Nienke De Jong - Dejafuse
Interview by Erwin Van Dijk
An interview with Nienke de Jong from Dejafuse.
Most people will know Nienke de Jong as the singer of Dutch gothic rock band Autumn. Some time ago Nienke left Autumn due to health problems. But this did not mean we would lose one of the best female singers of the Dutch metal scene. We still have her other band, Dejafuse.
About Dejafuse: “...Besides Autumn I had started a solo band with Arno Krabman (about three years ago) to satisfy all my musical needs. It’s called Dejafuse. Since my departure from Autumn I was finally able to put in the energy it needed. If someone would have told me a year ago that I would have been able to grow even more as a vocalist, by setting myself free to let my voice come out in the way it chooses to do, I guess wouldn't believe them. But it did, it happened... There's space in my heart, my chest, my mind... and I was able to sing from a 'different place' within myself; relaxed, happy and up close and personal without fear. I'm proud, and I'm curious to find out where this journey will lead us.”
About you:
The first question: you left Autumn because of health problems. How are you now?
Great, just great if I may say so. My health problems were mainly caused by having a very heavy schedule. I was busy enough for ten people! Haha! It has tought me to take better care of myself, always choose from the heart, your gut feeling tells you what to do… I guess I had not been listening too good. My life I still full and quite busy, but more in balance.
Did you always want to become a singer?
I was just a bathroom singer, I also sang myself to sleep as a young girl. It was a form of therapy, I used to sing to be able to cry every now and then. It was a private thing, and I never thought I was any good at it. Turns out other people thought I was, which made me glad… and proud. It’s an important thing in my life.
And to what kind of music do you listen yourself?
Haha, just about everything. I used to love death-metal, it couldn’t be tough enough for me. I still love the old stuff by the way (Carcass, Dismember, Autopsy, etc…). But now I listen to just about everything I like; blues, rock, classical music, pop…
And who are your favourite bands and musicians?
Singers: Ronnie James Dio, Ann Wilson (Heart), Gavin Degraw, Jorn Lande (Masterplan) and many more! Bands: Soilwork, Masterplan, Paradise Lost, Spiritual Beggars, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath (with Dio), Moloko, Morningwood, Beatles and many, many, many more!
Did you have any other bands before Autumn and Dejafuse?
Yes, the band was called Her Enchantment. Looking back at it we were one of the first bands (besides The Gathering and Within Temptation) that were into the female fronted metal thing (this goes for Autumn as well… they started in ’95). In Her Enchantment I shared the mic with a male singer.
What is the difference between Nienke and Ninx?
No difference any more. I am the same on- and offstage. I guess that was different in the past, when I was so insecure and afraid to enter the stage. I always put on a front to be able to get onto that stage. Now it doesn’t feel like that anymore, I’m in my element on stage.
There are many female fronted metal bands from The Netherlands. Do you have any idea why?
Well, there used to be… it looks like we are losing a few.
But to be honest, I don’t know why. Besides The Gathering and Within Temptation there were no female fronted bands when I started, a lot has happened since. But I don’t know why, perhaps it’s in the water.
About Dejafuse:
What is the idea behind the name of the band?
None whatsoever. It just sounded nice, it has a ring to it. Later on we started thinking that it made sense. Since it’s a fuse of people and musical styles, and since we are suckers for old rock ‘n roll… you get a little dejavu experience every now and then. But that’s pure coincidence, we just thought it sounded nice…. Although it’s pretty hard to pronounce for some people! Hahaha!
How would you describe Dejafuse’s music? And what is the difference between Autumn and Dejafuse?
There is big difference. The only thing that linked us was my voice.
I think Autumn is more atmospheric, the songs are more of a story… stretched.
Dejafuse is more ‘songbased’, powerful and energetic…
Can you introduce us to the other members of Dejafuse?
Arno – lead guitars
Arno is my partner in life as well as my partner workwise. Together we run Graveland Studio, a fulltime, fun and rewarding way to earn a living. Arno is a gifted guitarist and a great producer. I’m perfectly objective when I say that he is one of the biggest talents in Holland.
Stefan – rhythm guitars
Stefan is a gifted guitarist en composer. Further more he is a very good friend. He is fun to be around and always has a few good riffs up his sleeve.
Bas – bass guitar
Bas is a great musician and a great friend. He brilliant when it comes to catchy tunes. He always encourages us to make it even more simple but powerful.
About the new album, can you tell us something about the songs?
1. 2faced
2. Brother
3. Right Here
4. Wake
5. Clipper
6. Blanque Cheque
7. Exploring
8. Shapeshifting
9. More
10. Wrapture
11. State Of Being
12. Continuüm
The songs are written from the heart, I tend to write my lyrics pretty much on intuition. Just writing what comes to mind without eagerly trying to build complex sentences, of use fancy words for the sake of it.
Sometimes I use words as a metrum, an indicator of rhythm. Sometimes I use them because the words have nice ring to them, and they feel nice when singing. And every now and then they have a deeper meaning; love, loss, pain, happiness, lust, longing, aggression, you name it! It’s up to our listeners to interpret the lyrics as they see fit... that makes it a: “this song fits all”.
Is song writing teamwork in Dejafuse?
It definitely is. In the beginning Arno and me wrote all the stuff. But as soon as the other guys joined the band they left their mark on the material and came up with great songs themselves too. But for the next album we’ll all be entering the studio at the same time and write and record it in a short period of time. Preferably all at the same time, to keep it fresh and give it ‘live’ feel. What you see is what you get…. Great!
And where do you get the inspiration for the lyrics?
Great times in life, shitty times in life, personal development, and the reasons I mentioned two questions back.
What is your favourite song on the album and why?
I don’t have one favourite song at this point. When we play live, every song keeps developing. We love to experiment live, and this way not one show is the same. Every time a songs has a new feel and freshness to it.
The album was released a month ago. How did the media, and more important, the fans react on the new album?
Great, everything has been overwhelming so far. We are looking forward to playing a lot this coming fall, since we didn’t get to release out album in time before the festivals.
Dejafuse has planned two gigs, one at Mosselrock (15.08.2009) and one at the Biebob (Belgium, at the warming up party for Metal Female Voices Fest 2010) which is not exactly a crowded tour schedule. Will Dejafuse do a tour to promote the new album?
Yes, but everything depends on how an album is received by the press and fans. You won’t get shows until bookers are sure it’s gonna be a success. We released just before the summer, hich means you can’t do the festivals. But we will tour this coming fall, keep your eyes on that agenda!
You and Arno Krabman are also busy with the Graveland Studio. This is also the studio where Autumn recorded their first album with Marjan Welman on vocals. How was it for you to be the “outsider” this time?
Great, Marjan did a great job and the guys and girls made a great album in our studio.
This is great and it makes me proud that we have a relationship as former bandmembers that’s pretty intense. Mats plays drums for Dejafuse, which is also great! Small world humn?
To have your own studio is a dream of most musicians I guess. But have you ever considered to look for another studio and producer for some fresh ideas and sound for the Dejafuse album?
Short and simple: no. and only if we would get a chance of a lifetime we might consider to do so. In Europe we have the spot that suits us best; our own studio. But there are some great studios and producers in the US. We might consider that if it was possible…. If only to take a trip and have a lot of fun together!
Thanks a lot!!! See ya’ll soon hopefully!!!
Links :
Nienke De Jong Official MySpace
Graveland Studio Official Site
