Duncan Laurence
Biography
Duncan de Moor, known professionally as Duncan Laurence, is a Dutch singer and songwriter born on April 11, 1994, in Spijkenisse, Netherlands. He grew up in Hellevoetsluis, where he began writing songs as a teenager to cope with being bullied. His passion for music led him to the Rock Academy in Tilburg, where he graduated in 2017. During his time there, he played in several bands, including his own, The Slick and Suited. In February 2020, Laurence revealed that oxygen deprivation at birth resulted in a motor disorder in his right hand.
Career Beginnings
Laurence's career gained initial momentum in 2014 when he participated in the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. He joined coach Ilse DeLange's team and reached the semi-finals. After the show, he continued to develop as a songwriter, co-writing the song "Closer" for the K-pop duo TVXQ's 2018 album.
Eurovision Song Contest 2019
In 2019, Laurence was selected to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Tel Aviv, Israel. He performed his self-penned song "Arcade," a powerful ballad inspired by the loss of a loved one. The song resonated with audiences across Europe, and Laurence went on to win the competition, earning 498 points. This marked the Netherlands' first Eurovision victory since 1975. "Arcade" became a massive international success, particularly on streaming platforms and TikTok, eventually charting on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Post-Eurovision Success
Following his Eurovision win, Laurence embarked on a European tour and signed a record deal with Capitol Records. In May 2020, he released his debut EP, Worlds on Fire, which included "Arcade" and new singles like "Love Don't Hate It" and "Someone Else." His debut studio album, Small Town Boy, was released in November 2020 and was certified platinum in the Netherlands. A deluxe version of the album with additional tracks was released in 2021.
Recent Work
Laurence has continued to release new music and collaborate with other artists. In 2022, he released the single "Electric Life" as the lead from his second studio album, Skyboy, which was released in September 2023. He also served as a coach on The Voice Kids Belgium in 2022. He co-wrote the Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, "Burning Daylight".
Personal Life
Duncan Laurence publicly came out as bisexual in 2018. In August 2023, he married American songwriter Jordan Garfield in a ceremony in Sweden.