Photography by JEROEN NOORDZIJ
“My friends describe me as an eccentric, creative whirlwind. There’s always a lot going on with me. I just enjoy so many things, and that’s why I say ‘yes’ to too many things. That’s also a pitfall, because it means I never become truly great at one thing, I often have double bookings in my calendar, and while I’m working on one project, my mind is already on the next. Fortunately, I have many lovely people around me who understand me and help me with that.”
From a creative family
"My passion for theater and film was impossible to miss from an early age. At thirteen, I started creating my first projects. Precisely because I took this passion so seriously, my parents have always supported me in my choices. That creativity didn't come from nowhere, by the way: one of my grandfathers was a photographer at the Rotterdamse Courant and my other grandfather had a side job as a mime artist. To make the picture even more fitting, my parents met on stage."
To study or not to study?
"I didn’t study, and that sometimes raised questions when I was young. Studying can be really great if you want to become a doctor, for example, but that doesn't apply to every career path. Many people want to get a diploma; that offers a certain sense of security, especially if you have a house or children to support. I want to advise young people to do what makes them happy. Look into what used to make your heart skip a beat. And above all, don't be afraid to make the wrong choice, because you're never too old to switch paths."
Rap career as The Dean
The highlight of my career is my club tour with The Dean, which sold out within 24 hours. Then all of a sudden you're standing in a packed Tivoli with people singing your music word for word and giving you the confidence that you really are a rapper. I felt understood. Precisely because I'm that ‘funny guy from StreetLab’, people sometimes get the idea that I'm trying to make a mockery of rapping. But The Dean was born out of genuine curiosity and a passion for hip-hop. I've been making music for a long time, and I just think hip-hop is a really cool and inspiring way to express yourself.
I hope to score a really big hit with my rap career or collaborate with an American artist. I want to see how far we can take The Dean and go all the way. Starting a rap career initially seemed impossible too. My biggest examples in this are Ricky Gervais, Donald Glover and Lil Dicky. They’ve managed to combine their different passions with making music.
"If I'm not feeling good in my own skin, I compensate for it with clothes and pull a three-piece suit out of the closet."
In a retiree chair on the sidewalk
"In all the hustle and bustle, I sometimes long to sit in a retiree chair, you know, one of those luxury garden chairs. Then I put it on the sidewalk, and I sit there without a shirt, with a wheat beer and a book. Not that I actually read that book, because I only want to read classics, and after three pages I’ve already forgotten what I was reading. A few times a year I can find the time to create such a moment of rest. Besides that, I find relaxation with my football team. I try to be present at training twice a week and, of course, at our annual team outing. Lately, I’ve also started going to the gym, because unfortunately my tailored clothes had started to fit a little tighter."
Bold in what I wear
"I'm not afraid to wear outspoken outfits. Gender plays no role for me in that, so I can also put on women's blouses. To me, a well-dressed man is someone who clearly has their own style. You can buy expensive clothes, yet still not really have your own style. My style is eclectic; by combining different styles and movements, I create a striking whole. I also have a song about this called bohemian eclectic. Just like my work, my wardrobe is eclectic.
For The Dean, for example, I wear a lot of baggy clothes, a bucket hat, Versace glasses and vintage pieces. But I can hugely appreciate a tailored pair of trousers and loafers. You can imagine that I have a fairly large wardrobe. My style also changes with fashion. Where I used to wear more slim-fit suits, it is now more oversized, high-waisted and jackets with wide lapels. That's why items do have to go once in a while; then I sell them or donate them to the Salvation Army."
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