Dennis van Aarssen
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
“The past year was complete madness. Everything in my life has changed, except my family and my girlfriend”, says Dennis van Aarssen, winner of The voice of Holland 2019, looking back on the past year. From project manager at a digital marketing company to full-time singer with a debut album and a tour with 31 shows in the Dutch theaters. In a not so obvious genre; jazz. Or swing, as ‘crooner’ Dennis prefers to call it.
Dennis' musical education starts at the age of seven when he takes piano lessons: “I actually wanted to learn to play the guitar, but my hands were too small. But I was able to play the piano.” After five years of piano lessons, Dennis switches to singing lessons at the age of 12: “I really had a child's voice and that didn’t change until I was seventeen. After all, I was very small for my age and somewhere around the age of seventeen, I started to grow."
Partly due to the joy and excitement he experienced in performing for an audience, Dennis decided to participate in various talent programs on TV, including the wildly popular Idols. In addition, Dennis recorded songs in his home studio which he constructed with his father. “I started to publish songs on YouTube. Both pop and jazz songs. The first song I put on YouTube in 2010 was (I Did It) My Way by Frank Sinatra."
Jazz and swing
Listening to artists like Robbie Williams, Michael Bubblé and also older artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dennis became fascinated by jazz and swing at a young age. “My singing coach already let me sing Frank Sinatra. And I immediately liked it very much. This music was different. I have been singing in different bands the last few years and have sung the most diverse genres. With one band I performed songs from the great American songbook. And that was the music that really got to me. I just fell in love with the genre."
The voice
Even though Dennis had a good job as a project manager, he never lost interest in music and singing. Music was always in the back of his mind. “It started to itch again. The production team for The voice of Holland, which I came across through another talent show I participated in, suggested that I should take part in The voice."
Not only did he participate, he actually won the 2019 edition of The voice with popular jazz and swing repertoire. “Because I managed to win The voice with my favorite genre, I knew I had to try and build a career as a singer.”
Album and Jeff Franzel
The Dutch crooner has now recorded his first album. Ten tracks: two covers, two covers re-arranged in a swing style, and six own songs. “I received a phone call from a publisher, asking me if I wanted to collaborate with Jeff Franzel, former pianist and songwriter for Frank Sinatra. Duh? What do you think? Off course I want that. He was accompanied by Maria Christensen, a great author who has written lyrics for Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez and Disney, among others. The first day we wrote three songs and two of them are also on the album. We hit it off so well that ultimately five sessions took place."
Jeff Franzel praises Dennis' exceptional qualities: “I’m thrilled to be working with Dennis and it’s rare to meet someone who not only has a signature voice but also can compose songs that are from his heart. He’s a true natural and co-writing Superhero with Dennis and Maria Christensen was one of the highs of my career. Having accompanied Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Mel Torme with the Les Brown Band it’s refreshing to meet a singer who I feel can continue to carry the legacy of these great artists. I am certain that he will become a successful international artist. Dennis received the honorable Edison Award for his album Forever You in 2020!