Don’t Skip are guitar player Serge Meulenberg and songwriter/producer Harald Bruijstens. Serge is currently a full time dad, taking care of his son Teun and spends his spare time on Don’t Skip.
Harald works as a professional songwriter, lyricist, vocalist and producer, working with a couple of dance producers and DJs. He also creates artist intros for several dance festivals and does talent coaching.
Harald and Serge met in a period of time when both of them were going through some hardship and discovered their collaborative music (Don’t Skip) was very therapeutic.
The questions are answered by Harald on behalf of Don’t Skip.
Q: First of all tell us about the start of your professional career?
I grew up in a musical environment. My dad played in a band and my mom was singing in the house all the time. I had access to my dad’s instruments and gear and figured out how to work it. So I’ve been making music as long as I can remember, but my professional career started about eleven years ago, when I decided to quit my job and had to make a living off my music.
Q: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
I think Nike said it best: Just do it!
Q:When you decide it’s time to make a new record, is that more exciting or stressful?
We have a whole bunch of demos waiting to become full songs and productions. It’s not a matter of deciding to make a new record. It’s finding the right inspiration to finish songs. When we pick up a song and find the right inspiration, we’re excited. Working on music is not stressful, it’s actually relaxing. But everything around it can be, release planning, promotion, social media. The creation part makes you forget time, the release part makes you aware of time.
Q: How easily do songs tend to come to you?
It depends. Don’t Skip songs are usually built on Serge’s guitar riffs. When it’s the right riff the rest of the song tends to evolve naturally. The inspiration for the lyrics comes from daily life.
Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?
Be kind, you never know what battles other people dealing with.
Q: What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car right now?
Maroon 5 – Memories
Q :What are your future goals as a music artist?
With every song we aim to raise the bar (for ourselves) in terms of quality in songwriting, production and promotion. We hope to reach more people that share our thoughts and emotions.
Q: What was your most memorable performance to date?
We started releasing music one year before the covid pandemic and all the lockdowns hit. We had only one single performance in VOLT in Sittard, which was an acoustic set for streaming purposes. Most memorable 😊
Q :How can we follow you on social media ?
just look for dontskipmusic on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, but we would really appreciate it if people follow us on Spotify, the platform where we actually give them a piece of our minds and hearts.
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