Emma Hessels

For anyone who loves to say, “I was there when…”: here’s your chance with Emma Hessels. Artistic director Juliet Gagnon saw her in a small room at the Mezz in Breda and knew immediately: this is a future hero.

Think if you saw Joni Mitchel or Joan Armatrading that kind of start. With an incredible voice and presence, Emma sings in both English and Dutch. Possessing the gift for telling a story in just a few minutes that sticks with you long after.

Since her participation in the Flemish Sound Track, Emma has been winning hearts across the Low Countries. She’s played Best Kept Secret and opened for icons like Cat Power and Mavis Staples. On May 9, 2025, she released her single Insular, the first taste of her debut EP, coming this fall on Unday Records.