ABOUT

Koosje is a singer-songwriter from the Netherlands and emphasizes neo-soul, folk influences, R&B riffs, but also lush jazz harmonies and vocal freedom.

Koosje was born into a close-knit theater family: her father is a director and her mother a drama teacher. She started acting at 11 years old and appeared in plays, operas, and musicals when she was only 14 years old. A year later she sang her first real aria, from the opera De Kus van de Pontamour. This aria was composed especially for her voice by the iconic Bob Zimmerman. She performed with artists such as Colin Benders, Ernst Daniël Smid, Steve Reich, and Gwilym Simcock.

Koosje studied for a year at the Academy of Theatre and Dance in Amsterdam, went on to study jazz vocals at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and ultimately ended up at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague where she studied Music Education. She graduated in 2016 with a 10 (with distinction) for her final singing exam and as an arranger, composer, vocal coach and conductor.

She went viral through Instagram feed @theyhavetherange, supported Poppy Ajudha at the Melkweg, was reposted by Robin Thicke and appeared in LINDA. Magazine. Jennie Lena, Jim Bakkum, Edsilia Rombley, Shirma Rouse, Freek Bartels, Teddy Swims, Gregory Porter, Lalah Hathaway, James Taylor, David Crosby and Jarrod Lawson want(ed) to sing with her.

She toured with the Nederlands Studenten Jazz Orkest as a headliner alongside Bart van Lier and is frequently heard on radio stations including Sublime and NPO.

Koosje’s debut album, It’s Time, was released on February 17, 2023, featuring contributions from Ruben Hein, Artvark Saxophone Quartet, João Erbetta, and Woodcraft. She played her album release show in a packed Hertz hall at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.

The spring of 2024 was dedicated to her debut album tour, including performances at Paradiso and Mezz. Koosje won the Rabo Talent Award in 2025 after her performance at So What’s Next Around Town 2024 in Eindhoven. Before her new album One More, she released the singles Quiet Portrait, One More, and Beyond My Control.

On May 9, 2025, she released her new album. A day later, Koosje, João Erbetta and her band performed at a packed Bitterzoet for the One More release party, where jazz vocalist Fay Claassen presented her with the Rabo Talent Award.

Koosje toured in December 2025, performing at Paard, De Doelen, Merleyn and TivoliVredenburg. She also made a live recording with the Metropole Orchestra, Cor Bakker and Bob Zimmerman of a music theater song she wrote with João Erbetta. She played at Podium Klassiek with Cor Bakker, supported Cory Henry and started collaborating with him.

She is currently finishing and releasing her new EP. In 2027, she will tour extensively with Fay Claassen.