Malmö Messages: dancing, ballads and demons

Road to Vienna: Belgium As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Belgium. Essyla : An Artist with an eccentric stage presence Essyla, born Alice Van Eesbeeck in 1997 in Perwez, Belgium, developed a passion for music at a young age. Influenced by French chanson, jazz, folk, rock, and funk, she quickly found her artistic voice. She formed her first band as a child and later trained at the IMEP music school in Namur to refine her vocal skills. Breakthrough on The Voice Belgique Essyla gained national recognition in 2021 as a finalist on The Voice Belgique Season 9. Mentored by Typh Barrow, she finished as runner-up behind Jérémie Makiese. This exposure introduced her powerful voice and unique style to a wide audience. Music Career and First Releases After the show, Essyla worked as a backing vocalist while developing her solo career. In 2023, she released her debut singles “Let You Go” and “Not My Kind of Dude,” followed by her first EP I’ll Be Okay. Her music blends pop with funk and rock influences, often focusing on empowerment and self-confidence. Later singles like “Your Letters” (2024) and “Tip Toe” (2025) further established her sound. Road to Eurovision Song Contest 2026 In 2026, Essyla reached a major milestone when RTBF selected her to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. This marks a defining moment in her growing career. Dancing on the Ice: Emotional Pop in Focus Dancing on the Ice explores the thrill of emotional risk in modern relationships. It shows how vulnerability and chaos can feel intentional—and even exciting. Duality and Inner Conflict The song highlights a tension between confidence and insecurity, love and doubt. The protagonist seeks connection while questioning their own emotional stability. Fragile Love, Strong Impact The ice metaphor reflects the beauty and instability of love. Dancing on it symbolizes choosing intensity over safety, making the track a powerful statement on living and feeling deeply. Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest Belgium has a long history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since its inception in 1956. The country has secured one victory: in 1986 with Sandra Kim‘s “J’aime la vie.” However, good scores for Jean Vallee (1978) and Urban Trad (2004) can not be left unmentioned. In recent years Loïc Nottet (2015) and Blanche (2017) reached the top-5. The previous Flemish entry, Gustaph’s “Because Of You”, reaced a 7th place. Over the years, Belgium has achieved several top-ten results, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the competition. The Bookmakers Belgium is currently ranked 28th with the bookmakers, suggesting that Essyla, like Red Sebastian last year, might miss out  the big final. Still, surprises are part of Eurovision’s magic. We look forward to see  Essyla to shine on stage.