Biography
Who is JJ?
Early life and education
Johannes Pietsch was born on April 29, 2001, in Vienna. He was raised by an Austrian father and a Filipino mother. During his childhood, he lived primarily in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His early musical exposure included singing along to karaoke tracks with his family and listening to opera records provided by his father.
In 2016, his family relocated back to Vienna. His formal education includes attendance at the Gymnasium Wenzgasse and the German International School Dubai. He later attended the opera school of the Vienna State Opera before enrolling at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna to refine his vocal skills.
Television appearances and career start
JJ began pursuing musical competition opportunities in 2020. He participated in the ninth series of The Voice UK, where he successfully advanced to the Knockout rounds under the mentorship of will.i.am. He had initially attempted to enter The Voice of Germany but missed the application deadline.
The following year, he joined the cast for the fifth season of the Austrian show Starmania. He performed well enough to reach the first final show of the season. These experiences helped prepare him for his later success as a solo artist on the international stage.
Eurovision victory and musical style
On January 30, 2025, the Austrian broadcaster ORF announced that JJ would represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. His entry, Wasted Love, was co-written by the artist alongside Teodora Špirić and producer Thomas Thurner. The track was officially released on March 6, 2025.
JJ won the grand final on May 17, 2025, earning 436 total points. This victory included 258 points from the jury and 178 points from the public televote. With this win, he became the first solo Eurovision champion born in the 21st century and the first winner of Southeast Asian descent. His performance style merges pop music with opera, utilizing his vocal range as a sopranist to look at expressive interpretative techniques.
Personal life and languages
The singer is multilingual, speaking German, English, and Tagalog. He has publicly identified as queer and expressed a desire to serve as an advocate for the queer community within Austria.
Following his Eurovision win, JJ confirmed in a press conference that he has a boyfriend. He also used his platform after the competition to comment on political matters, specifically expressing disappointment regarding Israel's participation in the contest.
Birthday and age
JJ was born on April 29, 2001, which makes JJ 25 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. JJ shares the date with 25 other famous people.
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