Dutch artist Rianne steps into her own with emotive new single "Karaoke"

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Dutch singer-songwriter Rianne continues an extraordinary period of personal and artistic reinvention with her new single “Karaoke”. Written and produced alongside acclaimed songwriter Eg White (Adele, Duffy) the release offers another revealing glimpse into the world of an artist stepping out from behind a familiar name and discovering the confidence to be entirely herself.

Following August’s deeply personal “Funeral”, “Karaoke” marks the second single from Rianne’s forthcoming album, due in 2027, which will feature further co-writes with White and Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Rihanna), and continues a remarkable transformation for the musician formerly known as The Indien. Having spent years establishing herself within the Dutch alternative music scene, Rianne Walther is now embarking on a chapter that feels simultaneously more exposed and more liberating than anything that came before.

“This isn’t about starting over, but about finally daring to be visible,” she explains. And that sentiment runs through the heart of “Karaoke”, a song about the peculiar loneliness of feeling disconnected even when surrounded by people you love. Inspired by an evening out with friends, it captures the quiet internal struggle of watching everyone else seemingly enjoy themselves while privately wishing you could be somewhere else.

What begins as a relatively ordinary social experience gradually reveals something considerably more universal: the exhausting pressure of comparing our private insecurities with the confidence we imagine everyone else possesses.

“A while ago, I went out for dinner with some friends at a beautiful restaurant”, she recalls. “Fancy wine, white tablecloths, and in the room next door: karaoke. My friends were loving every second of it. Meanwhile, I was checking the time, wondering when it would be socially acceptable to leave.”

It’s a wonderfully specific moment of discomfort, one that becomes the starting point for a wider reflection on self-expectation, insecurity and the often invisible emotional distance between ourselves and those around us.

“‘Karaoke’ is about that strange little battle with yourself. About trying to live up to expectations that might not even exist. About comparing your insides to everyone else’s outsides. I wish I could say I walked out of that restaurant having figured it all out. But I didn’t. I’m still pushing myself up that hill, but I’m learning to give myself a little grace along the way.”

Based in The Hague, Rianne creates distinctive, melancholic yet danceable pop music, pairing her expressive vocals with production that moves between intimate home recordings and more expansive studio arrangements. Her songwriting draws its strength from personal experiences and everyday observations, finding emotional significance in moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

Previously releasing music as The Indien, she established herself as one of the Netherlands' notable emerging alternative artists, earning coverage from NME, signing with London-based Disturbing London, and releasing a debut album that accumulated over 10 million streams.

Her achievements also include nominations for both an Edison Award and a 3FM Award, alongside four NPO Radio 2 TopSongs, sold-out headline performances at Paard and Paradiso, and support appearances with DI-RECT and Son Mieux.

Yet despite those accomplishments, something was changing behind the scenes. Having built a recognisable musical identity through The Indien, Rianne increasingly felt the need to finally show herself and reflect more in the artist she was becoming. The decision to begin releasing music under her own identity in August 2026 was therefore less a rejection of her past than an opportunity to move beyond its boundaries.

For Rianne, the significance of “Karaoke” extends beyond its deceptively simple premise. It reflects a broader transformation in which vulnerability is no longer something to conceal, but an essential part of the person and musician she is becoming.

With “Funeral” marking the beginning of that transformation and “Karaoke” embracing the uncomfortable beauty of being human, Rianne is now feeling entirely at home in her own voice.

Rianne will also be embarking on a number of headline shows later this year, playing a mix of her new material and favourites from her time as The Indien. See below for the full list of dates confirmed.

LIVE DATES

5 December 2026 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
9 December 2026 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen
17 December 2026 - Patronaat, Haarlem

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