Belgium's "The Voice" contestant ESSYLA, who rose to fame on the show, will take the stage at Eurovision
ESSYLA is a young Belgian singer who has rapidly made a name for herself in recent years and has already become a recognizable figure on the music scene in French-speaking Belgium. Her music blends pop and soul elements with a sincere, emotional delivery, and her lyrics often touch on themes of female empowerment and personal experiences. Today she will perform in the semifinals of Eurovision 2026, according to the official Eurovision website.
ESSYLA gained popularity after participating in the ninth season of The Voice Belgique, where she reached the finals and caught the attention of producers and radio stations. She was born in Perwé, in Walloon Brabant, and has been immersed in music since childhood.
As a teenager, she formed her first band and began performing on small stages. She later decided to pursue singing seriously and honed her technique at the Institute of Music and Pedagogy (IMEP) in Namur. Her musical taste wasn’t shaped solely by French pop—ESSYLA listened to jazz, rock, funk, and folk, which later influenced her style. That’s why her tracks sound more multi-layered than typical pop.
The singer’s first singles, “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude,” received heavy radio rotation, and she later released her debut EP, *I’ll Be Okay*, which cemented her position as a new artist on the Belgian scene.
In her interviews, ESSYLA has often said that her main goal is to speak for her generation, particularly about the experiences of young women, their strength, doubts, and inner conflicts. “I write about what I’m going through myself or what I see around me,” the singer explained.
There haven’t been any scandals surrounding the artist yet, though discussions have occasionally arisen on social media due to her blunt statements about gender inequality and the modern music industry. Part of the audience supports her stance, while others consider her too outspoken.
ESSYLA herself reacts calmly to criticism and emphasizes that she has no intention of changing her style just to please everyone. “Music has to be honest, even if some people don’t like it,” she said.
The Eurovision 2026 semifinals will take place today, featuring 15 contestants. Belgium’s representative, ESSYLA, will be the eleventh to take the stage.
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