Interview: Getting to Know Neverskin
Neverskin is the genre-defying musical project of Clint Bakker & Remy Dovianus. Evolving from their previous band, Ambiossis. In this interview we get to know them a little better.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
Hi there, thank you for wanting to talk to us.
My name is Clint and I sing, co-produce and do things like create the lyrics for the lyrics videos and marketing activities, as we are a do it all yourself music project. We didn’t really get Neverskin started but moreover reunited from a period of making music 20 ish years ago in a band called Ambiossis.
I was jogging outside one day, and by accident heard an Ambiossis song on Spotify, thought,’I wonder how Remy is doing’. Reached out and that got the reunion ball rolling.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
A Numetal base from where we venture wherever we choose or feel we want to go. It can be blues, grunge, drum n bass, reggae, opera, whatever we feel like. We make sure the mix and mastering is polished and very now. We take inspiration from bands like, Korn, Taproot, Sevendust, Deftones, but also newer bands like Memphis may fire, Northlane, Architects.
3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
We released a total of 3 singles in the last 6 to 8 months. We have a fourth one 95% ready as well. We are currently just enjoying writing and recording and releasing in a tempo that fits our lives. No real other plans as of yet. But that also depends on how our music is received and picked up.
4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?
Well I have a trip planned to Japan this summer, but I doubt that is something you were aiming at.
We just released our new single ‘Time’ about 1.5 weeks ago and it has been received pretty well. I am excited to see what the coming period brings from an interest and growth perspective. Just hoping we get to interact with people and get some feedback on what we are so passionate about. The thing that excites us most is people taking the time to listen to our tracks.
5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.
The beauty of this music project is taking the time until we are truly happy with the outcome. This goes for all the aspects, from writing the song, if needed, scrapping a song, checking, rerecording, mixing, changing small things i nthe mix or composition, mastering, then seeing how we can set up things on socials and release etc. Because we do everything ourselves we need to take time to provide something we can be truly happy with and proud of. The pain and suffering but also the beauty and freedom is doing everything ourselves. Full control versus tedious tasks.
6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?
Original and good question. As a vocalist, the most beautiful thing for me is being able to express myself in a way, daily life does offer. I write my lyrics methporically, so it gives me the opportunity to be as creative as I can. Then putting those lyrics into a feeling, THE feeling I want to express through singing, ‘rapping’ whispering, screaming, it fills me with a lot of joy and also some release. Then working together with Remy on the music he created and forming into a shared vision, it gives a feeling of fulfillment.
7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?
Well, I myself have been out of it for quite some years. And although the act of speaking and in some aspects singing is like walking, I have to admit I was rusty right of the bat and that created some anxiety and doubt in my mind. But after a few days it came back and I was happy to discover I still kinda ‘had it’.
Another challenging aspect of releasing the music has been the whole pay to play change in the industry. Back in the day if you made music people liked, magazines came, radios wanted interviews and playing gigs came as the music spread. Nowadays everything is set up to be paid for. Ads, promoters, Influencers, Playlists. I feel kinda sorry for the younger talented artists in these times and in that aspect I miss those days that music was appreciated and shared without having to spend a dime.
8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?
Depends on how much pressure you put on it yourself. Like I said, the current times makes promoting and spreading your music much more challenging and the online situation can be as real as it can be fake.
It’s also the generation. Short interest span, everything needs to be churneed down to 15 seconds rather than 4 minutes. Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok seem less for artist and bands and more, well, social platforms. When it works it is a real fun ride and a great way to connect with likeminded musicians and fans, but boy o boy, when you are doing all yourself, it costs a lot of time and effort.
9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?
By keeping expectations realistic and at a minimum. At the end of the day, the people that viewed your Youtube clip, listened to your Spotify or even posted a comment, took time out of their life to do so. Reading a comment that is positive makes me smile, because I can read and feel the fruits of our labor. But even negative feedback I respect, it is still someone that took time to reach out. At the end, the music itself and the final form, makes me very happy, everything that comes after is a bonus.
10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?
Take the time and listen to our tracks. Sit down, put on some headsets or airpods and just listen. In the end that is all we want. If after that you feel you want to share your thoughts or share it through a like, even better. We are now still at a stage that we can still respond to most of the chats, comments and likes, so hit us up, we truly, TRULY appreciate any support you give us, in any form.
11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?
I go out to eat with my family a lot. We are going to Japan this summer, I hit the gym 3 times a week and I play games on my PS5 occasionally. I love cooking and bbqing as well and spending time with my family and friends. Sometimes I go to the poolcentre to act as if I can play pool.
12. Where can people find you?
In my lyrics, in our music.
But like said before, if you leave a comment under our Youtube vids, we usually respond or at least show love through emojis. We manage our socials ourselves so we try to react and respond through there. And who knows we have already met online and you were the one kicking my ass in rocket league…
Thanks again for sharing this very interesting and original interview with us. We enjoyed the experience and look forward to meeting you! Rock on!
