Dutch Writers Camp

Biography

Thank you Dutch Writers Camp! Thank you Buma Stemra for a wonderful expierence!!!

the Dutch Writers Camp was just a week in songwriting heaven... what a great price to have won... together with Roeland ,Marco and Bill Padley and Karen Danzig we wrote the winning song "the best we can be"!!! Jippee! We had masterclasses from Ralph Murphy, Eric Beall and more... we (the 10 finalists) worked with some of the leading singer/songwriters in the BIzz!!! THanks a million!!!

the song Time Bomb Baby was written together with Maaike Hermans and Shane Alexander...its da BOmB!

Check out the other songs that were made from scratch in just a few days in this incedible week. You can find these songs listed under each of the 10 finalists, depending on with songs they participated in.

---

NEW SONG POSTED!!! - I've added a new song "Rise" I recorded it after the DWC and enlisted it to compete on ICS - the american songwriting competition... so the joyful journey continues... May you be happy and listening to or making gr8 music!

I was born in 1973. In my student days we used to collect a lot of records, and I often came to the conclusion that many good records are made in that year. So it is a good year to be born in. I have always been into music, one way or the other.

When I was 8, I nagged at my mother, because I wanted to play the guitar. We already had a piano at our home, so it was assumed that I would learn to play the piano. But I just absolutely had to play the guitar! So I got a guitar and I started to play the guitar, and it has been the joy of my life to do so. My guitar teacher was really great and a lot of my enthusiasm for guitar playing comes from her. I started writing songs in my childhood and have continued to do so.

I have been in numerous bands from the age of 16, but I stayed in one band for a long time and it was eventually called Monc. Quite a large number of musicians have at some time played in that band. Some of them are now successful musicians or composers. Either way, in many of them, music still flows in their veins. I was called WahWah-woman and rhythm guitar was my thing. We wrote our own songs.

During my years as a student I met many talented students who were into music as well. We spent many hours and nights together in our own world of music. I really love how music connects. At that time I also really wanted to be a lead singer in a band. So, shortly after that I read an add in the newspaper and it stated exactly what I wanted (!) : triphop meets metal. I was chosen as the lead vocalist and joined Robert in the band Grumpyhead. We were signed by Djax records and released a debut album in 1997. I’ve had a great time with my band, lots of performances and we were “radio-active”. It was a very strange feeling when I heard our song being played on the radio. In our student house someone was yelling my name and I honestly thought she had hurt herself, but it turned out to be our song on the radio! I really enjoyed performing live and it was great that all my fellow students went to many gigs with us. Also my parents and brother went to many of them.

After that, there was a long period in which I seemed silent to the world. Not much happened that was addressed to the public. No more performances, no more playing in bands. I always continued making music; however I kept it to myself and friends due to health issues. I’ve learned a great deal from these challenging years and they absolutely contributed in a very positive way to where I am at right now.

I am very happy to say that my health is now gradually improving and the songs keep coming… music the way I express myself. It is my diary, my therapy, my best friend. It is that in which I can put most of myself. It is starting to reach out again so I am very excited to see what will happen.

So this opportunity comes along and it is exactly what I wanted, a singer/songwriter contest! The first song that I posted here wanted to finish. It is my inspiration! It starts with “what you gonna do? Are you gonna live the life you’ve always wanted to?” It is about living the dream and your deep inner purpose that has been hiding inside of you. It has encouraged me tremendously along the way and I hope you find some inspiration out of it to follow your dream!

The second song that I post here (it's the second on the list) has the chorus: She knows how to get you... into your heart. It was written for my just born little niece and Amma, who to me is the embodiment of love.

The third song is called: Not Your GarBitch! It was written for Eva Simons and it is the assignment of DutchWritersCamp. It is for all people and especially women who feel that they are being treated like dirt and want to stand up to that: I've had enough... I'm not your Garbitch!

Thanks to all my friends and family who have helped me!

Your vote is very welcome! Every day 5 times. I appreciate it a lot! I won't get anywhere without your help.