Isaac Roux

It’s just a small step from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) to a record deal, and Louis De Roo (28) takes it with ease Under his nom de plume Isaac Roux, he is ready for his big breakthrough.

If LIPA doesn’t ring a bell, then ‘Paul McCartney’s music academy’ certainly will. In 2015 De Roo was admitted to study there for four years. It certainly perfected his English, which he impeccably uses to put his emotions and soul into songs, wrapped in guitars that build up at the right moment. Think: Bon Iver, Ben Howard, My Morning Jacket or, closer to home, Novastar.

Take debut single ‘White Rose’, heavenly indie folk with just the right amount of edge, a full sound, and the warm glow of De Roo’s characteristic voice. It brought him victory in ‘De Nieuwe Lichting’ (‘The New Class’), a steppingstone to a thriving career. Spotify was quick to provide full support, and radio stations in Belgium and The Netherlands were head over heels. Follow-up singles ‘Colours’ and ‘Autumn Love’ followed suit and opened doors in Germany (radioeins) and Austria (FM4), earning Roux a live session on German national radio station Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

His combination of warm indie folk and alternative rock works even better onstage, never failing to leave a crowd open-mouthed. After supporting Dotan for a European tour in April, he’ll be kicking off the line-up in The Barn at Rock Werchter. With his debut album coming out in November, the near future is looking very bright.