Milow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Milow
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Milow
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Ivo Gilles Vandenbroeck |
| Born | 14 July 1981 Borgerhout, Belgium |
| Origin | Belgium |
| Genres | Acoustic, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Homerun Records, Island Records |
Jonathan Ivo Gilles Vandenbroeck (born July 14, 1981), known as Milow, is a talented singer-songwriter from Belgium. He started his own music label, Homerun Records, and released his first album, The Bigger Picture, in 2006. One of the songs from that album, "You Don't Know", became a huge hit in Belgium in 2007. His album stayed on the Belgian music charts for a very long time!
Milow became famous across Europe with his second album, Coming of Age, released in 2008. This album was later re-released as Milow in 2009. It became a top-selling album in countries like Germany and Switzerland.
His biggest international success came with his cover of the song "Ayo Technology". This song was originally by 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland. Milow's version became a number one hit in many countries, including the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. It sold over a million copies worldwide!
Contents
Milow's Early Life and Music Start
Growing Up in Belgium
Milow was born in Borgerhout, a town near Antwerp in Belgium. He was the second of four children. His dad was Belgian, and his mom was from the Netherlands. He grew up in Wespelaar, a town very close to Werchter. This area is famous for the Rock Werchter festival, which is one of Europe's biggest rock music events.
Milow shared that his first concert was seeing Pink Floyd at Rock Werchter in 1994. This show really inspired him to make his own music. He dreamed of performing at that same festival one day. When he was a kid, Milow took accordion lessons, and then piano and guitar lessons too. His home was always full of musical instruments.
Learning and Performing in the USA
In 1999, Milow spent a year in California, USA, as an exchange student. He attended The Bishop’s School, where he wrote and performed many songs. He has often said that this time helped him get better at writing songs in English. He always felt he would return to California someday.
In 2003, after playing in a few bands with high school friends, Jonathan decided to perform solo. He chose "Milow" as his stage name. When people ask why he picked that name, he says it doesn't have a special meaning. He just thought it would be easier for people around the world to remember than his full name.
First Steps in Music Contests
Milow first gained attention at Humo's Rock Rally. This is a famous music contest in Belgium for new rock bands. Many well-known Belgian bands started their careers there. Milow made it to the finals, which was a great achievement, even though he didn't win the top prize.
Milow's Music Journey
The Bigger Picture Album (2005–2007)
In 2005, Milow recorded his first album, The Bigger Picture. He worked with Nigel Powell, a drummer from a British band. The album was released in Belgium in January 2006 on Milow's own label, Homerun Records. The first song from the album, "One of It," was played on Belgian radio stations.
Even with good reviews, the album was only on the Belgian charts for seven weeks at first. Milow also wrote a blog called Off the Record for a newspaper. In his blog, he shared his experiences as a musician doing things on his own.
Milow's big break in Belgium came when he re-recorded "You Don't Know." This song became one of the biggest hits in Belgium in 2007. It reached number 3 on the music charts. Because of this success, The Bigger Picture re-entered the charts and stayed there for 110 weeks! It even earned a "gold" award for its sales.
On June 28, 2007, Milow performed at the Rock Werchter festival. This was a big moment for his live music career in Belgium. At the end of 2007, Milow won three awards at the first Music Industry Awards (MIAs) in Belgium. He won for Best New Artist, Best Music Video, and Song of the Year for "You Don't Know."
Coming of Age and Ayo Technology (2008–2010)
In 2007, Milow started working on his second album, Coming of Age. Most of the album was recorded live in just three days with talented Belgian musicians. The album was released in Belgium in February 2008. It quickly reached number one on the Belgian album charts.
In February 2008, Milow was asked to play a cover song during a radio show. He chose to play an acoustic guitar version of "Ayo Technology." This song was originally by 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland. Milow started playing this cover at his concerts and later recorded it as a single. It was released in Belgium in September 2008.
The music video for "Ayo Technology" became very popular online. Famous blogger Perez Hilton said it was "Better than the original." Even Kanye West praised Milow's version on his website. TIME Magazine also wrote about the song, calling Milow's acoustic cover a "riveting and tense ballad."
The "Ayo Technology" video was a huge hit online, getting over 65 million views on YouTube. The song reached number one in many countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It sold over one million copies worldwide.
"You Don't Know" was then released across Europe as the next single after "Ayo Technology." It also became a big hit, staying on the European charts for a long time. It reached the top 10 in the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The album Coming of Age was re-released in 2009 as Milow. This album became a top-seller in Europe and Canada, selling over 500,000 copies. It earned "platinum" awards in Germany and Switzerland, and "gold" awards in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
In February 2009, Milow won five more MIA Awards in Belgium! He won for Best Male Artist, Best Pop, Most Downloaded Artist, Best Music Video, and Song of the Year for "Ayo Technology."
Milow performed at many big European festivals in 2009, including Pinkpop and Rock am Ring & Rock im Park. By the end of 2010, Milow and his band had played over 300 concerts across Europe.
In July 2009, Milow's tour bus caught fire, but luckily, the band and their instruments were saved. In September 2009, Milow set a world record by performing for 50 mine workers 1,430 meters underground in Finland.
In 2009, Milow released Maybe Next Year, his first live album and DVD. In January 2010, he recorded a duet called "Out of My Hands" with Norwegian singer Marit Larsen.
Milow won the Public Choice Award at the European Border Breakers Awards in 2010. He thanked his fans for believing in his music. In March 2010, he won "Best International Newcomer" at the Swiss Music Awards.
North and South Album (2011–2014)
While touring in 2009 and 2010, Milow started writing new songs. His album North and South was recorded in Belgium in 2010. Some songs on the album were mixed by Tony Maserati, a famous audio engineer who has worked with many big artists.
North and South was released in Europe and Canada on April 1, 2011. It quickly reached the top 5 on the charts in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Austria. It earned "gold" in Germany and "platinum" in Belgium.
The song "You and Me (In My Pocket)" was the main single from the new album. It became a popular song on European radio. The music video for this song was filmed in one continuous camera shot. Perez Hilton, the blogger, praised the video and song, saying Milow was "back with an instantly catchy folk/pop nugget!"
Milow explained that the album title North and South refers to his constant touring across Europe. One song, "The Kingdom," talks about the political division in Belgium between the northern and southern parts. Milow said it was his first political song.
In April 2011, Milow played two sold-out shows in Brussels, Belgium. In July, he performed at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He also played his biggest headline concert in Europe for 5,000 people in Munich, Germany.
"Little in the Middle" was released as the second single from North and South in July 2011. It reached number one on the radio charts in Belgium and Austria. After this, Milow went on his biggest tour yet, with over 50 concerts in 12 countries. In December 2011, Milow won three more MIA awards, bringing his total to eleven!
In February 2012, Milow performed five solo shows at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, California. This venue is known for helping new singer-songwriters. Parts of his performance were even shown on NBC television.
Milow has always been a "do it yourself" artist, managing his own career and releasing music on his own label. In 2012, he signed a management contract in the US. In October 2012, Milow performed in Beijing, China, which was his first show in Asia.
Silver Linings and Modern Heart (2014–Present)
In April 2014, Milow released his sixth album, Silver Linings. He recorded it in Los Angeles and worked with many different musicians. The album was a success, becoming his second album to reach number one on the Belgian charts and a top 10 hit in Germany.
Milow wanted to try a new sound for his seventh album, Modern Heart. He worked with new musicians to create a more electronic and R&B style. When it was released, Modern Heart debuted at number two on the Belgian charts. The main song from the album, "Howling at the Moon", was a top 10 hit in Belgium and a top 20 hit in Austria and Germany.
In 2019, Milow took part in a German TV show called Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert.
Milow's Live Band
When Milow performs live, he is joined by a group of talented musicians and singers:
- Milow (Jonathan Vandenbroeck) – acoustic guitar and lead singer
- Tom Vanstiphout – guitar and voice
- Nina Babet – voice and percussion
- Bart Delacourt – bass
- Oscar Kraal – drums
- Remko Kuhne/Luc Weytjens – keyboard
Milow's Albums
- The Bigger Picture (2006)
- Coming of Age (2008)
- Milow (2009)
- North and South (2011)
- Silver Linings (2014)
- Modern Heart (2016)
- Lean into Me (2019)
- Nice to Meet You (2022)
- Boy Made Out of Stars (2025)
Milow's Awards
Awards in Belgium
Radio 2 Awards
2007
- Zomerhit – Newcomer
2011
- Zomerhit – Best Male Artist
TMF-awards
2007
- Best New Artist National
Music Industry Awards (MIA)
2007
- Best Music Video
- Best Song (for "You Don't Know")
- Best New Artist
2008
- Best Music Video
- Best Song (for "Ayo Technology")
- Best Pop
- Best Male Solo Artist
- Ultratop Download Award (Most Downloaded Award)
2011
- Best Live Act
- Best Pop Act
- Best Male Solo Artist
2012
- Best Pop Act
Awards Outside Belgium
MTV Europe Music Awards
2009
- Best Dutch & Belgian Act (Nominated)
2012
- Best Belgian Act (Won)
European Border Breakers Award
2010
- European Border Breakers Award for international success.
- Public Choice Award
Swiss Music Awards
2010
- Best International Newcomer
ECHO Awards
2010
- Nominated Best Male International
- Nominated Most Successful Newcomer International
- Nominated Hit of the Year with "Ayo Technology"
2012
- Nominated Best Male International Pop/Rock at the MTV Europe Music Awards
See also
In Spanish: Milow para niños
