Esmée Denters is a singer/ songwriter from The Netherlands, but she's no ordinary songstress - she was discovered on YouTube and became the very first artist Justin Timberlake signed to his new record label! Her debut album won't be out until early 2010, but we had to talk to Esmée before then! She filled J-14 in on her music, which song made Justin want to sign her, and being on Oprah!
J-14: Can you describe your sound for new listeners?
Esmée Denters: This album was really self-written songs, and it's about who I am as a person. I've been writing for over two years, trying to find what I wanted to do musically, and it came out to be a pop/R&B record. I got to collaborate with a lot of great people -- like Justin -- and I'm really happy and proud of it.
J-14: Why did you start posting videos on Youtube?
Esmée: "I started posting my first video over two years ago, and I did it randomly because I love to sing. I was curious about what other people would think, so I put up this cover video, and then people just started requesting song! I started doing these requests, which was a lot of fun to do, and then I guess people told their friends, and it just started spinning out of control and all these people were watching! I got all these emails, and then Justin Timberlake found me, and I got signed to his record label, which is even more crazy!
J-14: How did you meet Justin?
Esmée: "I met him for the first time at one of his concerts in his dressing room. He had a piano there, so I played and sang him "How Come You Don't Call Me," by Prince. I was really nervous. When I was finished, I saw a smile on his face, so that meant that he liked it. Afterwards I was signed!
J-14: Do you have a fave place to visit in the U.S. yet?
Esmée: I really love L.A. I like New York. I like Miami, but they all have there own different things. I love that in New York, you can just take the subway or walk and get anywhere. But I love the weather in L.A., and I love the beach in Miami. I can't really pick!
Photo: Courtesy of Jason Odell/Interscope
