Dutch artist Waylon, who represented The Netherlands together with Ilse DeLange as The Common Linnets at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, was interviewed by Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. In the special weekend edition of Volkskrant Magazine, Waylon talks about The Common Linnets, and he was also photographed by Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren.
In the interview, Waylon looks back at his time with The Common Linnets, and sees this as a beautiful experience: “A beautiful co-operation. And an awesome record we created together, of which we had dreamed since childhood: that the nation would listen to country-music”. Next weekend, Waylon will perform with Ilse DeLange one more time as The Common Linnets, at the Tuckerville Concert in Enschede, The Netherlands.
Waylon regrets this, because he had wanted to remain part of The Common Linnets-project for a longer period of time. However, after their somewhat unexpected success at the Eurovision Song Contest, both artists decided to go separate ways, because they could not reach an agreement considering “creative equality” on Waylon’s part.
Waylon would have liked to invest in a second album, but that meant that he would have to set aside his solo-career for some time. Without equal creative input, such as the composing of songs, Waylon did not feel comfortable continuing with The Common Linnets. However, Waylon emphasizes that there has never been any resentment between him and Ilse: “Let it be very clear: I have absolutely no grudge towards Ilse. Things just are as they are. In this whole story there are no winners, there are only losers at the moment“.
Waylon also confronts the rumours about his alleged drug abuse: “I am telling you now: I don’t drink, I don’t party and I don’t use any weird drugs. Because I know I can’t do that”. Waylon struggled with a cocaine-addiction years ago: “If there would be a pile of coke on the table right now, I would be too strong for it. But there may come a moment of weakness, that I’m not strong, and then it had to be used up”.
34-year old Waylon regrets nothing: “Regret is a useless emotion. That may seem light-hearted, but should I cry instead? I still have the greatest job in the world. I am also part of the success, without me the record would not have existed”.
For the interview, Waylon was photographed by Belgian artist Stephan Vanfleteren: [here]
Waylon (born: Willem Bijkerk, 1980 in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands) has been singing from an early age and named himself after his idol, country-star Waylon Jennings.
In 2005 he partook in the Dutch preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest, the Nationaal Songfestival, together with singer Rachel Kramer as the duo Rachel & Waylon. In 2008, Waylon came second in the popular TV-show Holland’s Got Talent, which marked his definite break-through. He was the first Dutch artist to sign a deal with the famous Motown Record Label from the United States. Waylon sings pop, soul, pure country, bluegrass and folk.
Together with renowned Dutch artist Ilse DeLange he performed as The Common Linnets during Eurovision 2014 in Denmark. The duo won the first semi-final, and went on to become second in the grand final with 238 points. Their Eurovision-entry Calm After The Storm has been a huge hit across Europe.
Stay tuned to ESCToday.com for the latest news on The Netherlands and the Eurovision Song Contest.
