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Caro Emerald
Emerald singing in Hilversum, 2013
Background information
Birth name	Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw
Born	(1981-04-26) 26 April 1981 (age 43) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres	Jazz pop swing electro swing
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Grandmono Records
Website	www.caroemerald.com

Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw (born 26 April 1981), known for the music project Caro Emerald, and latterly The Jordan is a Dutch pop and jazz singer who mainly performs in English. Active since 2007, she rose to prominence in 2009 with debut single, "Back It Up". Follow-up single "A Night Like This" topped charts in the Netherlands.

The debut Caro Emerald album, Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor, was released on 29 January 2010. By August 2010, the album had spent its 30th week at number one in the Dutch album charts, setting an all-time record and beating Michael Jackson's Thriller by one week. On 3 October 2010, Emerald was awarded the Dutch music prize Edison Award for Best Female Artist. In 2013 a second studio album was released titled The Shocking Miss Emerald. The album entered at number one in the Dutch and United Kingdom album charts and sold over 600,000 copies.

Early and personal life

Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw was born on 26 April 1981, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to a Dutch father and an Aruban mother. She started singing lessons at age 12 with James Gilloffo in Amsterdam and joined a girl vocal group, Les Elles, under his guidance. Following high school, she trained as a jazz vocalist at the Amsterdam Conservatory, graduating in 2005.

In March 2014 Emerald gave birth to her first daughter. She gave birth to a second daughter in August 2017.

Career

2007–2008: Career beginnings

In early 2007, Dutch producer Jan van Wieringen invited van der Leeuw to sing the vocal on a track he was producing with producer/songwriter David Schreurs. The song, "Back It Up", had been written by Schreurs and Canadian songwriter Vince Degiorgio and was based around a hip-hop beat created by Robin Veldman and Jan van Wieringen. Van der Leeuw's jazzy vocal was considered a "perfect match" for the new song.

The demo was pitched to various publishers and labels but without result. The demo then reached public notice around the world online and radio stations started playing the song.

Degiorgio, Schreurs, van Wieringen and van der Leeuw realised their sound had potential and started working on a conceptual studio album with van der Leeuw as "starring artist". Writing began in the summer of 2008 using the mix of "Back It Up", 1940s to 1950s jazz, easy listening, orchestral Latin, combined with infectious beats as a model. Adopting a sample based approach but with live instrumentation, the writing sessions drew from a wide range of influences including jazz organist Jackie Davis, exotica composer Martin Denny, mambo king Perez Prado, 1920s to 1930s jazz, and van der Leeuw's own vocal inspirations of The Andrews Sisters, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. Their usual method would be for Schreurs to create the ideas and backing tracks, and then get together with top line writer and lyricist Degiorgio to write the songs. Van der Leeuw co-wrote several songs on the album, and van Wieringen co-created the tracks for "The Other Woman" and "Dr Wanna Do". Schreurs and Degiorgio are credited as "Creative Directors".

2009–2012: Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor

After record labels either refused or failed to sign the project, Schreurs set up their own label, Grandmono. "Back It Up" was released as debut single on 6 July 2009. The song gained airplay and popularity overnight and listed in the Dutch Top 40 for 12 weeks, peaking at No. 12. It became the most played song on 3FM in 2009.

Emerald's debut album, Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor, was released on 28 January 2010 in The Netherlands by Grandmono. It entered at #1 in the Album Charts and stayed there for weeks. By August 2010, the album had been #1 for 27 weeks, beating Michael Jackson's chart record for Thriller (26 weeks #1 in 1983). The album returned to #1, spending a total of 30 non-consecutive weeks on top spot of the Dutch Albums Chart.

The album reached double platinum (>100,000 copies) status in the Netherlands on 5 July 2010. It reached triple platinum in August 2010, four times platinum (200,000) in November 2010, and sextuple platinum (>300,000 copies) in December 2011. Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor was removed from the Dutch charts after 104 weeks due to a rule providing albums can't spend >2 years on the charts. Upon re-entry, the album climbed back to #8.

The album's second single, "A Night Like This", was released in December 2009. It was listed in the Dutch Charts for 26 weeks peaking at #1 in January 2010. It was the most played song in The Netherlands in 2010.

In 2011, Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor was released throughout Europe with great commercial success. It became a hit in the UK (1× platinum with sales exceeding 360,000, 8 weeks top 10 peaking at No. 4), Germany (1× platinum with sales exceeding 280,000, peaking at No. 5 and Platinum single for "A Night Like This" with sales exceeding 340,000), Poland (6× platinum with sales exceeding 60,000), Italy (Gold Single for "Back it Up"), and Austria (No. 1 with "A Night Like This"). In the UK, all six singles and the entire album were A-listed by BBC Radio 2. Over 1,400,000 albums have been sold in Europe.

The cinematic sound of the project resulted in frequent use in TV series, movies and advertising. Selected credits include The Playboy Club, a brand campaign by Martini, 2 Days in New York, The Secret Circle, Wind Mobile, Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, The Vampire Diaries, Agent Carter, Nestlé, Ferrero Rocher, Wrigley and Disney Nature film Chimpanzee.

Due to its exceptional success, the album was included in an episode of the Dutch version of Classic Albums in April 2012.

On New Year's Eve 2011, Caro appeared on Jools Holland's Hootenanny.

In January 2011, Emerald won the Popprijs 2010 for Best Dutch Pop Act of 2010. In early 2012, Emerald won a Goldene Kamera for Best Musik International and an Echo Award for Best Newcomer International.

2013–2014: The Shocking Miss Emerald

In April 2013, the second Caro Emerald studio album The Shocking Miss Emerald was released. It included the singles "Tangled Up" and "Liquid Lunch". The album went to #1 in the UK album chart. She performed in the UK at The BBC Radio Theatre; it was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Red Button.

On 29 June 2014, she played the opening music set on the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2014.

2015–2020: Emerald Island

In April 2015, Emerald released a single, "Quicksand".

In March 2017, Emerald released an exotica inspired EP, Emerald Island. It was released to accompany the Emerald Island Tour.

In June 2020, Emerald released "Wake Up Romeo," her first single in three years.

2022-present: The Jordan

On 23 August 2022, Caro was revealed as the voice behind new act "The Jordan". Her debut album, Nowhere Near the Sky, was released on February 10, 2023 via Cooking Vinyl. The first three singles from the album are "You Don’t Even Know Me", "Dancing Naked in the Sun", and "The Room". According to the official Caro Emerald website, "As of 2022, the Caro Emerald project and live act are dormant and no longer active."

Awards

• 11 April 2010: 3FM Serious Talent Award
• 15 April 2010: Schaal van Rigter
• 26 April 2010: De Eerste Prijs
• 3 October 2010: Edison Award, Best Female Singer
• MTV Europe Music Award, Best Dutch and Belgian Act
• 12 January 2011: European Border Breakers Award 2011
• 15 January 2011: 3FM Mega Award 2010
• 15 January 2011: Popprijs 2010
• 3 March 2011: Zilveren Harp 2010
• 3 March 2011: Het Beste Nederlandse lied 2010 (Best Song of the Year 2010)
• 14 March 2011: NPO 3FM, Best Album and Best Female Singer
• 12 June 2011: TMF Award for Best Female Singer
• 4 February 2012: Goldene Kamera 2012, Best Music International
• March 2012: Echo Music Prize, Best International Newcomer

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

Singles

References

1. ^ "Caro Emerald verbreekt record Michael Jackson" [Caro Emerald breaks Michael Jackson's record] (in Dutch). Nu.nl. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
2. "Caro Emerald wins Edison for Best Female Artist (In Dutch)". 25 October 2010.
3. "Caro Emerald Shines at No. 1 on U.K. Albums Chart, Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' Reigns Again". Billboard. 13 May 2013.
4. "iTunes Preview". Riviera Life – EP Caro Emerald reviews (in Dutch and English). Grandmono Records, & Apple Inc. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
5. Werman, Marco (7 February 2013). "Retro-Style Jazz Music from Dutch Singer Caro Emerald". The World from PRX. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
6. Savage, Mark (30 September 2010). "How Caro Emerald dethroned the King Of Pop". BBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
7. "Caro Emerald bevallen". nu.nl. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
8. "Opnieuw dochter voor Caro Emerald". AD (in Dutch). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
9. ^ "Q&A on Caro Emerald with songwriter David Schreurs". HitQuarters. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
10. "Caro Emerald meest gedraaid op 3FM" [Caro Emerald most played on 3FM]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 6 April 2010.
11. "Double Platinum". 5 July 2010.
12. "4× Platinum NED". November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
13. "Caro Emerald maakt zelfstandige oversteek naar VS". entertainmentbusiness.nl. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
14. "Classic Albums: Caro Emerald". publiekeomroep.nl. 14 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
15. "Caro Emerald wint Popprijs 2010". nos.nl. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
16. Limited, Alamy. "Dutch singer Caro Emerald performs after being awarded in category "Best International Music Artist" during the 47th Golden Camera award ceremony in Berlin February 4, 2012. The Golden Cameras (Goldene Kamera) are awarded by a popular German TV-magazine honouring excellence in the areas of television, film and entertainment. REUTERS/Maurizio Gambarini/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 19 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
17. "Inbetweenie Caro Emerald wins ECHO AWARD". Style has No size. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
18. Sexton, Paul (13 May 2013). "Caro Emerald Shines At No. 1 on U.K. Albums Chart, Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' Reigns Again". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
19. "BBC Radio 2 - Radio 2 In Concert, Caro Emerald, Watch Caro Emerald Live!". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
20. "English National Ballet and Caro Emerald". BBC Two @ Glastonbury. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
21. Eames, Tom (21 April 2015). "Caro Emerald announces new single and UK winter tour". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
22. "Caro Emerald - The Emerald Island Tour - Visit Nottinghamshire". www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
23. "The Jordan announces Nowhere Near the Sky". www.totalntertainment.com. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
24. "About Caro Emerald". www.caroemerald.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
25. "Caro Emerald Best Dutch and Belgian Act". de Pers (in Dutch). 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010.
26. "Winnaars Buma Harpen Gala 2011 bekend!". Buma Cultuur (in Dutch). 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
27. "De Jeugd, Go Back to the Zoo en Caro winnen 3fm Awards". nlpop.blog.nl (in Dutch). 14 April 2011.
28. "Ben Saunders grote winnaar TMF Awards". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 12 June 2011.
29. "Preisträger der 47. GOLDENEN KAMERA – Caro Emerald". goldene-kamera.de (in German). 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
30. ^ "Caro Emerald – Music Charts". αCharts.
31. ^ "Discografie Caro Emerald". dutchcharts.nl/ Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013.
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35. ^ "Discographie Caro Emerald". charts.de/ Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015.
36. "Search for: Caro Emerald – Albums". italiancharts.com/ Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015.
37. "FIMI - Pagina non-trovata - FIMI". Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
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39. ^ "Caro Emerald". hitparade.ch/ Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 15 February 2014.
40. ^ "Caro Emerald - UK Charts". Official Charts Company. officialcharts.com.
41. "Caro Emerald – NEWS – No. 8 ON THE UK ALBUM CHART". Caroemerald.com. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
42. "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
43. "Gold in Switzerland".
44. "Album Caro Emerald 1.000.000 keer verkocht". caroemerald.com. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
45. zpav.pl/rankingi/wyroznienia/platynowe/index.php
46. "Certified Awards". Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
47. "Search for: Caro Emerald – Singles". italiancharts.com/ Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015.
48. "Peak position A Night Like This in Poland". 17 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013.
49. "Peak position Back It Up and Stuck in Slovakia". 17 November 2010.
50. "Peak position A Night Like This in Romanian Radio Airplay Chart". 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
51. Rádio Top 100 Oficiální
52. Gaon Singles Chart
53. ^ "CERTIFICAZIONI DOWNLOAD FIMI – Week 21- Ending: 29/05/2011" (PDF) (in Italian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
54. "Italian single certifications – Caro Emerald – Stuck" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 26 August 2014. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Stuck" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
55. "Certificazioni - Archivio" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2013. Select Online, Week 26, Year 2013, then press Avvia la ricerca.

External links

• Official website
• Official Uvumi Profile Archived 23 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• Caro Emerald Profile and Discography on This is Vintage Now
• Caro Emerald at AllMusic

• 1981 births
• 21st-century Dutch singers
• Conservatorium van Amsterdam alumni
• Dutch jazz singers
• Dutch women jazz singers
• Dutch pop singers
• Dutch people of Aruban descent
• Electro swing musicians
• English-language singers from the Netherlands
• Living people
• Singers from Amsterdam
• 21st-century Dutch women singers
• MTV Europe Music Award winners