Haddaway

Haddaway is a eurodance and pop artist from Port of Spain, Germany. Born Nestor Alexander Haddaway in 1965, he is also associated with house music.

Background

He is born into a local family, with a mother who works as a nurse and a father who is a Dutch oceanographer. He completes a doctorate in political science and history at George Washington University in Washington, DC, before moving to Cologne in 1989. He later lives in Kitzbühel, Austria.

Career

Haddaway breaks through with “What Is Love,” which becomes a major hit across Europe, North America and Australia and reaches number 2 in the UK. His follow-up single, “Life,” is also a strong dance hit in the United States and Europe. His debut album produces further European singles, including “I Miss You” and “Rock My Heart.”

His 1995 album includes two minor hits, but later releases attract less attention. “What Is Love” is remixed and reissued many times, and its popularity increases again after a Saturday Night Live sketch that leads to the film A Night at the Roxbury.

Later television appearances

He appears on the German reality series Comeback in 2003, then on the UK show Hit Me Baby One More Time in 2005. He also appears on the U.S. version of the programme. In the same period, he releases the single “Spaceman” and the album Pop Splits in Germany.