“I just want to play nice.” Selina Koen from Assen has been involved with music all her life, but today is the first time she comes out with her music. Her own music that is. “Music is just part of my life, otherwise I can’t breathe.”
It’s a big step for her. Also an exciting one.
Friends and family
The love for singing has always been there. The school band stimulated music making, as well as guitar lessons. Eventually Selina sang in several bands. “I just started messing around a bit,” she laughs. “That’s kind of how life works.” After high school, her studies meant that she could spend less time with music. She couldn’t keep it up.
“At some point I missed it anyway.” She stopped her studies and started making music again. Besides playing in several bands, she also taught. “I thought: I’ll just go for it.” And she did. She also carefully started writing her own songs and promised herself that she would release the songs. “Never, of course,” she grins. Until three years ago she played the songs for her family and friends together with violinist Iris Kemper. No one has heard her music apart from her family and friends. Until today.
Storytelling music
After performing in front of acquaintances, she was not immediately convinced to bring her own work to a larger audience. “I felt very tough and vulnerable. But I never did it again after that,” she says. Her songs are little stories about her life, which also help her to clear things up. “Everyone has such a period in their life – and I’ve had it more than once – when you’re just in a bit of a valley. Sometimes a bit deeper. Then my outlet is making music. I started writing songs. I also noticed that it just did me good,” says Selina. “I just stay true to myself, they are songs that are close to me.”
You’re missed
One of the songs she played during the basement session is an example of a heartfelt song from her own life. You’re missed, is called. Selina lost her younger brother when she was 6 years old. The song tells the story of the violent event and may help to give it a place. The love for folk and folklore can be heard clearly in the second song she played: Live in Peace and Harmony† “I was inspired by an artist,” Selina says. “I met her too.” She would like to play the song for her again.
Selina is absolutely unpretentious about the future. She ‘sees’. “Furthermore, I just hope to play a lot with nice people, a bit in nature.” She thinks for a moment. “Celebrate life.”