Few artists have soundtracked European summers as consistently and joyfully as LOONA. From the Latin-infused dancefloor smash “Bailando” — eight weeks at No. 1 in Germany in 1998 — to “Vamos a la Playa” accumulating over 150 million YouTube views and charting across France, Belgium, South Africa and beyond, LOONA (Marie-José van der Kolk) has built one of the most recognisable and enduring catalogues in European dance-pop. With over 10 million records sold worldwide, two ECHO Awards, and a career spanning three decades of hits, LOONA is available to book through Poise Artists for festivals, club events, summer shows, and private events worldwide.
The LOONA story begins in the early 1990s in the Dutch coastal town of IJmuiden, where a young Marie-José van der Kolk first discovered her passion for dance, theatre, and music. After professional dance and theatre training, summers spent on the island of Mallorca introduced her to DJ and producer Sammy — and the seeds of one of Europe’s most successful dance acts were planted. Between 1995 and 1998, the duo celebrated their first chart successes across Europe as DJ Sammy featuring Carisma with singles including “Life Is Just a Game,” “You’re My Angel,” and “Magic Moment.”
In 1998, under the new name LOONA, everything changed. The debut single “Bailando” became a phenomenon: eight weeks at No. 1 in Germany, No. 1 in Switzerland, No. 3 in Austria, and the recipient of eight Gold and three Platinum awards. It earned LOONA the prestigious ECHO Award in Germany for Best Dance Single of 1998 — the country’s most coveted music prize. The follow-up, “Hijo de la Luna” (originally by Spanish band Mecano), reached No. 1 in Germany, sold an extraordinary 1.5 million copies, and was recorded with a 40-piece orchestra — the Orquestra de la Luna. It became the most successful single ever sung in Spanish in the history of the German charts. A debut album, “Lunita”, cemented LOONA’s place as one of Europe’s defining dance-pop acts.
The hits kept coming. “Mamboleo” (1999) reached the Top 3 in Germany and earned LOONA a second ECHO Award for Best Dance Single. “Latino Lover,” “Baila Mi Ritmo,” “Viva El Amor,” and “Rhythm of the Night” followed, each adding to a catalogue that had now surpassed 10 million worldwide sales.
In 2002, as DJ Sammy feat. LOONA, the duo reached No. 1 in England, South Africa, and Australia with “Boys of Summer” — Top 10 across all of Europe and Top 20 in the USA. The follow-up “Sunlight” matched that performance globally, and the pair toured Australia alongside Bon Jovi, Pink, and the Sugababes on the renowned Rumba Tour. The USA’s DanceStar Award named LOONA Best International Dance Act of 2003.
In 2010, LOONA delivered what would become her signature summer anthem of a new generation. “Vamos a la Playa” hit No. 3 in France, No. 1 in Haiti, No. 2 in Belgium, No. 5 in South Africa, and featured in the Hollywood film “Dirty Grandpa” starring Robert De Niro. It has since accumulated over 150 million YouTube views — earning official YouTube milestone awards from France in both 2018 and 2023 — and remains one of the most-played summer tracks in European radio history.
Booking LOONA means bringing a true European pop institution to your stage. Her catalogue spans generations, her live performance is proven across the world’s biggest festival formats, and her connection with audiences is immediate and electric. LOONA is available for music festivals, summer events, 90s and 00s nostalgia shows, corporate entertainment, private events, and TV appearances worldwide. Contact Poise Artists today for availability and fees.
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