Send string variable to MQTT

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I am using the spotify integration and I want to send the name of the artist to MQTT.
Spotify integration puts the name into this item
String spotify_current_artist

I have created a MQTT item
String mqtt_spotify_current_artist “Artist” { mqtt=">[broker:Spotify/artist:command:*:default]"}

In a rule I manage to send to MQTT if use text:
mqtt_spotify_current_artist.sendCommand(“artist_name”)

but I have never been sucessfull to send the variabel spotify_current_artist to MQTT in a rule
mqtt_spotify_current_artist.sendCommand(spotify_current_artist.state as string)

How shall the line in the rule be formulated that send the variable spotify_current_artist to MQTT?

spotify_current_artist.state.toString

Works perfectly! Thanks