Shirma Rouse

Born in Curaçao and based in the Netherlands, Shirma Rouse is part of the Dutch soul and gospel scene, blending Caribbean heritage, contemporary R&B and jazz influences. After studying science, she turned to music in the late 2000s and began as a backing singer on stage and in the studio for various Dutch pop, soul and jazz artists — this work as a chorister gradually nourished her own project. Her debut album, 'Chocolate Coated Dreams' (2010), laid the foundations for a repertoire centered on modern soul, followed by 'Shirma Rouse sings Aretha' (2012), an explicit tribute to Aretha Franklin that steered part of her career toward themed concerts and tribute tours. With 'Dedicated to You' (2014) and 'Soul Serenade' (2017), Shirma Rouse deepened a mix of soul ballads, rearranged covers and original compositions, while simultaneously developing more explicitly gospel projects with The Gospel Sessions. Highly present on club, theatre and festival stages across the Netherlands, she alternates small-band shows, large orchestrations and television appearances, building over the years a trajectory where spiritual music, classic soul and jazz-tinged pop songs intersect.