Sieneke, who represented the Netherlands at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, released her new single Donkere dagen today.

Donkere dagen (Dark days) is the new single by Dutch singer Sieneke Peeters. The song was written by Dutch artist Marianne Weber, who was also Sieneke’s coach during her Eurovision-adventure in 2010. Donkere dagen is a melancholic love song, with a somewhat slower pace than Sieneke’s usual songs. The singer will release her latest album on Friday 9 September 2016. The album will feature new songs by Sieneke, including one dedicated to her little daughter, Rosalie.

Sieneke is of course very proud of her new song, as she shared on her official Facebook-page:

Good morning everyone! Here it is… my new single Donkere dagen. Written by Marianne Weber. I am so proud of this! Please share!!!

Enjoy the official videoclip for Donkere dagen:

Sieneke (full name: Sieneke Ashley Kristel Baum-Peeters, born in Nijmegen, 1992) started singing from an early age and frequently sang at parties and local festivals throughout the Netherlands. During one of her performances the young artist was discovered by Marianne Weber. Sieneke released her first album, featuring covers, in 2007.

Her national breakthrough came when she participated in the Dutch selection for Eurovision 2010, the Nationaal Songfestival, again with Marianne Weber as coach. Sieneke eventually won the selection, gaining the opportunity to interpret the song Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie), written by musician and composer Pierre Kartner (better known as Vader Abraham, Father Abraham, throughout Europe), at the 2010 ESC in Oslo, Norway. Sieneke performed Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie) in semi-final 2, yet failed to qualify for the Grand Final, reaching the 14th place out of 17 contestants, earning 29 points.

Although there was (inter)national criticism on Sieneke’s song and performance, claiming that it was too simplistic and unfit for the Eurovision-stage, Sieneke remained confident in the folkloric Dutch setting that they wanted to create, including the typical Dutch barrel-organ seen on stage. Despite the criticism, Sieneke managed to win the Dutch audience with her charm and good-natured character.

The young singer has been releasing albums and singles since her Eurovision-participation, she is sometimes referred to as “de kroonprinses van het Levenslied” (“crown princess of the Life Song”, a genre of popular Dutch-language music), and she is one of the main younger interpreters of the Volksmuziek (Folk Music, populistic Dutch-language music, not to be confused with folkloristic or traditional music).

Please enjoy Sieneke performing Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie) during semi-final 2 of the ESC 2010 once again: