Luka Cruysberghs starred as Hooverphonic’s frontwoman for their Eurovision 2020 song “Release Me”. While most people expected her to be the singer on their Eurovision 2021 track too, Hooverphonic decided otherwise, bringing back veteran Geike Arnaert. Since the announcement was made, Luka has remained relatively quiet on the matter. However, in a recent interview on the VRT programme Vlaanderen Herleeft, she opened up about her feelings on being told to leave so abruptly.
Luka Cruysberghs on her abrupt departure from Hooverphonic
Luka gave an explanation for her radio silence during Hooverphonic’s Eurovision 2021 experience. She says it would have negatively impacted herself, as well as the group, if she had continued to make media appearances. She agreed, however, that the parting was handled abruptly:
“Yes, we had a meeting. But I was then on holiday and it was all planned. So that had become a Zoom meeting. They just said it.”
“It was just a big shock. Because… I don’t know. I didn’t expect it or something.”
When asked about the reason behind her departure, Luka answered that she thought it was as simple as Geike having the willingness to return. Speaking about her subsequent radio silence, Luka said:
“[I haven’t said anything afterwards], because they said: ‘If we’re going to do a lot of interviews, they will look for dirt and revenge and so on’. Gossip. What the people like to read in the magazines.”
“[They didn’t tell me to be silent], it was rather: ‘nobody likes to have a frustrated ex-singer of Hooverphonic’. And that’s also true. People won’t think I am more sympathetic because of it. I have no anger or so towards them. But… I was rather disappointed. I don’t know. You work together for such a long time with people, so you have some kind of relationship with them, don’t you? So that was… I just was very much in shock.”
When asked whether she cried a lot, Luka answered she did “a little bit”, but she thought that was normal.
Luka’s path as a newfound solo artist
VRT described Luka’s 2021 as a year to work on her first solo release following Hooverphonic, but also a year of newfound complete anonymity. After being replaced by Geike, the radio and television visits and concerts came to a sudden end.
When Luka and Hooverphonic parted ways, it was later revealed that at the time of the parting, they had been working on an album. In April, Het Nieuwsblad reported the songs that Luka had recorded with Hooverphonic for the album had been discarded.
Showing scenes from a recording studio in Durbey, Luka revealed that her first single as a solo artist will have a totally different sound than her work with Hooverphonic. Judging by what we hear in Vlaanderen Herleeft, it sounds like a light dance track.
What do you think of Luka Cruysberghs’s comments about her departure from Hooverphonic? Are you excited for her first solo single? Let us know in the comments down below!
About 2 years ago I was on a Hooverphonic concert in Krakow, Poland. Luka was singing, she was great!!! Fingers crossed for her career. She doesn’t need them!
The way this was handled soured my opinion of them ngl, to be honest I prefered Release Me to The Wrong Place but I found both songs pretty bland.
Edit: Just a memory from the night of their semi-final, I was legitimately pissed when they got through, because of everything that happened it would have been glorious to watch them fail to qualify.
Well, Alex Callier (the man who always speaks above everyone else) is a spineless horrible man, I honestly think he must be a sociopath he gives zero f’s about anyone’s feelings, luka was Probably CRUSHED by the decision eurovison would have been an amazing stepping stone for her, don’t blame geike blame that stupid odious little man (Linda Martin said it best) Belgium obviously Needed a stronger entry and their 2021 effort was definitely better than 2020 but the way this situation was handled was just so cruel….
Wow… You know that bands change their lineup all the time, right? Or is that news for you?
All I remember from them is that one ugly dude that has always issues with everything and seems like a hell of a person to be around.
She’s well shot of them. I thought Release Me was dull and monotonous. I thought the Wrong Place was dull and monotonous. And the constipated looking crow in the bowler hat has the personality and attitude of everything that’s wrong in the world. Here’s hoping she rises from this and finds some happiness and success in her future endeavors.
This isn’t about who is the stronger lead singer. I think that’s Geike and I still think Luka deserved better. No one should be treated like that in a band, as if youre nothing but an instrument. It’s pretty insulting the way she was treated because it implies she brought nothing that couldn’t be replaced. And that’s sad. Every artist bring their soul into the creative process. This should have been a decision taken with Luka, not over her head.
I think for Alex she is an instrument, just like any other vocalist. He’s that kind of person who cares about his music and career more than about somebody’s feelings.
the life is cruel, the decisions have to be made, especially in terms of all the deadlines for Eurovision, touring and so on, the majority of the band decides. I liked Release Me a lot (though the repetitiveness of that song was pretty much killing). however, Geike has elevated the game soooooooo much more. Glad I have sent most of the votes to them in the final, although it was not enough for the top 10. the Wrong Place was one of the big gems and tbh, Geike’s voice and charisma fits to it better. but obviously, best wishes to… Read more »
It would be really interesting to hear the music she is preparing. Hope to her the best on her career… I really liked Release Me… indeed much more than The Wrong Place
Hope she represents Belgium in 2023 and gets a better result than they did. Shouldn’t be too hard. Wrong Place was really dull, only scraped into the final cos of who they are
You really wake up every morning and choose violence huh
violence???
Wow. Don’t think much of the remaining members of the group, including the lead singer who LEFT, and then just grabbed her job back from Luka. Not very classy people.
This is literally the first time she has properly commented on her exit
She was on frikkin vacation.
To be honest, I prefer Release Me over The Wrong Place (which I find quite boring and monotonous).
mad respect for this lady
I hope Luka gets her revenge and Belgium will select her again in 2 years and she gets a higher result than Hooverphonic did this year. (I think Belgium switches back and forth between Walloon and Flemish artists every year, right?)
Yes, it will be a Walloon artist for 2022.
Bye the way Sennek is back. She has a new single and is going to do a tour with jazz covers of old Eurovision songs.
Her “jazz cover” of Hard Rock Hallelujah should be interesting
Look, I find the whole situation with Luka unacceptable and generally I don’t really like Alex’s attitude as the band representative… Anyway, looking in the bright side of things:
– Geike is an OG in Hooverphonic (she sang Mad About You)
– Without her we wouldn’t have had the banger “The Wrong Place”
– Geike got a much easier name than ‘Luka Cruysberghs’
(The last one is a joke)
Geike was not the first singer with the band, she probably won’t be the last.
All former members of the Sugababes are probably in with a chance
Are you insinuating that Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán might try out next year for ESC? They have nothing to lose, being away for so long, and the U.K. has nothing left to lose, having bageled 2 years in a row (not including the canceled 2020 contest). I thought Hooverphonic could have qualified last year with “Release Me”; but Luka would not have been a good fit for “The Wrong Place”. Fortunately the pieces fit perfectly; O.G. lead vocalist with an O.G. video (which I didn’t think they’d qualify with), and an O.G. stage setup (which made a believer out of… Read more »
I know.
Bringing Geike back was the best thing for the group since I dont think the song would have had the same impact with Luka. But they did her wrong by just dumping her like that, without even telling in person. They all just come off as very I dont care about others attitude
Don’t think much of them now, especially Geike.
Wasn’t really her decision though and she wasn’t involved
“without even telling in person” well, what was the COVID situation back then?
luka deserved better. i like to think that she was given justice by the 3 televote points
True. But I think Release Me would have had a similar outcome following possibly being pushed through to the final by the juries.