Text: Paul Hofman
Photo: Leon Hendrickx
Video: Paradox Productions
Singer-songwriter Inge Lamboo: ‘There’s nothing more beautiful than being the coolest version of yourself.’ Shortly after her performance at the Pride Amsterdam kick-off party, the room erupts in applause. Rising talent Inge Lamboo (25) is carried on the audience’s hands. She’s a singer and a TikTok sensation with nearly 150,000 followers. Minutes earlier she was announced as an ambassador. Inge is overjoyed and will make her message heard—literally and figuratively—through her voice. ‘I give different emotions a voice.’
Bucket list
Was she surprised to be asked to be an ambassador this year? Inge hardly needs to think about that question. ‘Honestly, no. It had been on my bucket list for a while. I wanted it so badly,’ she says candidly. We sit on a sunlit terrace in the centre of Haarlem. Her schedule is filling up fast. Inge is at the start of a new tour.
Vulnerable
Inge grew up with her two sisters and a brother in a warm family in a village near Haarlem. She is the youngest of the four. ‘I was very pampered. Looking back, I can say I had a wonderful childhood.’ When she’s twelve she starts secondary school, a period that turns out differently than expected. She begins searching for herself and realises she’s attracted to girls. A few other things happening at the time lead Inge into a depression. ‘At one point I didn’t dare go outside anymore. I was sixteen.’ It was an intense period, she says now. ‘I was so vulnerable and kept everything inside.’ It was an emotional rollercoaster for her.
Time and space
This period lasted two years. ‘With the support of a trusted counsellor, things got better. My coming-out then happened naturally. I surrounded myself with people I felt safe with and could be myself around.’ Her advice? ‘Don’t rush coming out. If it causes you stress, don’t do it. Choose your own moment and make sure you have the right people around who accept you. So give yourself time and space. Even if it takes thirty years. Cherish the beautiful and positive moments of discovering yourself, that’s my message.’ Meanwhile, at fifteen Inge discovered music. It turned out to be her salvation.
Making music and writing lyrics felt like a calling. ‘I was into music day and night. It became my outlet.’ Inge stepped out of her comfort zone. ‘I knew then what I wanted to do with my life.’ Her guitar means everything to her. ‘I never took formal lessons and taught myself drums, piano and bass. Music became my medicine.’ Laughing: ‘It kind of got out of hand.’
PINK
After finishing secondary school she decided to attend the Herman Brood Academy. She felt right at home there. ‘PINK is my big example. Her songs mean a lot to me. They give me a lot of power.’ Just as PINK is a role model for Inge, Inge wants to be that for as many people as possible. ‘That’s exactly what I want to pass on to others.’
PINK and her music remain Inge’s main inspiration. She reveals: ‘I ran a fan account for PINK for a long time. I posted covers and connected other fans.’ Proud: ‘At one point PINK started following me on the account. Bizarre, but I didn’t read anything into it.’ Some time later she was offered a contract by Sony Music Entertainment. Inge was completely overwhelmed. ‘I kept it to myself for a long time because I wanted to prove myself first. It would have been too much pressure if everyone knew. Of course I have to do it myself and not be complacent. And it’s naturally very strange to have contact with your idol. Very cool.’ Last year Inge released her debut album Black Heart, later followed by the single Easy. Inge clearly has a lot to offer. In her pop songs she addresses mental struggles like anxiety and heartbreak.
The ambassadorship suits her perfectly. Inge radiates strength and positivity. Her message? ‘I want to be, literally and figuratively, a voice for people who need one. I’m going to inspire people, young and old.’ Pride Amsterdam is not only a party but also a protest. ‘It inspires me. We’re getting there, I think. I spend a lot of time on social media and regularly see, read and hear intense stories. Also verbal abuse. But things are improving, you know. Pride is a celebration of being yourself.’
Blender
This year she can be seen on various pop stages. ‘I give your feelings a voice.’ She seems destined for the stage. But first her new tour. Inge has everything it takes to become very big. ‘Live performance is my great passion. All styles are in my music. Whether it’s country, rock or blues, they go into a blender and produce energetic, powerful music.’ We will no doubt hear and see a lot more of her during and after Pride. ‘I’m bursting with energy.’ Her advice? ‘Give yourself time to come out. Everyone should be able to be the coolest version of themselves.’
Pride ambassador since 2024
