From representing the Netherlands twice at Eurovision to releasing a queer anthem, Jeangu Macrooy uses his voice both as a megaphone and a mirror.
With his new single “Independent Girls and Nasty Evil Gays,” the artist uses satire as a form of protest: The Surinamese-Dutch artist Jeangu Macrooy has always been transparent about his queer identity. However, while writing his new single “Independent Girls and Nasty Evil Gays,” Macrooy realised he’s never written a song that addresses the queer community directly.
“I have been very open about who I am in my career. But the world feels a lot more hostile towards queer people,” he explains. “Sometimes my reaction is that I become silent and numb. The reaction should be to be even louder and protect the space that was fought for by a lot of people.”
It’s this desire to be loud that drove “Independent Girls and Nasty Evil Gays,” an anthem filled with satire, in which Jeangu Macrooy mocks the stupidity of those who mistakenly believe that independent women and gays are a ‘threat’ to society.
When asked what he wants listeners to take away from his single, Macrooy doesn’t hesitate: “I want people to feel empowered. I want them to be inspired to take up the space they deserve and be encouraged to live even louder.”
Born in Suriname and now based in the Netherlands, Macrooy took inspiration from artists like George Michael and Sam Smith – who have embraced their identity. The British artist Sam Smith has always been open about their identity and sexuality from the beginning. This helped Macrooy even before he started his own career. “I was like, okay so I guess we’re at this point in time where I don’t have to be mysterious and I don’t have to hide that part of myself.”
However, this desire to be loud and proud of who we are is challenged every day by the current political climate where queer people’s rights are questioned. In 2025, the UK is the second-worst country for LGBTQ+ rights in western Europe according to ILGA Europe. So, how to stay optimistic and creative? For Macrooy, hope is found in protests and in community. Being surrounded by other people who see the world the same way as he does empowers him.
In this tense climate, taking political stances can feel challenging, fearing being “cancelled”. Is it essential to be political? The fear of politics, especially in pop music, is often debated. Even international star Taylor Swift faced criticism for avoiding it. Would you feel like it’s part of your responsibility to speak up as an artist? For Jeangu Macrooy, artists are the mirror of society: “What isn’t political? Even love songs can be political when you’re queer because people are still fighting to deny our marriage or adoption rights”.
For the Surinamese artist, it’s clear that artists have a responsibility, whether they like it or not. “Nina Simone famously said that it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times”.
Jeangu Macrooy has represented the Netherlands twice at the Eurovision Song Contest – an emotional experience for him. The first time he was supposed to sing was for Eurovision 2020, which was cancelled because of the pandemic. “Grow” was the song he planned to sing, as he recalls: “This song was about this period of depression in my life and how I overcame that. Even though I didn’t get to perform it, it still reached people and it’s my most streamed song and I’m very proud of that.”
In 2021, Macrooy performed with his song “Birth of a New Age,” a song inspired by the Black Lives Matter protest. He explains to me with a smile that “Birth of a New Age” turned out to be an ode to people who use their voices to fight for justice and equality. On a personal level, this song was also a celebration of Macrooy’s roots.
“In the music video we really got to capture Surinamese and Caribbean culture and put it on a pedestal in a society that hadn’t been willing to do so before. I wanted to represent my heritage, and honour my ancestors who made it possible for me to be here now.”
While we talk about his experience of competing in Eurovision, we mention the recent LGBTQ+ flag ban during the competition. A decision that Jeangu Macrooy describes as “horrible” – for him, as Eurovision had a huge queer following, this flag ban doesn’t make any sense: “it’s not just a flag it represents hope. I do believe that representation is one of the most important things in this whole movement towards more equality and safety. It’s impossible not to feel a political element to it, in my opinion.”
Beyond his new single, Jeangu Macrooy is preparing to release his fourth album Young Awkward and Lonely. “It’s a portrait of a young person who isn’t that young anymore and is trying to find their way through life.”
Jeangu Macrooy is one of those artists who turn vulnerability into strength, connecting his own personal stories with universal messages that apply to anyone. His music is about refusing to be silenced. As he puts it himself: “I’m not alone and we’re not alone in this and all we need to do is just keep showing up.”
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