Gustaph (singer)

Stef Caers (Dutch pronunciation: [stɛf ˈkaːrs]; born 5 July 1980), known professionally as Gustaph (stylised as GVSTΛPH), is a Belgian singer-songwriter, producer and vocal coach.^[2] He represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom with the song "Because of You" and finished 7th place.^[3]

Gustaph
Caers in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Stef Caers
Also known as	Steffen, Feniks (The Masked Singer)
Born	(1980-07-05) 5 July 1980 (age 45) Leuven, Belgium
Origin	Antwerp, Belgium
Genres	Dance music[1]
Occupations	Singer-songwriter producer vocal coach
Instruments	Vocals piano drums
Years active	1999–present

Biography

Caers was born on 5 July 1980 in Leuven, Flemish Brabant.^[4] He started his musical career while studying at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, initially using the stage name Steffen.^[5] In 2000, he scored a hit with his debut single "Gonna Lose You", which reached number 22 on the Flemish singles chart.^[6] He subsequently released a second single, titled "Sweetest Thing".

Following these releases, Caers began focusing more on songwriting and producing.^[7] He also became active as a backing vocalist, providing backing vocals for, among others, Lady Linn and Willy Sommers. In the early 2010s, he joined the band Hercules and Love Affair as one of the lead vocalists.^[7]

Caers (right) performing with Hercules and Love Affair in 2012

Caers performed as a backing vocalist for Sennek at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and for Hooverphonic at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.^[8] In addition to his career as a singer, he works as a vocal coach, and as a teacher at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent.^[8]

In November 2022, Caers was announced as one of seven participants in Eurosong 2023, the Belgian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.^[9] His entry "Because of You" won the final on 14 January 2023 and represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, finishing 7th place.^[8]

Personal life

Caers is gay, and came out at the age of 14. He chose his stage name based on his father's godfather's name, Gustav.^[10]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		BEL (FL) [11]
Look at Us Now	Released: 28 March 2025[12] Label: N.E.W.S. Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming	5

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions					Album or EP
		BEL (FL) [11]	AUS Digital [13]	LTU [14]	SWE [15]	UK [16]
"Gonna Lose You"[a]	2000	22	—	*	—	—	Non-album singles
"Sweetest Thing"[a]		—[A]	—		—	—
"Same Thing"	2011	—	—		—	—
"Jaded"		—	—		—	—
"Second Coming" (with Adam Joseph)	2020	—	—	—	—	—
"Call" (with Lady Linn)	2022	—	—	—	—	—
"The Nail"	2023	—	—	—	—	—
"Because of You"		2	40	15	82	63	Look at Us Now
"Already Know"		20	—	—	—	—
"Faith in What You Feel"	2024	29	—	—	—	—
"Calls Your Name"		—	—	—	—	—
"Really Mine"	2025	34	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. " * " denotes that the chart did not exist at that time.

1. Credited as Steffen.

As featured artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		BEL (FL) Tip
"Running" (Blende featuring Gustaph)	2014	51	Non-album single
"Vernissage" (MEROL featuring Gustaph)	2024

Notes

1. "Sweetest Thing" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 11 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.