If there’s one word that summarizes Jeangu Macrooy’s second
album, it’s ‘confidence’. With Horizon he takes the second step in
an already glittering career. The follow-up to his successful debut
album High on You (2017) shows an ambitious artist who isn’t
afraid to dream big.
The seeds to Jeangu’s journey are planted when he receives a
guitar as a thirteenth birthday present from his parents. Together
with his twin brother Xillan, a musical duo was formed. However,
Jeangu’s musical ambition turned out to be bigger than the
music scene in his native Suriname, leading to his move to The
Netherlands in 2014. There he meets producer/composer
Perquisite, who signs him to his label Unexpected Records and
accompanies Jeangu as a producer on his debut-EP Brave
Enough, that sees its release in April 2016. From that moment on Jeangu’s career in the Dutch
music industry finds itself on the fast track: he’s named 3FM Talent, participates in Dutch travelling
music festival Popronde, supports Blaudzun and Selah Sue, is a recurring guest on national
television talkshow De Wereld Draait Door, plays at Noorderslag Festival and is nominated for an
Edison Award (Dutch Grammy) in the category ‘Best New Act’. All of this before his debut album
High On You even sees its release.
Jeangu’s debut album High On You (2017) is more energetic than its predecessor. The record was
nominated for the Edison Pop Award 'Best Album', and brings Jeangu and his band to major live
slots at Lowlands Festival, Eurosonic and North Sea Jazz Festival. A homecoming show in
Jeangu’s native Suriname followed, where he was received as a national hero. In Suriname his
single High On You had held the no. 1 position in the music charts for seven weeks. Upon returning
to The Netherlands, Jeangu personified the character of Judas in major TV production The
Passion, viewed by 3.5 million people.
On his second album Horizon, Jeangu presents himself with his head held high. The searching
youngster has evolved into a confident man and artist, exploring the world, unafraid of looking in
the mirror, driven by curiosity and a lust for life. ‘I want to avoid repetition’, he says. ‘As soon as I
recognized certain pre-existing patterns in my songwriting, I stopped and tried to figure out whether
there were alternative ways of going about it. There was more space for the whole band to
contribute ideas for arrangements, too.’
Jeangu is on a journey that allows him to grow closer to his true musical form, has improved in the
ability to realize his musical ideas, and explores the possibilities for his music together with his
producer and long-term collaborator Perquisite. More than ever he’s aware of his goal: telling a
story in a way that is as honest as possible. Take Shake Up This Place and Adrenaline, inspired by
Berlin’s nightlife. Or Surrender and Hold Me, in which we hear an unprecedented lyrical honesty.
Dance With Me gets the positive energy flowing, gospel shows its face in Second Hand Lover,
written by his brother Xillan, and his love for pure pop can be heard in How Much I Love You.
Fuelled by confidence, Jeangu takes the next step in the journey ahead of him. Expansion lies
before him in France, Belgium and Germany, where Horizon will also be released in full. The young
artist finds himself ever closer to that point on his musical horizon.
