A lot has happened over the past year—your album De Rode Weduwe was released and turned out to be quite a success. The music, the visuals, and the overall concept were all received very well. And now, out of nowhere, you’ve announced an upcoming split with Excommunicatio. How did this idea come about? Was it something you had planned for a long time, or did it develop more spontaneously? And how did the collaboration with Excommunicatio go, both musically and creatively?
First of all, thank you for your kind words about De Rode Weduwe! I am very glad the album and the concept were well-received! And yes, I am releasing a split with the German black metal band Excommunicatio on May 2nd, called Mandatum.
I had been in contact with them for a while, just talking casually, and I think around March last year they suggested that a split would be a cool collaboration. I had already been working on the next Beenkerver album and I had some song ideas that didn’t fit the concept for the new album, so this was a welcome opportunity to use those songs and retool them into a new chapter for Beenkerver.
We talked about the overall concept for a bit and here we are! Everything went extremely smoothly, very nice guys to work with and I think we both have a very similar approach to music in general.
With De Rode Weduwe, you delivered a stunning release last year. The album looked amazing, had a unique atmosphere, and was highly praised by listeners. Now that some time has passed, how do you look back on that release? Are you satisfied with how everything turned out, both in terms of reception and personal artistic fulfillment? If you could go back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Since it has been over a year already (time does fly!), of course I have some thoughts on the album. I am very happy with the reception and feedback I’ve gotten, especially how the whole concept resonated with people. For me, De Rode Weduwe was a chance to create a concept album without holding back, to tell a story about injustice and revenge that, while being fictional, still has a lot of ties to past and present societal struggles. I would have done some things a little differently, but mostly minor things like certain guitar parts or vocal lines. The theme and ‘spirit’ of the album would have definitely remained the same.
The lyrics of Beenkever are known for telling vivid, real stories—something that makes your music stand out. Where do you find inspiration for these narratives? Do they come from historical events, folklore, personal experiences, or somewhere else? And once you have an idea, what is your process for developing it into a full-fledged song?
Honestly, aside from De Rode Weduwe, most of my lyrics are ‘exaggerated’ stories about my own life, my own experiences, my own mental health. I started Beenkerver as my personal catharsis, musical therapy to deal with things I struggle with. I do use history and folklore as inspiration sometimes, and interpret them as methaphors for current day issues, be it on global scale or in my own personal bubble. For my first album Ontaard, I wrote more standalone songs but for every release since then I have been writing lyrics and music with a more clear purpose in mind; Every word, every sentence, every riff, every rhythm, is deliberate and has meaning in the bigger picture of the story I want to tell.
How important is this storytelling approach in your lyrics to you? Do you see it as a fundamental part of your artistic identity, or is it more of a tool to convey certain moods and themes? Additionally, do your lyrics carry an underlying message or philosophy, or do you prefer to leave that open to interpretation?
Oh storytelling is an absolute necessity for my music. I love telling stories, weaving more intricate narratives like De Rode Weduwe or more personal journeys like on the Twee Wolven EP, those songs lean on the narrative I am trying to tell. As far as what people take from the lyrics; that is usually completely open to the listeners own interpretation. There’s no right or wrong way. I don’t spread messages, I tell stories. People can find them entertaining, exciting, educational, they can hate them, as long as it makes them feel something. The emotion you feel is always valid and fitting, and doesn’t always have to match the musician’s vision in my opinion.
You have an extensive history when it comes to being involved in bands and projects. Looking back, how has your past shaped you into the musician and artist you are today? Have your previous experiences influenced the way you approach songwriting, performing, or even the way you view music as a whole? Are there any specific lessons or moments from your journey that have had a lasting impact on you?
One could say I have commitment issues, seeing the list of bands I started/played in and left, haha. But yes, every project I have been a part of has influenced me. For the longest time, I was pigeonholed as a ‘folk metal guitarist’ due to my involvement with previous bands. Being compared to my older bands doesn’t bother me, don’t get me wrong, but I truly needed Beenkerver to come into my own and let my own voice be heard. Quite literally since it’s the first band I’ve done vocals for.
I think I have learned a lot from every band, and it all culminated in enough experience, confidence and dedication to make Beenkerver into what it is right now. As far as specific lessons or moments; I’m sure there are plenty, but every small pebble created bigger rings in the water. I do know that the people I’ve met over the years all had a big impact on me, whether directly influencing my music or challenging my emotions, they all hold great value to me.
You have been working with the German label Vendetta Records since the very beginning of Beenkerver. How did this collaboration come about? Did you approach them, or did they discover your music on their own? What made *Vendetta Records* the right choice for you? And how important is it for you, as an artist, to have a label like this backing you—both in terms of creative freedom and practical support?
Stefan from Vendetta Records emailed me soon after the digital release of Ontaard to see if we could work together on a physical release, which was the birth of a great partnership. From the first few messages we exchanged, it was clear we had similar ideas on many things so that strenghtened my trust that Vendetta was the right partner for my music. His importance cannot be overstated since it has given me the opportunity to release my music in the way I want to; with total creative freedom without worrying about the ‘business side’ of things. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I have been given.
Looking toward the future, has there ever been a plan to bring Beenkerver to the stage? Do you see this as a realistic possibility, or do you prefer to keep it strictly a studio project? If live performances were to happen, how would you envision them—would you assemble a full band, or would you take a different approach to translating your music to a live setting?
Never say never, but I don’t see it happening any time soon honestly. My anxiety would work overtime if I had to bring all those songs to the stage. Just the amount of time that is needed to find the right musicians, learn the songs, get the gear, dealing with venues.. Plus I would never settle with just another dime-a-dozen show, I would want the music to be an experience, the stories an atmosphere for the visitor (yeah I did give it a lot of thought, haha). It’s just so much work that I would rather spend in the studio writing new music right now.
As a solo artist, finding the right creative flow can be challenging, and writer’s block is always lurking around the corner. How do you deal with this? Do you have specific methods or rituals to keep the inspiration going? And have you ever experienced a creative block that significantly impacted your writing process? If so, how did you overcome it?
Yeah man, right now I’ve been focussed on preparing for the release of Mandatum and parallel to that, recording the third Beenkerver full-length album. So even though I am quite busy with Beenkerver, I haven’t picked up a guitar to write new material for quite some time. I often feel frustrated that the creativity isn’t always as prevalent in me as I want it to be, but I just trust on it to return in due time and just not giving up on it.
I think once the split drops and the album recordings are done I can refocus on what I want to do next, because as I said before, everything does need to have a purpose. I think I would need a good new story to tell before I can start writing again. Until that time, I read, watch movies, play video games, listen to music and talk with friends, to recharge. Accept the block and trust that it might be there for a reason, while also not giving up because writing music is 10% inspiration and 90% doing the work!
Going back to the upcoming release, the title Mandatvm can be translated in different ways. Does this title hold a spiritual meaning for you? What is the concept behind this split? Is there a thematic or musical connection between the contributions from both Beenkerver and Excommunicatio? And how does this release differ from your previous work?
For me Mandatum doesn’t have a direct spiritual meaning, but we were brainstorming name for the split and since Excommunicatio has a strong focus on antichristian themes and used latin phrases for their songs, we got into that mindset. Mandatum (latin for ‘command’ or ‘commandment’) for us means to think for yourself about your own values, follow your ówn commandments instead of those set by others.
Musically and lyrically, Excommunicatio and myself have worked that central thought into more specific themes in our respective songs, and I can’t wait for you to hear them and figure out what we did with it. I don’t want to spoil the story of my songs though. But all my songs and lyrics on the split are connected, much like the Twee Wolven EP did. Musically, it’s a natural evolution from the previous releases. I got a little bit better at vocals, tried to experiment a little bit more, but also return to some more ‘simple’ structuring. It is still undeniably Beenkerver though
Thank you for this interview! I’d like to give you the final word— is there anything you’d like to add? Any message for your readers, or something you’d like to share about the future of Beenkerver?
Thank you, Merg en Been, for the in-depth questions and interest in Beenkerver. And congratulations on running a great site!
Not much to share, except a sincere thank you to everyone who has listened to my music and connected to it, reached out to me and supported me. Check out MANDATUM on May 2nd, when it releases on streaming and on vinyl!
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