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A start-up band with just one single and no album in the shops plays the reputed
Lowlands festival and tours Europe. Yes, it can be done and Dutch rock/pop
punk five-piece Destine shows how. Play as many gigs as possible, spread the
bandname via social websites, build a fanbase. “Fans are most important, so
make yourself available for after show signature sessions.”
By Alfred Bos
Five-piece Destine are singer/guitarist Robin van Loenen, guitarist Hubrecht
Eversdijk, keyboard player Laurens Troost, bass player Tom Vorstius Kruijff and
drummer Robin Faas – all in their early to mid-twenties. Singer Robin, Hubrecht
and Laurens double as band managers, helped out by a non-band member. Three
years ago they decided to strike out as Destine. Their debut album will be released
in late January.
Destine is a mixture of punkrock and pop. Bands like Paramore, Green Day and Fall
Out Boy are their template. “We make a follow-up to the ‘90s punkrock sound”,
singer Robin says.
MXP: How did you team up?
Robin: “All of us had been playing in bands since our mid-teens. We are curious
and eager people. At the age of 15, I was booking shows for my band. And I
still do. The bands we had been playing in were slowly fading. All bands have
pacesetters and followers, and the pacesetters from our former bands got
together and started Destine. From day one our aim has been to play as many
gigs as possible. And we did.”
MXP: You all had experience in working bands. What was your aim for Destine?
“We were motivated and ambitious, and we figured it would be possible to do
better than trawling for gigs in the Dutch rockclub circuit. We wrote songs and we
gigged hard; it paid of. Last year Fall we’ve been touring Europe: six countries in 15
days. A very instructive experience. You have to be flexible, don’t make a fuss but
adapt, even if the conditions leave a lot to desire. That’s the main thing. The key is
to stay positive.”
MXP: Remarkable, a European tour for a band without an album in the shops. How
did that came about?
“I’ve mailed British bookers and got some replies. When we performed at the
Lowlands festival, I met a booker from England. We stayed in touch and out of
the blue came this offer. It goes to show how important personal contact is as
opposed to virtual contact.”
MXP: Your album has been produced by James Paul Wisner in South Florida. How
did you select him?
“We’re fans of his work for a slew of rockbands, like New Found Glory and
Paramore. We started out with a list of our favourite albums. That produced a list
of ten producers. We mailed them our demos and some
returned a favourable response. We recorded our album in
two sessions, the first one in February 2009, the second
one in September. The singles that have been released so
far, In Your Arms and Stars, are from the first session.”
MXP: Will your Noorderslag performance be a fair reflection
of your stage show?
“For us it’s a challenge to do what we are good at: playing
an aggressive, energetic show.”
Destine will launch their debutalbum at Paradiso, Amsterdam:
January 26 (sold out). It is the start of a 16-show Dutch tour.
Saturday 16 January @ Serious Talent Stage, 22:00 - 22:45
www.destinemusic.com
www.myspace.com/destinedestine