INTERVIEW: Trans 'The Voice of Germany' star Louk Jones on music, identity and why trans visibility matters

When Louk Jones stepped onto The Voice of Germany stage this year, it wasn’t just another audition - it was a moment of truth. Nine years ago, viewers knew him as a talented young singer chasing a dream. Today, Louk returns as his authentic self: a 33-year-old trans man from Hanover, whose journey has been as powerful as his music. After years of self-discovery and transition, Louk says he finally feels free - and his emotional rendition of Linkin Park’s Crawling proved it, earning him a spot on Nico Santos’s team and a wave of support from fans across Germany.

In this interview, Louk - who will perform in the semi finals of The Voice of Germany on 5 December - opens up about his comeback, the challenges and triumphs of living authentically, and why visibility matters now more than ever.

Louk, this is your second time on The Voice of Germany. How does it feel to return to the stage after nine years, now as your authentic self?

It feels completely unreal in the best way. I never thought I would ever walk onto that stage again or get the chance to experience something like this a second time. Back then everything felt distant, almost like a fever dream. I was standing next to myself, not really connected to who I was.

This time I feel everything with full clarity. I am here as the person I truly am and that changes everything. I am present, I am grounded, I am making real connections. Coming back as my real self means more to me than I can explain. It feels powerful and emotional and like I finally get to live the moment I was too lost to feel the first time.

What was going through your mind during your Blind Audition when you sang Crawling and got Nico Santos and Rea Garvey to turn?

There was a lot going on inside me. I had respect for that moment because a part of me was afraid that nobody would turn, especially now that I finally show up as myself. I expected maybe a turn at the big note at the end, but definitely not that early. So when two chairs turned, it hit me straight in the chest.

Crawling is extremely personal for me. I struggled with fear for many years. I had panic attacks, depression, and I grew up neurodivergent with autism and ADHD. The line “Fear is how I fall” has been with me my whole life. I even have the word Fear tattooed across my hand, because I fought it for so long. I fell for many years because of fear. But I got back up and I fought my way out of it.

So when I sang that song, I poured all of that into my voice. All the pain, all the growth, the fight, the years of fear. The kid who survived through Linkin Park was standing there with me on that stage. And to see two coaches turn felt like the universe telling me that the fight was worth it and that I can finally start to fly.

You described this comeback as finally being a free person. How has that sense of freedom influenced your performances this season?

Freedom changed everything for me. I am not hiding anymore. I know who I am and I know where I want to go. I worked through a lot of my past. My relationship with my mum is good again, which took many years. I have a wife by my side who believes in me and I finally believe in myself too.

Standing on that stage with that foundation makes me a different artist. I am not fighting myself on the inside anymore. I am open, present and honest. I sing from a place that feels real and steady. It is the best feeling I have ever had on stage.

You have been very open about your transition and the importance of visibility for trans artists. What message do you hope your journey sends to viewers and aspiring musicians?

It’s incredibly important to me to be open about who I am, especially now. We’re seeing politics shift backwards all over the world. What’s happening in the US, in the UK, even in parts of Europe… trans people are being targeted again.

So I made it a point to stand there openly and proudly. The Voice reaches millions of people. I didn’t want to use the stage only to express my music and emotions, but also to stand for our queer community. I said it on stage already, being visible matters. We simply want to exist, create, love and be ourselves.

I hope my journey shows others that they’re not alone and that the world needs more love, not fear. And if even one trans or queer kid sees me and feels seen, then it was worth everything.

You mentioned having roots in the UK. Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up and how that shaped your musical taste?

I am half Welsh. My dad was a British soldier, so we moved a lot when I was young. I grew up in Colchester and also spent time in Denbigh in Wales. My dad still lives there now and I visit him every year. After my parents separated, my mum and I moved back to Germany because her family is here in Hanover. So English was my first language and yeah I always felt English more than German.

Florence and the Machine shaped me massively. Songs like Shake It Out and You’ve Got The Love carried me through a lot. Linkin Park was my strength during the time I had to leave friends behind when we moved and during the years I did not see my dad. There were six years where we had no contact and that shaped me deeply.

My wife and I even thought about moving back to the UK. Maybe one day we will. But right now with her working as a vet and everything happening here with The Voice, Germany is still our home for the moment.

Your interpretation of You’ve Got The Love in the Teamfights was a standout moment. Why did you choose that song and what does it mean to you personally?

You’ve Got The Love has been with me since I was a teenager. Florence and the Machine shaped me in such a deep way, and this song in particular carries so much meaning. The line "Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air, I know I can count on you” has always reminded me of the one thing that never left me. Music.

Music has always been the love I could count on. It healed me when nothing else did. I went through a lot at home when I was younger and I struggled with fear, panic attacks and depression because of everything that happened around me in my childhood. Writing songs was the only place where I felt safe. Nobody told me to stop. Nobody judged me. I could cry, let it all out and turn all that pain into something beautiful.

Performing You’ve Got The Love on that stage felt like honouring that whole journey. It felt like saying thank you to the music that carried me through everything. And singing it now as the person I really am made it even more emotional. This song feels like home to me and bringing that feeling to The Voice was one of the most special moments of the show.

From Linkin Park to Florence and the Machine. How do you select songs that resonate with your story?

For me it always starts with truth. I cannot sing something I do not feel. If a song does not connect to my own life or my own emotions, it will not sound honest when I perform it. So every song I choose has to reflect a part of my story.

Linkin Park helped me survive my teenage years. Their music carried me through fear, pain and the feeling of being lost. Florence helped me grow and heal. Her music taught me how powerful vulnerability can be. Both artists shaped different sides of who I am today.

Can you give us a hint about what you are planning for the semi finals. Will it be another emotional ballad or something unexpected?

I cannot say too much yet, but I can promise that it is going to be something really special.

The song I will perform is one of my absolute favourites and it means a lot to me. I created my own version of it again, so it will sound very personal and emotional.

It is a song that many people love, an older one and it also connects to something that has a huge hype right now. I think people will recognise it immediately and I know fans of that world will be excited. I cannot reveal more than that, but I can say that it is going to be a very emotional moment.

Nico Santos has been a strong supporter of yours. What is the most valuable advice he has given you so far?

During the Battles I struggled a bit. You do not choose the song yourself and you have to find a range that works for both singers. It is a tough moment for everyone because you want to stay true to yourself but also make the performance work as a team. I had a lot of different opinions in my head and I was not sure how to approach the song.

Nico told me to listen to my own feeling. He said that if I sing the way I feel it in my heart, the emotion will come through in a way nothing else can. That advice changed everything for me in that moment. It gave me clarity.

He also told me something really beautiful. He said that when people listen to me, it feels like a music on, world off moment. That I take listeners on a journey every time I sing. Hearing that from someone like him meant the world to me, because that is exactly what I always wanted to do.

Your wife Rachel has been by your side throughout this journey. How important has her support been during this intense competition?

Her support means everything to me. She is the calm in my chaos and the person who keeps me grounded when everything becomes overwhelming. She believed in me long before I believed in myself. She loved me even before I could fully be who I am today, and she never stopped. She loves my soul and she showed me what unconditional love really feels like.

That feeling gives you a strength you cannot describe. It is the kind of love I missed in my childhood, and finally having it heals something deep inside you. Love heals!

She is my biggest fan and printed shirts with my face on for the voice :D She believes in me with her whole heart and gives me so much courage. I feel stronger with her by my side. She saw me long before I knew who I truly was, and that has been one of the greatest gifts in my life.

If you win The Voice of Germany, what is the first thing you would like to do as the champion?

Honestly, I think it would take me a moment to even realise what just happened. It would feel completely surreal. I would probably stand there in shock first, because this whole journey has already been so much more than I ever expected. After that I would celebrate with my wife, my friends and my family. We would have a big party, because everyone around me has lived this experience with me. My dad watches every show from Wales and he would be celebrating just as much.

If I won, it would mean that my music truly reached people. That my voice and the way I perform touched something in them. And that feeling means the world to me, because my whole journey has been about finding my truth and finally being able to stand on stage as myself.

But at the same time, I already feel like I have won. Reaching the semi finals feels huge, especially after everything I went through. Years ago I left the show at the Battles. Now I am back with my real voice and my true self. No matter what happens next, I will celebrate this moment. Being here shows me that so many people believe in me and feel my music. And that alone means more than anything.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

If I could choose anyone in the world, it would be Florence Welch. Her music has shaped me since I was young. She sings in a way that feels almost spiritual, like she is turning pain into power and freeing herself through every note. That is exactly what music has always been for me too. I feel a deep connection to the way she expresses emotion, and creating something with her would be a dream.

And yeah I love Post Malone. Would love to sing I Fall Apart with him, my absolute favourite song of his.

What was the biggest cultural adjustment for you when moving from the UK to Germany, and did that influence your songwriting or your artistic style?

The biggest difference for me was the vibe. In the UK people are very spontaneous, relaxed and open in a very direct but warm way. When you walk into a shop or into someone’s home it is always “help yourself, feel at home”. People call you sweetheart, they laugh with you and there is this easy sense of belonging. I feel that every time I am in Wales with my dad. We are so similar and I always feel instantly welcome.

Germany is different at first glance. People can seem a bit more reserved in the beginning and not everyone talks to strangers right away. There is a different rhythm. Things are a bit more structured, a bit more about being on time, a bit more organised. But once you build connections here they go really deep.

And over the years, especially through social media and new generations, things have become much more open and relaxed too. It also depends on the city. Berlin for example feels completely different from Hanover.

I think my British roots gave me this playful, spontaneous side. The humour, the openness, the way I express myself. It is all a part of me. Being bilingual and growing up in two cultures shaped my whole way of making music. I can switch between worlds and languages and I love that. It made me more creative, more flexible and more connected to my feelings. And I think that shows in my songwriting.

If you win The Voice of Germany, would you consider bringing your music back to the UK for a tour or future collaborations?

Absolutely, one hundred percent. I would love to do that. I would be so excited to bring my music back to the UK and maybe even live there again at some point in the future. My wife and I have talked about returning many times, and the idea of combining that with my music feels really beautiful.

If even one trans or queer kid sees me and feels seen, then it was worth everything.

It would be incredible to tour in the UK. Just the thought of it makes me really happy. Through social media I have connected with so many people from the LGBTQ+ community in the UK, and also with other artists there. Some of them already told me to let them know if I ever play gigs in the UK, which really means a lot to me.

I even made music with an artist from England called Duccbod, who creates really beautiful music. So being able to come back, write more, collaborate and maybe even play some live shows there would be amazing. I have even thought about taking my guitar with me next time I fly over, doing some busking, going through pubs and just seeing what happens. And who knows, maybe The Voice will open a few doors too. I would love that so much.