As an indie rock musician, my sound is a patchwork of the records that moved me, challenged me, and made me pick up a guitar in the first place. Some albums don’t just influence you—they become part of your musical DNA. Here are the classics that shaped my taste, my songwriting, and my approach to music.

1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – “Rust Never Sleeps” (1979)

Why It Matters: Neil Young’s raw, unfiltered energy and Crazy Horse’s chaotic, driving rhythms taught me that music doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful. Tracks like “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” and “Powderfinger” blend folk storytelling with electric intensity—a balance I still chase in my own songs.

Lesson Learned: Embrace imperfection. Sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the rawness, not the refinement.

2. The Band – “The Band” (1969)

Why It Matters: This album is a masterclass in rootsy, communal music. The Band’s blend of folk, country, and rock feels like a campfire sing-along—warm, inviting, and timeless. Songs like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up on Cripple Creek” showed me how to write lyrics that tell stories and create vivid scenes.

Lesson Learned: Music is about connection. The best songs make listeners feel like they’re part of something bigger.

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” (1991)

Why It Matters: This album was my introduction to the power of groove and the fusion of funk, punk, and rock. Anthony Kiedis’ stream-of-consciousness lyrics and Flea’s basslines taught me to take risks and let my personality shine through my music. “Under the Bridge” and “Give It Away” are anthems of vulnerability and energy—a combo I strive for in my own work.

Lesson Learned: Don’t be afraid to blend genres or wear your heart on your sleeve. Authenticity resonates.

Why These Albums Still Matter

These records aren’t just classics—they’re roadmaps. They remind me that great music is about honesty, experimentation, and heart. Whether it’s Neil Young’s feedback-drenched solos, The Band’s storytelling, or the Chili Peppers’ infectious energy, each album gave me permission to be myself and to keep pushing my own creative boundaries.

What about you? What albums shaped your musical taste? I’d love to hear your stories—drop a comment below or hit me up on social media!

Final Thought: Music is a conversation across time. These albums spoke to me, and now I’m doing my best to add my own voice to the mix.

According to my mother, I was not a calm baby. I heard that a lot—as a toddler, a preschooler, a teenager. There must have been some truth in it. I was tough on those around me, and I struggled with myself at times too. School was a disaster (putting it mildly). I left the Netherlands in 2012 without any qualifications.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom before I moved to England. When I was ten, I saw Paul McCartney perform in Antwerp, and something clicked. I knew exactly what I wanted: to play guitar, sing, and perform in front of a passionate audience.

I taught myself guitar and vocals, and later attended our local music school, Muziekschool De Drieklank. Those visits were transformative—for the first time, practicing felt like joy rather than punishment. I connected with other music lovers, found my people.

As a teenager, I formed Ampiphy with some friends. We played bars, schools, and venues like de Bosuil in Weert and de Effenaar in Eindhoven. Our live sets mixed original material with covers of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher. We recorded a fair amount of music too—I was impressed at the time, though looking back, we could have done better on most tracks. Still, we played tight as a unit (me on guitar and vocals, Ruben Heijnsbroek on bass, Martijn Oosterhuis on drums), tight enough that Studio Moskou in Utrecht asked us to serve as study material for their sound technician trainees. But like many bands, Ampiphy didn’t last.

Without qualifications, finding stable work proved difficult. More than that, I wasn’t happy—I felt stuck, going nowhere. Manchester seemed like the answer: birthplace of legendary bands, home to world-class football, the kind of place where I could build something new. So I moved. Before leaving, I recorded two songs at Studio LC in Maastricht. I was thrilled with the music, but over time, I grew to dislike how my vocals sounded.

Those first years in Manchester were rough. I didn’t know anyone and had to find my footing. But eventually, I finished high school (surprise, Mom and Dad) and even worked for one of the country’s major sporting institutions (Manchester City). You might also spot me pulling pints at a local pub on weekends.

The important thing? I’m ready to get back into music. My goal is to form a band with like-minded musicians and perform live again.

If that sounds like you, get in touch.