Belgium has not exactly set the scoreboard alight in recent editions of the Eurovision Song Contest. After narrowly missing out on a final spot last year with Witloof Bay, this year was the turn of the Flemish broadcaster VRT to select the Belgian entrant.
They have put their faith in the hands of fresh faced Iris, who, at 17 is the second youngest artist ever to represent Belgium after Sandra Kim. Practially unknown in her home country, Iris hopes to launch her career through exposure gained at the contest. Although only just starting out, music and song have been key elements in her life since early childhood. She was born in 1995 in Morkhoven, Flanders. Her first tentative steps on the music scene were taken when she joined a local choir and took part in numerous local talent shows, as well as playing a few sporadic local gigs. The budding artist cites amongst others Natalia, Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson as her inspiration.
It was in 2010 that things definitely started to move in terms of her career when she participated in a talent show, the Joepie Talentbooth, organized by record company Sonic Angel, coincidentally also the record label of 2010 entrant Tom Dice, who gave Belgium their best showing at the contest for many years. Iris made quite an impression and was promptly offered a recording contract. This led to the release of her first single, Wonderful which became a moderate hit in Belgium, peaking at number 28 on the flemish charts.
The announcement by VRT that Iris was their candidate for Baku left many stumped. The promising singer had however already swept aside any doubts with those responsible at VRT, winning them over with her youthful outlook; what she lacked in experience, she more than made up for in terms of enthusiasm and of course, her vocal abilities. And so, as in all fairytales, the dreams of a young girl come true when Iris takes to the stage in Baku, as she has dreamt of taking part at the contest since she was a child.
