To evoke an atmosphere and to create a whole world with my voice, I love it!
“Nice voice, good singer”
When we had to come up with something nice to say about each other at school, that was often what I got to hear. I thought that was stupid. When you’re 14, you want to hear things like “is a cool one” or “looks cool”. Now, back then - with my short nylon socks, epaulettes and frizzed hair (the 80s, remember) - I didn’t look cool at all. But anyway, those are the things you want to hear as a teenager.
In the meantime, I have come to understand the value of those words.
Since 1995, my voice has been my livelihood, and my free pass to do all sorts of fun, exciting and interesting things.
When we had to come up with something nice to say about each other at school, that was often what I got to hear. I thought that was stupid. When you’re 14, you want to hear things like “is a cool one” or “looks cool”. Now, back then - with my short nylon socks, epaulettes and frizzed hair (the 80s, remember) - I didn’t look cool at all. But anyway, those are the things you want to hear as a teenager.
In the meantime, I have come to understand the value of those words.
Since 1995, my voice has been my livelihood, and my free pass to do all sorts of fun, exciting and interesting things.
My voice led me to Radio 1 and Canvas, to VTM, één, EXQI Culture and Nostalgie. I presented radio programs with it, announced TV programs with it, read documentaries, audio guides, GPS's and commercials with it.
Presenter
With genuine interest, empathy and humor I let every speaker come into his own and get the best out of every conversation. CEOs and top politicians, starters, artistic profiles and students, in every conversation the person is central. Letting that person tell his/her story in a calm, respectful and involved way is for me the goal of every conversation.
Besides the recording studio and the writing desk, the stage is a favorite habitat. Give me a microphone and let me present your event or concert. Or put me on the sofa with a few interesting conversation guests.
Radio
My very first shout on the radio was Haile Gebrselassie! In the morning news at 6am on Studio Brussels. The man had won an Olympic medal and so had I - I thought - because (after a very long time of practicing) his name had rolled out flawlessly. Later at Radio 1 I tackled Einstürzende Neubauten*, Doudou Ndiaye Rose** and Shoko Asahara*** and my love for radio came to full fruition. With my radio child Dito as a personal highlight, a daily cultural magazine on Radio 1.
I have presented various programmes for Radio 1: Pili Pili, Cucamonga, Rang 1, de Melkweg, Buiten Westen, het Concertgebouw, Eldorado and Brood & Spelen.
I have presented various programmes for Radio 1: Pili Pili, Cucamonga, Rang 1, de Melkweg, Buiten Westen, het Concertgebouw, Eldorado and Brood & Spelen.
And maybe I lulled you to sleep at night, or kept you company during a night drive, in the years that I presented Night Radio.
I also worked for Nostalgie for 3 years, where I was responsible for the weekend program.
Doing radio is just really fun work. Headphones pressed firmly on your ears, completely absorbed in an intimate conversation, or humming along with the music in your head and making up a nice or funny story about it. Like I said, I love the radio.
* a German avant-garde performance group founded in West Berlin in 1980.
** a Senegalese drummer and composer, music educator and bandleader.
*** the mastermind behind the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.
** a Senegalese drummer and composer, music educator and bandleader.
*** the mastermind behind the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.