“That’s what Dutch people find offensive I guess. When you are not out to copy British or American bands, then there must be something fishy about it… what are you doing then?”
“That’s what Dutch people find offensive I guess. When you are not out to copy British or American bands, then there must be something fishy about it… what are you doing then?”
De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid “The Boekhorststraat Interview” Den Haag 18/07/06
I was running late for my date with de Nieuwe Vrolijkheid due to train delays from Amsterdam and other mishaps. Finally I arrived home in Den Haag – thinking there was time to quickly wash up, and then, all of a sudden, BUZZZZZ goes the doorbell. Den Haag is familiar terrain for this young quirky bunch or art-pop rockers, Vincent, Natasha, Pim and Marcel. Their studio and rehearsal space is just a few blocks away, and Vincent lives right across the street. I leaned out of my door to greet them on the stairs and then… SLAM, the door to my apartment shuts with a mighty force. I bury my face with my hands, they walk up the stairs wondering why I look so confused. My day of unfortunate mini-disasters had just revealed yet another and this one an even more curious moment. “Oh my god… we are locked out!” I screamed. I have no shoes, no phone to call Tim to see when he was going to be home and on a semi-professional level, no computer, notes or ipod to do my interview with them! URRGGGH! We regroup and think of options when Pim then suggests crawling in through an open window. Without hesitation, I run down stairs to the shop below my apartment, a Turkish import bizarre store or some sort. I ask if I can get out onto their deck terrace so I can climb onto my balcony and through the open balcony window, into the kitchen and open the door. I was like Spiderman, or rather Spider Lady. Two minutes later, everything was as normal and I was able to greet de Nieuwe Vrolijkheid into my home. We sit down in my living room and begin our chat…
IN: De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid? Is that a Dutch expression?
V: No, actually…
N: We were drinking lots of red wine and discussing the Nieuwe Zakelijkheid (from 1920’s Holland, similar to and affiliated with De Stijl movement. It was used as a sort of new style of writing about the art and architecture of that period.)
V: Then suddenly the Nieuwe Vrolijkheid came into our heads and stuck there.
IN: It is also your initials. (V for Vincent and N for Natasha)
V: Also the D is from drum Pim! (Everyone laughs and turns to Pim)
IN: You said that you meet Pim at Dour Festival last year, in fact exactly a year ago this last weekend… was there a band before then? How did the band start?
V: Natasha and I were in the same high school, but we never spoke to each other (they smile and look at each other). We started talking after high school. Initially dNV wasn’t even a band.
N: We just did concept performance art.
V: Yeah, on the streets and we started making music with another friend from high school, our previous drummer. Then a bass player showed up and then left as well.
N: We were searching for a new drummer last year and then we bumped in Pim at Dour, we were in some of the same courses in Utrecht, studying communications & new media.
IN: Do you plan to stay being a Hague based band?
P: I think we are going to be an Eindhoven based band! (Laughs. (Pim is from there))
N: It is nice living here, practicing and recording.
V: At this moment it is the most practical place to be. It is a good base.
N: It’s boring!
V: But the whole boring part is good. Instead of partying all the time, we make music. And you also stay annoyed.
N: Yeah, what are we going to do tonight? Nothings happening here! NOTHING!
V: NOTHING!
N: NOTHING! (LAUGHS)
IN: The Hague Rock City?
V: Nobody’s rocking here, I can assure you! (Giggle)
IN: Anouk, Kane, Direct, Golden Earring…
V: They’re not organizing, they’re not playing, and they’re not involved.
IN: Was Direct playing in Den Haag when they were just starting?
V: They played in Franse Bulldog. Yesterday I saw the guitar player from Direct on the Grote Markt, he is really the only one you can actually see. It’s too bad that they are not using their money or influence to help bands that are not that lucky to play big festivals. The scene is never helpful.
IN: What’s been your favorite venue to play in?
V: Something in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam public has been really nice to us, up to now. It doesn’t really matter which venue. Winston International; the sound at the Winston was great and it’s a great size. We were warned about the sound system by other band, but we had a great experience. Maybe a crappy sound system fits our crappy sounds. (Laughs) Studio 80; which has a great sound system didn’t work out for us, but that was also because of the organizers.
N: it is difficult finding nice people. Usually the first thing they say to me is, “where’s the bass player”?
V: Why do you need two amps?
N: You’ve got one instrument, what do you need two amps for?
P: So… You did bring your drum kit?
V: Why did you bring your drum kit?
N: They always ask you… why are you here anyways? What are you doing here?
V: Which band are you from!?
IN: Why do you think there is such a lack of support for local acts? Next to a British, American, or even Belgium bands and they would be way more likely to be rude to you. Why is that?
N: We get thrown out, even when we do play! Or after, what are you still doing here!? (Laughs)
IN: It is a shame. Hopefully that will be changing. I think that last few years have been good for Dutch music even though most of it is pop-rock imitation Strokes.
P: Which names do you think of?
IN: Gem or that other one from Haarlem. Any of those bands with a hit TV commercial. Actually I do like Coparck, I think they are quite good. It’s rare that you hear any original music coming from Holland. I think you guys are original. Maybe you can help change peoples ideas of music, that is doesn’t have to be formulated rip offs to be popular.
V: That’s what Dutch people find offensive I guess. When you are not out to copy British or American bands, then there must be something fishy about it… what are you doing then?
IN: They also want to hear something familiar too. Maybe the Dutch pallet just isn’t trained, but there have been a few really interesting bands from Holland.
V: Yeah, like a band like The X or something. You have a few of them who are only known outside of Holland but no one really knows them in Holland. The X played with everyone! Everywhere! And they are not in the official “canon of bands” from Holland. It basically ends with Bettie Serveert, the apex of Dutch independent music. I don’t understand it. Well, I understand it in the context of the whole Dutch culture of neglect of their our output. We don’t care about what we do ourselves, we have/had… Rembrandt, Van Gogh and that’s it… two or three big bands, that’s it.
IN: Dutch press seems to talk up a lot of outside acts. There are lots of people who are driven to concerts to see “the next big thing” always.
N: Usually they slag it off… they read in the magazine, then they have to see it and then they don’t believe it.
V: Nope, they can’t play their instruments. Nope, terribly out of tune.
IN: Would you like to start any rumours?
V: I am a member of the Boy Scouts. (Laughs)
N: Rumours can get pretty ugly. Lots of gossip.
V: In The Hague, I often feel like an Alien.
N: Just look at the colour of his shirt! (Giggles and points at Vincent’s neon green polo)
M: We’re superheroes!
N: We don’t actually fit in anywhere. People always say we can’t play our instruments.
IN: Can’t?!
V:N:M:P: Can’t!
IN: (Laughing) Who says this?!
V: The Press! (LAUGHS!)
N: And we’re always out of tune.
V: Music for Musicians.
N: They can’t play their instruments and they look weird! Their hair is so weird! And ohhhh their outfits!
V: They’re soooooo weird, it’s terrible!
N: It’s not good! It’s awful and you don’t want to see this band! Once they were talking about our clothes and Vincent was wearing a boring brown jacket and a tee shirt, nothing like this (she points again to his neon green polo and laughs).
IN: You really don’t like his shirt do you?
N: It’s much better now that he’s got a tan! When he didn’t have a tan it was just like the same colour! (LAUGHS!)
V: The other day we ran into the 3voor12 crew from The Hague. I asked them to update our info on their site, since up till recently we were a 4 piece. They changed it… to “promising indie rock trio”…. We never promised anything! (Laughs)
(Vincent excuses himself at this point as he has an uncontrollable urge to use to toilet)
part two can be found by clicking here…