Inspired by all things retro, Seewolf talk about the ongoing search for why the music of the sixties and seventies sounds so timeless.

It all started in Friesland, the outskirts of the Netherlands. Here, nearby the sea, the band retreats from the busy society and forgets time for a moment. We slowly disappear into our music as we watch the stretching fields and pink skies. We enjoy the company with our fifth band member, an old tape machine from San Francisco's Wally Heider Recording Studio, with which icons such as Tom Waits, Van Morrison and Neil Young recorded. Tuning, repairing and reviving this machine is an indispensable part of the ongoing search for why that music of the sixties and seventies sounds so timeless. Our love and passion for this recording technique can be heard on our characteristic debut album. On which that cold northern wind finally resonates with the warm sound of an analog tape sound.

The core base of the band exists of four members:

Dolf Kuiken - vocals, guitar

Willem Bijma - guitar, keys

Bram Welbedacht - bass guitar

Joop Visser - drums

With live performances there are several musicians that enforces the band to make an even more wider musical landscape.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR DEBUT ALBUM ‘A BOUNCE OF GRACE’?

We recorded our album (of course on our tape machine) at the home studio on the dyke were singer and guitarist Dolf lives.

For me personally (Dolf), the album represents a personal growth and a musical growth. You could think of it as navigating through life's challenges with a certain gracefulness.

WHICH SONG WOULD YOU SAY SUMS UP YOUR SOUND THE BEST?

That is a tricky question because every song has its own characteristics and has its own sound and feeling, but if I had to choose one (which is very difficult!!) I would choose ‘Wild Winds’. ‘Wild Winds’ is a combination of it all. It really got that ‘on the road’ kind of vibe and has also a bit cinematic western movie sound. It’s nice to put on and just drive, anywhere..

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MUSIC?

My parents always listened to music at home, especially my mom. When an awesome song came on the radio she would turn the volume way up. I think this contributed to my interest in music. When I was around 11 they bought me a guitar. Some local bands inspired me so I took some guitar lessons. After a few years, when I was 15 years old, my friends and I started a punkband. That’s where it all started for me (Dolf)

WHAT DOES TYPICAL WRITING AND RECORDING DAY LOOK LIKE?

The writing part is fluid. Something that can’t be planned or rushed. Most of the time Willem and I (Dolf) working out some ideas/rough sketches with some catchy guitar riffs from Willem. He’s got that Johnny Marr kind of way of playing but in his own style. That inspires me to get some melody lines and chords around it. If we think we got something, the band joins to finish the song.

Haha the recording days are sometimes quite messy. There’s a lot of planning involved by Ids vd Heide (producer) and Dolf. To get a specific sound the microphones etc. have to be on a specific distance from the instruments. We measure everything out, so the preparations take a lot of time.

We record everything on our old Ampex tape recorder at Dolfs dyke house. The whole house turns into a studio with all equipment and cables running through the kitchen floor, well.. through the whole house really.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR BAND NAME/ STAGE NAME?

By a novel by Jack London called ‘Der Seewolf’. We liked how the word ‘see’ was written. The word See is the word for sea in the old language in Friesland. It suited us because all creating and recording happened nearby the sea. Also, the Seewolf is a very mysterious and weird creature.

WHAT HAS BEEN THAT HARDEST THING ABOUT YOUR MUSIC JOURNEY SO FAR?

Well, nowadays the music industry is really different with all the social media platforms and stuff. It really has its perks because you can find any music anytime, so that’s awesome. But on the other hand, it makes it more difficult to find your way in the sea of the internet. To find trustworthy people that can help you get your music out and to the next level is quite challenging and sometimes a bit of a struggle. It would be awesome that we find a suitable manager / booker and label for our music

WHAT'S BEEN THE EASIEST?

Playin’ live and and creating new material I think.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN'T MAKING MUSIC?

I would probably be a studio engineer and record bands. Or maybe a graphic designer. It would be at least something creative!

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Stay true to yourself. Don't start making music for someone else, make the music you want to make.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Playing live as much as we can and recording new material for our next album.

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