Duncan de Moor, known professionally as Duncan Laurence is a Dutch singer, songwriter and producer. He graduated from the Rock Academy in Tilburg in 2018, spending time in London and Stockholm as part of his studies.
In 2014, he participated in the fifth series of The Voice of Holland, making it all the way to the semifinals.
He has also written for South Korean duo TVXQ, co-composing the song "Closer" for their 2018 album New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love. The album peaked at #1 on the South Korean charts.
On 21 January 2019, AVROTROS announced he would be representing the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv with the song Arcade. He won the competition with 498 points, giving his country its first win in 44 years. The song got a huge resurgence between late 2020 and 2021 via TikTok, making it a worldwide hit and the most-streamed Eurovision song of all time.
On 13 May 2020, he released his debut EP "Worlds On Fire", featuring "Arcade" as well as his second single "Love Don't Hate It" and three new tracks. His debut album, "Small Town Boy", was released on 13 November 2020 and was certified platinum in the Netherlands shortly after.
In 2022, he joined the sixth season of The Voice Kids Vlaanderen in Belgium as a coach alongside 2016 Belgian representative Laura Tesoro. He mentored team member Karista Khan to victory.
He, along with fiancé Jordan Garfield, are mentors to Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper, who were selected to represent the Netherlands at the 2023 contest in Liverpool. He performed "You'll Never Walk Alone" as part of the "Liverpool Songbook" interval act during the 2023 grand final, alongside the 2023 presenters, the performers of both the opening and interval acts, and 2004 winner Ruslana (via video from the Golden Gate in Kiev). Duncan and Jordan married on 21 August 2023.
Trivia[]
- Duncan has two Eurovision connections via his participation in The Voice of Holland. His coach was Ilse DeLange, part of The Common Linnets, which represented the country in 2014. She was also the person who sent Arcade to the Dutch selection committee. His season-mates were O'G3NE, who went on to win that year's series and participated at Eurovision in 2017 with the song Lights and Shadows.
- The last name of "Laurence" came from "Laurencia", after his mother.
- He is the first male soloist to win the contest for the Netherlands.
- Though he did not place first in either the jury or the televote, he was the only 2019 finalist to place in the top 3 on both sides.
- He and Conchita Wurst are the only two Eurovision winners of the 2010s to come from a full internal selection (artist and song).
- He is the third winner to perform at a piano, following Udo Jürgens in 1966, and Paul Harrington in 1994.
- He is the first artist to win performing out of the 12th spot in the running order since Dana in 1970.
- The artists' entrance at Rotterdam Ahoy was re-named "Door Duncan" in his honor.
- He is the second person in his family to receive the Jan Blankenspeld award from his childhood town of Hellevoetsluis, his grandfather won the very first award in 1989.
- He was offered a cameo role in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, but he turned it down as he was already committed to his tours of Europe and the Netherlands.
- With the cancellation of the 2020 contest, Duncan is the longest reigning Eurovision winner. As of the 2021 grand final, he held the title for over 2 years.
- He shares the same birthday as Melovin (11 April), but Duncan is three years older.
- Additionally, both artists identify as bisexual.
- For the "Liverpool Songbook" interval, he chose "You'll Never Walk Alone" as it is also the supporter anthem of Feyenoord FC in Rotterdam, of which he himself is a supporter.