Chef'Special is a Dutch indie pop band from Haarlem, North Holland.[1] The band's lineup consists of lead vocalist Joshua Nolet, guitarist Guido Joseph, bass player Jan Derks, keyboard player Wouter Heeren and drummer Wouter Jerry Prudon. They have released five albums and three EPs since their formation in 2008. They became known in the Netherlands for being house band for the popular Dutch TV program De Wereld Draait Door in 2011.[2]
In 2015 the band went on its first US tour as support act for indie band Aer.[3] They have joined Twenty One Pilots on their Emotional Roadshow World Tour as an opening act in the summer of 2016, alongside Mutemath.[4]
In February 2016 the band's song "In Your Arms" charted at position 40 in Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.[5]
The band became War Child ambassadors in November 2020, for the 160 million children growing up in conflict. Chef’Special joined forces with jewellery designer Bas Verdonk to design a fundraising charm for the War Child Bracelet – which contains links made from the melted down steel from an AK-47 machine gun.
Band member Joshua Nolet was one of the contestants in the twenty-first season of the Dutch television series Wie is de Mol? (Who is the Mole?).[6]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLD [7] | |||
| One for the Mrs. | 2011 | 25 | |
| Passing Through | 2014 | 1 | |
| Amigo | 2017 | 2 |
|
| Unfold | 2020 | 1 | |
| New Gold | 2024 | 5 |
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Hungry (Self-published) |
2009 |
| Shot in the Dark | 2015 |
| Chef'Special EP (US release, Fueled by Ramen) |
2015 |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album / EP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLD Dutch Top 40 [8] |
NLD Single Top 100 [7] |
US Alt | |||
| "Birds" | 2011 | Tip1* | 48 | – | One for the Mrs. |
| "Thank Life For" | – | 89 | – | ||
| "In Your Arms" | 2014 | 20 | 17 | 29 | Passing Through |
| "On Shoulders" | Tip1* | – | – | ||
| "Still Don't Know" | 2015 | Tip3* | – | – | |
| "Amigo" | 2016 | Tip2* | – | – | Amigo EP |
| "Try Again" | 2017 | 18 | – | – | |
| "Because I Love You" | Tip18* | – | – | ||
| "Nicotine" | 2018 | 19 | 46 | – | |
| "Into the Future" | 28 | – | – | ||
| "Trouble" | 2020 | 32 | 49 | – | Unfold |
| "Maybe This Is Love" | Tip4 | – | – | ||
| "Kaleidoscope" | Tip28* | – | – | ||
| "Afraid of the Dark" | 2021 | 2 | 12 | – | Non-album single |
| "Miracles" | 2023 | 25 | 64 | – | New Gold |
| "Speed of Light" | 14 | 41 | – | ||
| "Fly Like Me" | 2024 | 26 | 77 | – | |
| "Larger Than Life" (with Armin van Buuren) |
19 | 77 | – | Non-album singles | |
| "C'est la Vie" | 2025 | 16 | 53 | – | |
*Tip means the release did not chart on the Dutch Top 40, but appeared on the Tipparade for "bubbling under" hits
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
