factory over the past decade where Amy Winehouse, Adele, The Kooks, Katie Melua, and many other great performers all got their start.
• September 2010: More to come, most certainly for Jasper Erkens who writes songs that sound much more adult than one might expect knowing his age. Not surprising, since the young man spoons up helpings of Damien Rice, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, and gets the young Bowie for dessert. His raspy voice somehow manages to sound both fresh and weathered at the same time. He is no stranger to guitar mastery, and his musical skills might make you think twice about his real age!