BLESZ biography

BLESZ is a songwriter, poet, DJ and MC. He writes and composes songs for himself and others. Born and raised in Amsterdam East and developed a love for music at a young age. He started out as a DJ in the 90s and the name BLESZ stuck to him.

While pursuing a career in various fields his love for music kept pulling him back to create music. After a severe health issue in 2011, BLESZ realized that life is too short to not do what you love. This inspired him to write lyrics for himself and other vocalists. His style is versatile, but recognizable and his tracks are characterized by honesty, love, passion and criticism.

After becoming the host of the English spoken word poetry event Word Up in Amsterdam, a new dimension opened up for BLESZ. Although related to rap, the spoken word poetry and slam scene stimulated BLESZ to create pieces for a brand new  audience which also brought him to many places around the globe.

BLESZ was also a member of the urban live band B.U.C. and it was there where he got more familiar with arranging music and songwriting. B.U.C. won the Dutch final of Emergenza (2017) and went on to compete in the Emergenza world final in Germany.


A few places BLESZ has performed in 2017-2019:
BLESZ Take Over @ Keule Ruke, Vilnius, Lithuania
BLESZ & MAY, V98 Palanga, Lithuania
Slam Poetry, Kaunas, Lithuania (guest performance)
Trenksmas @ Kauno Meninku Namai, Kaunas, Lithuania
Game of Tones by Tito Valery (Arnhem)
BIGSAS festival, Bayreuth, Germany
Africa4U 2019 (spoken word poetry), Hoorn
UprisInk, Amsterdam
BR020 Rosewood Sessions, Amsterdam
OutSpoken (host)
Labyrinth Poetry Night
Word Up (host)
Speak Easy Brussels
Labyrinth Poetry Night; Shout into the Void
Volta Local Playground
 OutSpoken (host)
Clash of the Titans (w/ BUC)
Album Release Event @ Labyrinth, Amsterdam
BUC live @ Volta, Amsterdam
SoulFood Poetry #27 Amsterdam (DJ)
OutSpoken vol II (host)
 Word Up. Edition Open.
SoulFood Poetry #22 Amsterdam (DJ)
BIGSAS Festival of African and African-Diasporic Literatures "Space, Feminism, Resistance" (Bayreuth, Germany)
Word Up Lite  De Keet, Amsterdam (host)
​The Collision of Arts Finals (with BUC)
Soul Food Poetry KNOCK KNOCK #18 Amsterdam (performer & DJ)
OutSpoken (host)
Showcase @ Peronas (Vilnius, Lithuania)
The Collision of Arts - Halve Finale 2 (with BUC) (Scheveningen, the Netherlands
Drovers Dog Variety Night - April Edition (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Slamtastic | Poetry Slam Wageningen (Wageningen, the Netherlands)
Engels Café Restaurant (Berlin, Germany)
Du Beast, (Berlin, Germany)
The Collision of Arts - First Round (with BUC) (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)
American Book Store (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Volta (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Rabbit’s Game Pub (Yerevan, Armenia)
Club Das (Yerevan, Armenia)
Club 007 (Yerevan, Armenia)
Limeflicks Festival 2017 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Wereld Festival (Diemen, The Netherlands)
Taubertal Festival 2017 (Taubertal, Germany)
Melkweg (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
De Maatschappij (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)
Perdu (Amsterdam The Netherlands)
Boerderij Cultuurpodium (Zoetermeer, The Netherlands)
Rolling Kitchens Festival 2017 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Patronaat (Haarlem, The Netherlands)
Sexyland (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Loburg (Wageningen, The Netherlands)
Checkpoint Charlie (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Theater De Omval, (Diemen, The Netherlands)
YO! Fest (Maastricht, The Netherlands)