Everyone who knows even a little bit about soul music knows the greatest singers started out singing gospel music in church. So it really doesn't come as a surprise to hear that Paul van Kessel started singing in church at the age of eight. A few years later a teacher encouraged him to step up his game. He studied vocal jazz at the conservatory of Amsterdam and after graduating he joined various groups and bands to gain experience as a live performer. Last July he showed us what all the years of education and experience did for him as he made his debut as a solo performer with his first EP titled Riot.