INTERVIEW - Emma Kok | Eva

16-year-old Emma Kok has become a worldwide sensation. She won the Voice Kids, became the muse of André Rieu and sang her version of Voilà on stage. Et voilà, the whole Freitag in tears. That video has been viewed over 80 million times and now Emma is a superstar. Tomorrow she will fly around the world again, but tonight she will be here for a very short time. Ladies and gentlemen, Emma Kok! Welcome. Yes, thank you. Emma, recently you really flew all over the world. I had a whole list of places. Colombia, Mexico, Greece, Abu Dhabi, Ireland. Everywhere, I can still go on. What an adventurous life. Yes, it is. It's actually a dream life that I'm living at the moment. And then you perform everywhere. Yes. So then you've had all kinds of audiences for you. Yes. Is there a big difference in all those audiences, if you think about it? Every city and every country really has a very different audience. So there is always a lot of enthusiasm. But every country and every city has a lot of difference in enthusiasm. What was the most fun? South America was very enthusiastic. They went all out. They were really crazy. They were really proud. André just had to move the bow tie and then they would go. So it was really bizarre there. But Paris was also very special because I did the French song there. So they were also very enthusiastic. And where are they annoying? Because I hear that they sometimes talk in front of you. Oh yes. In Germany they can still differ. No. Yes, there they are sometimes very deaf. Or indeed, they talk a bit in front of you. That it's just a nice evening for them. And sometimes they are also very enthusiastic. You sing all your life. Yes. But your worldwide breakthrough really came in 2023 at the Vrijthof with André Rieu. Yes. Let's have a look. I can't imagine anything about it. I can't see it at all. But if you stand there in front of so many people and you do such an exhaustion. What do you feel? A lot of adrenaline. So at that moment I'm not busy with the audience. Because then you just want to get that note out as good as possible. But then you are so in that song. And so in that atmosphere that it all goes a bit by itself. And then we saw that. You see that later when you see the registration. The whole Vrijthof is crying. Yes. But not normal. Yes, that was also very strange to see again. Because there is so much distance between the stage and the audience. That you can't see through the face. And also not the emotion. So you hadn't seen that yet at that moment. Yes, we hadn't seen it yet. Only later. Yes, exactly. How is it that you can make all those adults cry? Yes, bizarre. I also find it very funny sometimes. Then I think, oh, that's very strange. I get up and start crying. Yes, that's also very strange. But it's also something very beautiful and special. Yes, of course. Because you touch them. Yes, exactly. Can you remember when you first thought in your life. Hey, I can achieve something with that. With people. I can do something with that. Yes, I remember that. Once when I was ten or eleven. Then I was in a children's choir. And then I had my first solo with Sister Act. And then I had to get the audience to stand up as well as possible. And that worked out for me. So then I thought, oh, I can do this. And then the first time with Sister Act. That was the first time I saw that for the first time. Yes. On the stage we see an incredibly powerful person. It looks like you've been doing it for 30 years. Very strong. On the other hand, you've been sick your whole life. Yes. You have gastroparesis. That's a stomach inflammation. In practice, that means that you spend 22 hours a day. Yes. Stuck with tubes on a device that gives you waste food. Yes, that's right. When did you decide, I'm not going to hide it? Because the moment you're on stage, you have a little bit of regret. Then you don't have to use it. But the rest of your life is always there. When did you think, I want people to know that too? Well, when I won The Voice. Then of course I also had social media. And then I thought, yes, I have also translated what I have. So then I just want it right. I don't have to hide it anymore on Instagram or Facebook or whatever. So then I thought, well, then I'll just share that too. Because it belongs to me too. And that's why I got a lot of contact with girls who also had this disease. Because it's a rare disease. So then I felt pretty alone. Because you don't know anyone who has the same thing. So when I started sharing it, then I also got to know girls who had the same thing. So then you don't feel alone anymore. And then you understand each other very well. So it also helped me a lot in the part. It would be faithful. Yes, it was really nice to write things down and share it with people. Now that's part of your story. And maybe, without pulling it apart, also your strength. That perseverance. When you were in school, it was the reason to be bullied. Yes, that's right. That's not the case anymore, of course. But did it leave its mark on you? Absolutely. I still make it to this day. That you always have that badge somewhere. And it actually always goes with you. So you have, for example, without uncertainty, that you think. Well, if I hadn't been bullied, then I wouldn't have these insecurities now. Or then I wouldn't have had a hard time with it. But somewhere, I think it also helped me a lot. That I was able to find my strength through singing. So yes, it has a lot of consequences. But maybe also a strength somewhere, I think. And people's trust. Yes, that's always a thing that's always very difficult. Trust in yourself, but also in others, is always very difficult. For example, I always had two girls in high school. Who I actually always dealt with. And who were also really my friends. But it took me, for example, three years. Before I really dared to say that they were my friends. Because I thought. No, they'll go behind my back in a minute. And then I'll be bullied again. So that really took a lot of years. Before I dared to do that. I can imagine people looking at you thinking. He's not afraid of anything. He's not in our life. He's standing there blowing everyone away. Yes. A lot of artists have all kinds of forms of rituals. I just happened to have it just before the show. I always wear my grandma's ring. And coincidentally today that I'm going to talk to you. Is this also grandma? I did get it from my grandma. And I forgot it today. So I find that very complicated. But then I heard that you have a lot more rituals than I do. What should I think about? So much. So I can go on for an hour. We don't have an hour. But maybe you can summarize. No, exactly. Well, I always have to put a certain form on my table. Or I always have to do my make-up in steps. Or I always have to tell my mother ten times I love her. Before I go on stage. Do you have to say that to her or does she have to say it to you? Well, to say it back. Otherwise I'll say I love you. And then she'll say it back. So then it gets a little more aggressive. And if she didn't say it, what would happen, Emma? Then I'll go to her until she says it. You don't go on until mom says it. And how many times is that? Yes, that depends. Usually two or four times or so. Okay. All kinds of things like that. That has to happen all year round. Your father has to send you an app. Yes, that's right. Your bathrobe and slippers have to be ready in a certain way. Yes. Are there more and more rituals added as you get older? Or do you say this is nice? This is a nice collection. Some go away and there are new ones. Which ones have gone away? Well, I don't know. For example, I don't wear certain bracelets anymore because they don't fit with the dress. So then I leave them in my bag. Very practical in the end. Also very pragmatic in your life. You are going to perform for us. So you can already move towards the stage. And then I can actually tell everyone that you are not alone here tonight. Because your father is at the technique. It's actually a family business. You are all very musical. Your parents got to know each other at the Harmony. Your brother Enzo is going to play the violin. And mom has undoubtedly called out I love you, love you, love you. Because she is also here in the building somewhere. Which one is Enzo? Where is Enzo? Hello, hello. Do you also have ritual Enzo? Oh, okay. Family business. It's all good. Whatever works, I always say.