Shirma Rouse

(1980, St Eustatius) is one of the most popular singers in The Netherlands with her enormous range, soulful and rich voice. She started her musical career as a backing vocalist for artists such as Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Alain Clark, Candy Dulfer, Henny Vrienten and Anouk. In 2013, when Anouk took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, The Eurovision Times named Shirma best backing vocalist. For her third album Shout It Out Loud, she received the Edison Jazzism Music Award in 2015. In 2017, she interprets Aretha Franklin's oeuvre in her concert series and in her self-written theatre show Shirma sings Aretha. She can be seen regularly on TV, including as a chef on 24Kitchen with her programme Shirma's Caribische Smaken (Shirma's Caribbean Flavours) and published the culinary books Shirma's Soul Kitchen 1 and 2.