The Netherlands will be represented at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool by new duo Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper.

The couple, who have performed as solo artists to date, were brought together by Duncan Laurence, who won the contest with Arcade in 2019 and song writer Jordan Garfield. All four are working together to come up with what they hope is a winning song.

Nicolai and Cooper, aged 26 and 28, won the unanimous support of the selection committee, organising broadcaster Avrotros said.

Nicolai, who says she is inspired by artists such as David Bowie, brought out her debut single Set Me Free in 2020. Cooper, who started out as a performer last year, says his music is a mix of Bryan Adams and Harry Styles.

‘Though we can’t say too much now about the song, we can say it’s a song that’s distinctive, outspoken and meaningful, and we have no doubt will stand out in a positive sense from the field of Eurovision contestants,’ Avrotros director Eric van Stade said.