My life has always revolved around creativity, driven by my passion for music and visual art. For years, I dedicated myself to being a professional musician, exploring countless styles and expressions of sound. The journey began when my uncle brought home a guitar he found in the rubbish. Though I initially wanted to play drums, I wasn’t allowed to, so the guitar became my first instrument. Later, I switched to bass guitar after my brother took it up, and by the age of 11, I was playing classical guitar. I struggled with reading sheet music, so I forged my own path, eventually playing in a band with friends. Music quickly became more than just a hobby—it was a way to explore emotions, build my own world, and escape the tensions, expectations, and disappointments of life. Through music, I found both freedom and identity.

Around the same time, I discovered photography. Using a small plastic Kodak camera, I began taking pictures—many of planes at Camp New Amsterdam in Soesterberg. My father laughed at my photos because the planes appeared so tiny without a telephoto lens. Still, I loved it. I even built model planes from kits and designed my own with an engine, though I never managed to get it to fly. My father would tease me, saying, “What are you fiddling around with?”

Music, however, became my main focus. I wanted to push myself further and dreamed of performing and learning g from the best. Music also became a way to seek affirmation, and over time, I developed my skills to a professional level. In 1992, at the age of 30, I graduated from the conservatoire, having worked various jobs before that. I played in countless formations, with jazz fusion being my favorite. Over the years, I delved into nearly every genre—blues, country, gypsy jazz, pop, trip-hop, disco, and more. I also became a teacher, and to this day, I teach at a music school in Amersfoort and a conservatoire in Haarlem. Teaching brings me immense joy, especially encouraging young creatives to develop their own voice and make original creations.

Touring became a significant part of my career, and I finally achieved my dream of performing in the U.S. In 2005, I toured with Praful’s band, which had a number-one hit on the smooth jazz charts. During those tours, I rekindled my love for photography, and one of my photos even won first prize at National Geographic. Fittingly, it was a photo of a plane—how my father would have laughed at that. “Catch a Plane,” the winning artwork, was featured in the Hotel Stories exhibition at CODA Museum in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Interestingly, it was displayed alongside a series inspired by John Lennon. This connection reminded me of my visit to New York, where I saw the monument dedicated to Lennon in Central Park. Touring the city at some spare time in between concerts, I came across Strawberry Fields and its famous “Imagine” mosaic, a tribute to his legacy of peace and creativity. It was fascinating to see how Lennon’s influence continues to inspire art and monuments across the world.

Despite these achievements, the relentless demands of the music industry took a toll on me. I poured so much of myself into the work that I eventually burned out. The industry can be brutal—one moment you’re celebrated, the next, you’re cast aside. It became a dizzying cycle, and I pushed myself beyond my limits, losing a sense of who I was along the way.

On a personal note, I was fortunate to share my life with Francisca Kalmijn, the mother of my son, Victor Dissel. Francisca was also an artist, and our home is filled with her beautiful paintings. Sadly, she passed away in 2021. I witnessed her own struggles as an artist, but we always encouraged one another to keep creating, finding happiness in the act of making something new. I am so grateful and blessed she came into my life, ‘forever together’.

Though my journey has had its challenges, creativity remains my anchor. Music and photography continue to be sources of exploration, expression, and joy—keeping me connected to the world and to myself.