The Eurovision fandom has been set alight by Mustii’s “Before The Party Is Over”, which has been chosen to represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. Now let’s get better acquainted with him, shall we?
With an internal selection, Belgium’s national broadcast decided to send Mustii to Sweden with hopes of achieving a great result. It has been 38 years since Sandra Kim took the trophy home, and they want gold!
But who is Mustii behind the musician we see on stage? We’ve compiled facts you need to know about him. Let’s do this!
Belgium at Eurovision 2024: 10 Facts about Mustii
1. He’s from Brussels
Mustii, or by his real name Thomas Mustin, was born in the Belgian capital of Brussels on November 21, 1990.
2. He studied theatre
Mustii studied theatre at the Institut des Arts de Diffusion in Louvain-la-Neuve, a small town in Wallonia. He first appeared in the Belgian police series À tort ou à raison in 2012. He was then later in other TV series such as the operetta L’Auberge du Cheval-Blanc (2015) and the crime drama The Break (2016). Mustii also performed on theater stages, with roles in the play Débris by Dennis Kelly at the Riches-Claires in Brussels, and Romeo and Juliet. He took on more Shakespeare, performing in Hamlet in various theaters across Belgium.
3. He also has an acting career
In addition to TV series and plays, Mustii has appeared in various movies. Some of his most notable films include the comedy Odd Job from 2016, Les Survivants in the same year, and L’échange des princesses in 2017. His latest movie appearances are in 2022 in the film You Will Not Have My Hate and in 2023 in the short movie Beyond the Sea. In 2024, a new movie in which he appears is scheduled, called La nuit se traîne. He received the prize for most promising male actor in 2019 during the Magrittes (film award ceremony in Belgium).
4. Mustii was a judge on Drag Race Belgium
In 2023, Mustii was selected to be a juror on the competition show Drag Race Belgique, alongside Rita Baga and Lufy. The show is modeled after the original American series RuPaul’s Drag Race. Along with the announcement of the second season, it was confirmed that Mustii would keep his position on the jury.
5. Mustii has achieved two Top 10 albums
He has released two albums so far, 21st Century Boy and It’s Happening Now. Both enjoyed incredible success in Belgium, reaching the Top 10 domestically. From this, he has been able to sell out numerous tour concerts. His debut concert at the Brussels Royal Circus garnered great feedback. In December 2016, he was honored with the prize for the most promising artist at the D6bels Music Awards.
6. David Bowie is his inspiration
When discussing his musical influences, Mustii named David Bowie as a major inspiration, one that has persisted since his teenage years. Maybe this is where all the glitter in his video came from! He says Bowie continues to influence him in his work to this day. Additionally, he admires other great artists such as Lou Reed, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones.
7. He is part of the Belgian queer community
In an interview with the queer magazine KET from Brussels, Mustii revealed that while he initially identified as ‘bi,’ he now prefers to avoid labels altogether. He expressed that he simply wants to believe that he likes ‘people, singular free human beings.’ Proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, he is a staunch advocate for queer rights and actively supports the cause.
8. One of his albums is a tribute to his late uncle
The album “It’s Happening Now” serves as a tribute to Mustii’s uncle. Tragically, he passed after battling schizophrenia. Through the album, Mustii feels a sense of connection with his uncle that he was unable to experience in real life due to his uncle’s illness. The album feels like a personal diary, delving into themes of loneliness, mental illness, and the journey to self-discovery.
9. His Eurovision song speaks about embracing who you are
The song ‘Before the Party’s Over’ was written by Mustii, together with Pierre Dumoulin and Ben Leclercq. The lyrics of the song were written by Mustii together with Arianna D’Amato, Charlotte Anne Clark and Nina Sampermans. Mustii wanted this song to be an optimistic, euphoric burst of energy and he declared:
Before it’s all over, you have to live fully and intensely, but also experiment with life and step out of your comfort zone. You have to take off your mask, fully embrace yourself, listen to your feelings and refuse to be chained and caged. In the song I draw a metaphor between a long evening of partying (with its height – and lows, its ups and downs) and life. Before the fall, before it’s all over, you have to live life to the fullest!
10. His song unites people by music
More than a thousand people from all over Europe responded to a call to participate in the chorus at the end of the song and sing the final chorus together. It is an original way for Mustii to offer a truly collective song, more than ever in line with the slogan of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024: “United by Music.”
Come back for more exciting stories and facts about Mustii as national final season continues and we head towards pre-parties and Malmö 2024 itself
