Maaike Peterse - Kingfisher Sky
Interview by Erwin van Dijk
My earliest memory of a cello in action was in the James Bond movie ‘The Living Daylights’ from 1987 with Maryam d’Abo as a very good looking cellist and sniper (although those two professions have nothing in common)
Cellos were developed from the bass violin during the sixteenth century. They have been a part of chamber ensembles and orchestras since then resulting that the cello is most closely associated with European classical music nowadays.
But things have changed.
While cellos were not ‘standard instruments’ in popular music things have changed the last ten years. Tarja Turunen has a cellist in her band, Max Lilja who also plays in Apocalyptica and Hevein and bands like Therion (on their records, not live sadly) and Haggard (studio and live) use the cello. Therapy?’s single ‘Diane’ would not have the special mood without cello.
Enter Kingfisher Sky.
Kingfisher Sky (named after the bird species) was founded by Ivar de Graaf when he decided to leave Within Temptation and classically trained vocalist Judith Rijnveld. Ivar and Judith recorded an eleven track demo which led to a recording contract with Suburban Records. Kingfisher Sky’s debut album is ‘Hallway of Dreams’
Other band members are Eric Hoogendoorn (from Orphanage), George van Olffen, Daan Janzing and Edo van der Kolk.
In 2008 Maaike Peterse joined Kingfisher Sky. Her part in Kingfisher Sky gives this band something extra in the overcrowded Female Fronted Metal genre. As most recent addition to the band she is not even mentioned on the bands official website! (maybe it is time for an update)
Anyway, why did you choose the cello as instrument?
I grew up with two parents who were and still are musicians, my father is a violinist in The ‘The Hague Philharmonic’ and my mother is a pianist. I started playing violin as a little girl, taught by my dad...for some reason that didn’t work out great. I didn’t want to play the violin anymore, so my dad hooked me up with the violins big brother, the cello. I started playing cello, and never did let go anymore. I’m forever grateful for that switch.
For some reason most women in rock & metal bands (especially folk oriented bands) play the violin. (Marcela Bovio from Stream of Passion, Klaartje from Myrkvar etc). A violin is without doubt much smaller than a cello. Does this make this instrument easier for women to play and easier to combine with the standard line up of a rock band?
There is no way to say a cello is more difficult to play then a violin. They both are difficult, both instruments need lots of practise and study. The size doesn’t matter at all. If it’s easier to combine with the standard line up of a rock band. I tend to say it doesn’t matter either. The only things that probably makes a violin easier in a rock band has to do with the fact the musician is standing, a cellist always has to sit down, or at least most of the time, which makes the stage plan for the cellist (me in this case) a bit static, but I’m working on standing up whilst playing.
And what kind of cello do you use?
Compared to other rock instruments like a guitar or drums of bass guitar, you don’t talk about a brand or kind of instrument. The cello is build by someone, in my case that’s a Dutch violin builder called Jolle Huckriede who was a former clarinet player with the ‘The Hague Philharmonic’ and wanted to build a violin when he retired. That worked out pretty well, he did build some and then wanted to build a cello..that worked out pretty well too. When I visited him (my dad has a violin build by him) he told me that I was not the owner of the instrument, but the instrument was the owner of the musician. You only borrow it for so long and then it passes on to the next musician. The instrument picks you and not the other way around. I played some of his instruments and ended up with this one. It’s build according to Stradivarius-model and I have an amazing warm and fantastic instrument. I’m very proud that I can play on this instrument. It’s great that I can play this instrument as the owner for as long as I live. I also only have one instrument..because of the prizes of string instruments I don’t own more instruments.
You have studied at a conservatory. This means you have a far broader knowledge about music than the average member of a metal band. What are the differences between ‘classical’ and ‘metal’ oriented music?
Big difference is that you definitely are more free to play what you want. Compared to for instance Bach, you don’t have a score, and improvising wasn’t done much back in 1650. But studying on a conservatory doesn’t make you a musician, making music does. I have more than one friend who didn’t finish the conservatory but has far more knowledge about music then someone who has a degree in music. The only thing I can say is that when you have studied at a conservatory you have a bit more knowledge about how the history of music, and you can listen and analyze music and hear time periods and so on, and off course I can read notes, which I don’t use playing in bands, there I use my ears.
And, what do they have in common?
The thing they have in common, I strongly believe that Bach was a metal musician in his days. The genres have a lot in common, you have a start, a middle and an end. Bach rocks too you know? If you listen to Bach’s double Violin Concerto it’s really rocking!
What instruments do you play besides the violin cello?
I play the Piano, little bit of violin still, and I am singing.
In which orchestras and chamber ensembles have you played or are you playing right now?
I use to play in several orchestras during my conservatory period. Also I had a trio (two flutes and cello) with my best friends, and played in some great chamber orchestra’s. One of them was the Residentie Chamber Orchestra, formed with musicians from the The Hague Philharmonic. I also like to play with musicians just for fun and experience. Right now I’m also playing with a rock band called June Arc. I will only play on their upcoming CD, since I’m too busy to tour with them because of Kingfisher Sky. But playing with these guys is really great too. And off course I played in a thousand youth orchestra’s and with friends just to play, it was very common during my study period, to have dinner together, pull out the instruments and ‘jam’ a bit.
In your real live you are a music teacher at an elementary school. Do your students know you are a ‘rock star’?
I love this question. They know I’m playing with Kingfisher Sky, some of the older kids try to find me on YouTube and other internet channels and can’t believe that the cellist of that band is me..They think its ‘Dope’ that their teacher is rocking on stage. When we played with Within Temptation they found out on the internet and searched for YouTube vids and some of them found vids and took them to school. These days they use smartboards in the classroom...the black boards are gone and one student had to do a presentation in the class and used YouTube to show Hallway of Dreams and gave his presentation about Cello in a rockband, that was pretty awesome. Also one of my students told me her sister tended the Within Temptation show and saw me play and wanted my autograph and picture taken for her sister.
Who are your favourite cellists? And to what kind of music do you listen yourself?
My favourite cellists is without doubt Jacqueline DuPre who died too young at the age of 42 due to Multiples Scleroses, this amazing cellist was definitely my example. She played the Elgar cello concerto better than anyone else ever did or probably will do. I feel very honoured to have seen her play and be compared with her by looks and the way I play. I only can play like a tenth she did but if I can play that tenth I’m really proud of that. The other great cellists I love are Pablo Casals and Truls Mørk. But..I also think the cellists of Apocalyptica are great cellists!
I do like all kinds of music, It’s difficult to say what is my favourite, that depends on the mood I’m in or what time of day. My CD collection contains all rock/metal bands, but I off course have a lot of classical CD’s and Jazz CD’s too...So you can ask me today and I say..I love Imagine by A Perfect Circle, Let’s sleep together by Porcupine Tree and the Cello concerto of Shostakovich but there is a possibility that tomorrow it’s Bleac by Opeth and Schubert’s quartets....
As you wrote in your bio you like to play in chamber ensembles, orchestras and in Kingfisher Sky. What are the differences for you because these three are pretty much the opposite. Chamber Ensembles play in a more intimate atmosphere while Orchestras do their thing in big halls and Kingfisher Sky plays in clubs with a complete different audience of course.
I love to play period. I love to play with piano, I love to play acoustic with some of the band members, I love to play in an orchestra and love to play with Kingfisher Sky. There isn’t a very big difference between the audiences of a chamber concert or an audience of Kingfisher Sky. The goal you have as a musician is the same. You want to give the people that come to see you a great night, you want to touch them, move them and cause some sort of emotion. No matter if you play Balance of Power, Beethoven fifth or a solo cello suite by Bach...
If people onstage have a great night most of the time people in the audience have a great night too. That’s my belief though.
You joined Kingfisher Sky on cello in 2008.
How did you get in touch with the band and why did you decide to become a member of Kingfisher Sky?
A year ago (January 2008) Ivar and Judith contacted me via MySpace. They recognized my car ( I drive a 1981 Citroen 2cv) and added me to the Kingfisher Sky MySpace. We got talking and found out we live almost in the same street. I joked..well, if you ever need a cello, you know where to find me...and they did. They wanted to have cello in Kingfisher Sky and before I knew I played Big Fish with them. One song became more songs and we grew together. I didn’t decide to become a member, I was luckily to be ‘adopted’ by the band and have my place in this great band as seventh member.
Was it difficult to integrate the cello parts into Kingfisher Sky’s rock oriented music?
Most definite not! Judith and Ivar had cello scores on the CD Hallway of Dreams. All we had to do (they did) was getting the Cello out of the ‘computer’ and bring it to life. Kingfisher Sky songs were meant to be with Cello. We chose some songs and we play those with real cello instead of only being on CD.
It is my impression that a cello is not the most suitable instrument for touring with a band because they are more sensitive to humidity and temperature fluctuations than the average guitar or bass. Is it necessary to take any precautions before you go to a gig?
No not really. Off course I’m careful with my instrument and off course it’s a little bit more fragile than for instance an electric guitar. But further I don’t take weird precautions. The only precaution I take is making sure I have my Jack cable, my spare strings and my sense of humour. The case that is around the cello does the rest. I have a case which protects my instrument for extreme temperature differences. I have to admit I gained some scratches on my instrument whilst playing with Kingfisher Sky, but then again...everyone has scars from crashes, bumps and silliness..so does my cello.
Since a cello do not have any electric elements, do you need any special amplifiers on stage?
A cello doesn’t have an electric element when you buy it, but I did put an electric element on my cello. It’s a pickup element, which is placed under my Bridge. There are two small electric plates that go to my tailpiece. In the Pickup element I put a Jack cable with goes to the DI and into the PA...so...I always can play classical music, but I can plug in too...great huh! I wonder what Bach would say when he found out. I think he’d have loved it.
Can you introduce us to the other members of Kingfisher Sky?
Ivar de Graaf
Ivar is one of the most talented Drummers I’ve ever met in my entire life. When I heard Ivar play for the first time I was stunned by the way he played. I grew up with lots of Drummers and musicians since my dad used to play bands and jazz too, but Ivar is one gifted Drummer who I’m so proud of to play with. And I can’t even start to describe how much fun we have.
Judith Rijnveld
Judith is an angel, she looks like an angel, she sounds like an angel. I got to meet Judith as someone I remember from my days back at the conservatory. Sometimes it feels like Judith is my sister, eventho we don’t look like each other on the outside, we don’t need words to understand together. In music we have some great things together, Judith has a cello voice, which means her voice and my cello are a match. Judith has like we say in the Netherlands a golden throat. When she sings, she makes everything gold. Her voice is a combination between Cecilia Bartoli and Kate Bush. She can sing beautifully high and massive low. Besides she is a great singer, she became one of my best friends.
Eric Hoogendoorn
Eric is the one I met last, but he is a great guy with a great sense of humor. He can sit next to you saying nothing, but when he says something it’s extremely funny and I have to laugh really hard. As a musician. Eric knows a lot, he is one of my teachers when it comes to the amazing world of electric music. And off course he is my four-stringed brother. He is a great musician with a lot of experience. I love playing with Eric, when he headbangs you just have to join him. Eventho I’m sitting down I love to join in. Since a few shows he stands next to me on stage and I really enjoy that! We four-stringers have to stick together.
Daan Janzing
Gosh..What to say about Daan. He is our Benjamin but Daan told me the most I know now about playing in a rock band. Daan is with Eric my mentor. When I first started playing with Kingfisher Sky I didn’t know anything about how to plug myself in which monitor and other electrical things. I just had my classical instrument and wanted to enhance it with electrical parts. Daan helped me with that. It’s a pleasure to play with Daan, he really likes to make a show on stage and I like to be a part with him and Kingfisher Sky on stage. Besides that Daan is the one that really brings tears to our eyes backstage. He can make the most fantastic things sound gross which is really a big laugh backstage. Just before we get onstage he is the temple we can rely on. He makes sure water is onstage for Judith and me and gives us the curtain call…Daan is a fantastic person.
Edo van der Kolk
Edo is a fantastic guitar player and an amazing person. We drive up to shows a lot these days because we can stuff my car full with equipment and listen to all kinds of music in the car. We listen to Kate Perry and sing a long but also we let each other hear new discoveries we found. Driving to shows with Edo is very relaxing. He does the navigation part, I do the driving. We both are in charge of the iPod player in the car, but its great fun to do our ‘iPod’ thing. Edo has become a good friend of me too and we love to chat about everything, from Oreo’s to Music and from Religion to work related things. It’s always a pleasure to discover things with Edo. Sound checking with him teaches me things. Besides the fact he can play a mean piece of guitar, it’s a very humble person. I love to be onstage with Edo
Maaike Peterse
Me and my cello love to be on stage with the others.
George van Olffen
George is a very enthusiastic keyboardist. He looks after us all the time. George has a way of looking to things with a view others didn’t even thought about. Since George and I have a lot of scores together I play with him a lot onstage. He used to play most of the strings on his Keyboard and had to reduce those to the strings without cello. Also George loves the cello and you can notice that when we play and talk. He is always in for playing. We had some rehearsals at his studio and George makes sure he has chardonnay cold in the fridge so we can enjoy a nice glass of chardonnay after rehearsing. George is a great friend to play with.
While Kingfisher Sky is still busy touring I am wondering if you guys are already working on new songs? If so, will this album be written by Ivar and Judith or will the other members of Kingfisher Sky have a part in the song writing?
Judith and Ivar are definitely the artistic brain behind Kingfisher Sky, no doubt about that. They are always open for suggestions though. Edo is writing things too, but the main composers and songwriters are Judith and Ivar. We are working on new material and a new album. Judith and Ivar are doing a great job. Since I live only 500 meters away I go to them often to play cello scores in, just to see if the scores match with the ideas and most of the time what Judith (since she is the melodically part of the composing duo) had in mind works great on Cello. Judith voice and my cello are a great match, and we use that in the best way possible. It also is great fun to play scores in. We have to concentrate to play them in, double them and always know afterwards there is a nice glass of wine waiting and some snacks. Songs are born with Judith and Ivar and we are proud to help raising their musical children.
You have been in Kingfisher Sky for almost a year by now. What are the highlights so far and did you already experienced some real ‘Spinal Tap’ moments during the last twelve months?
One of our highlights is for sure playing on the Within Temptation fanclubday and supporting them at night for their evening show. During the day we did an acoustic concert for the Within Temptation fans, we played both concerts for a sold out venue of 2500 people. That was a very big rush. When I think of that concert I still get warm from the inside and have to ask people if that really happened. We love to play for people, 50, 100 but playing for 2500 people was something fantastic to do. Considering Spinal Tap...I believe we are the Dutch version of Spinal Tap. We are having so much lame fun that sometimes I really have belly ache after a show the next day. And that’s not me complaining but giving you a fact that really makes Kingfisher Sky even greater to play in. It’s the Kingfisher Sky Family that makes playing with Kingfisher Sky even more fun.
And the last question: what can we expect from Kingfisher Sky this year?
We hope to book a lot of shows, we hope to get abroad and we hope to work on our second album. But most of all, what you can expect from Kingfisher Sky is more great music, more fantastic shows and hopefully more people hearing us. For starters our album will be released this year in the UK, France, Germany and Italy, which is great after the US and Japan Release. We also have some great shows planned with Delain. So we are on a journey that hopefully just started!
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