SPOTTED: Elmer wins Edison Award for Best Newcomer

Elmer laid the foundations of her stagecraft at ArtEZ, where she completed her theatre training. Although her roots are in theatre, she has quickly made a name for herself in the music world. Her performances are characterised by an intense theatricality that reinforces her musical identity and sets her apart from the crowd.

Jury report

According to the jury, Elmer is a unique artist who transcends genres with her raw, provocative and theatrically powerful music. Her debut album platland was praised for its sharp observations and humorous yet critical take on Dutch society.

Lyrically, this debut is so direct and vivid that it can rightly be called poetic, while musically it rises far above the ordinary. And all of this is driven by Elmer herself - a fresh, striking presence in the Dutch music landscape, who stands out for her bold approach and original lyrics.

More weird women

In her acceptance speech, Elmer dedicated the award to all the 'weird women' out there. She said: "Weird women, we are here, we exist. The fact that I'm standing here now is a step in the right direction. (...) We can only change the world if we can imagine it differently. That's why art is so important. And that's why we need people who dare to challenge the norm - those people are weird. Here's to a future full of weird women!"

Artistic identity

At the ArtEZ School of Acting, students are trained to become independent actors, with a strong focus on reflection and exploring their own artistic identity. Elmer is a prime example of how the programme provides a solid foundation for artists who dare to look beyond traditional frameworks and forge their own path.

Read more about the School of Acting here

More Elmer

Want to know more about Elmer's background and work?

Read a previous SPOTTED feature

And the story of Elmer's theatre collective