Johannes Pietsch, known professionally by his stage name JJ, is an Austrian singer and songwriter who skyrocketed to international fame by winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Renowned for his distinct blend of classical opera and contemporary pop, Pietsch made history as the first solo Eurovision winner born in the 21st century and the first champion of Southeast Asian descent.
Early Life and Multicultural Roots
Born on April 29, 2001, in Vienna, Austria, Pietsch comes from a multicultural background. He was born to an Austrian father and a Filipino mother. While he was born in Vienna, he spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This diverse upbringing heavily influenced his artistic palette. In Dubai, he was introduced to mainstream pop music through family karaoke gatherings, while his father cultivated his appreciation for classical opera. Multilingual by nature, Pietsch speaks German, English, and Tagalog.
In 2016, his family moved back to Vienna, where Pietsch began to seriously pursue his vocal training. He studied at the prestigious opera school of the Vienna State Opera and later attended the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, laying a robust technical foundation that would define his unique vocal capabilities.
Early Television Breakthroughs
Before capturing global attention on the Eurovision stage, Pietsch tested his mettle in competitive television. In 2020, after missing the application deadline for The Voice of Germany, he auditioned for the ninth series of The Voice UK. His powerful performances earned him a spot on coach will.i.am’s team, advancing him all the way to the Knockout rounds.
The following year, he returned to his home country to compete in the fifth season of the popular Austrian talent show Starmania, where he successfully reached the first final show. These early television exposures helped hone his stage presence and introduced him to wider audiences.
Eurovision 2025: A Historic Victory
On January 30, 2025, the Austrian broadcaster ORF announced that Pietsch would represent Austria at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Wasted Love”. Co-written by Pietsch alongside Teodora Špirić and producer Thomas Thurner, “Wasted Love” was released in March 2025.
The track served as a showcase for Pietsch’s extraordinary vocal range as a sopranist (a high soprano type of countertenor), seamlessly bridging dramatic, theatrical opera phrasing with hard-hitting, modern pop beats.
At the grand final on May 17, 2025, Pietsch delivered a commanding vocal performance that resonated deeply with both juries and viewers across Europe. He triumphed by securing a total of 436 points—dominating the jury vote with 258 points and pulling a strong 178 points from the public televote.
Musical Style and Artistic Evolution
Pietsch performs primarily as a sopranist, utilizing an intense, emotionally expressive interpretation that challenges traditional genre boundaries. By fusing high-register classical vocal gymnastics with pop hooks, he has carved out a distinct niche for himself in the contemporary music scene.
Following his Eurovision triumph, his career expanded rapidly. In late 2025, he won multiple fan-voted Eurovision Awards, including Outstanding Vocals and Cover of the Year for a memorable mashup of his winning entry and Conchita Wurst’s iconic “Rise Like a Phoenix”. He has continued to release new music, issuing an EP in May 2026 under Warner Germany and embarking on promotional tours, such as his Into The Unknown Tour.
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