For Simon, the stretch was out of the duo: ‘The fun has been gone for a while’ | show

There is no quarrel, as many people thought in recent days, between the two – but the fun for Simon just wore off after so many years. He already felt the first signs during the world trip he made with his wife in 2020. ,,I felt the freedom, but at the same time I also felt a block in my stomach, of yes, when we are back, that tune will start again. That was the first time that I didn’t feel like Nick and Simon.” Even during the corona years, Simon found it “nice” that he didn’t have to do anything for a while. “I said I missed the performance, but inside it actually felt good.”

When Simon decided he wanted to quit, he felt an ‘intense relief’. ,,Then I thought: I have to talk to Nick. I then pointed out that I no longer feel it,” says Simon. After long hesitation, Simon made the decision in August 2021 that he wanted to stop. This resulted in a good conversation between the two. “It was such a nice conversation. We talked for hours.”

Nick responded to Simon’s ideas from ‘solve mode’. “It’s normal for someone to be uncomfortable in the game.” When Nick said Simon wanted to quit, he thought it’s hard to say this. In recent days he has not had much trouble with the breakup, but mainly with the emotions of other people, which he gets over him. “Obviously it means a lot to me. There are memories attached to every song,” Nick continues. “But we quickly switched to take steps to bring this out.”

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If it were up to Nick, the musical adventure wasn’t over yet. ,,Certainly not. Even now, after 16 years, we were still able to set up a very nice new concept. I also think we could still have done that in a few years.” He hoped the duo could “go back two teeth.” “Not that we would continue to do this until we were 65.”

The two deny arguing with each other or being angry at each other. “No, that’s not the case,” Nick says immediately. “It’s really not like that,” Simon continues. “Despite the fact that this is being said in many places.” That Nick would no longer want to be associated with Simon because of gossip in his private life, that is ‘simply’ not true, both men explain. “It’s not like that. We have always been very open in interviews that we sometimes deliberately distance ourselves from each other. Our collaboration is very intense, so it has to be.”

The men are also convinced that the break will survive their friendship. ,,We agree that we would have liked it differently, but a friendship can still remain, Simon says. “We have also been colleagues, rather than friends. But even now it still manages to fine-tune things. And I am proud of that.”

How are things going with the solo plans of the two? Simon no longer has the ambition to ‘get gold records solo’. ,,I want to go into other areas, and discover who I am without Nick and Simon. Those hits are no longer necessary. I will always remain a musician, but I think it’s a very nice thought that I don’t have to anymore.”

Nick has already stated for the past two years ‘to get ready for a solo adventure’. ,,It’s very exciting. But I also try to let go of that success component a bit. We have already achieved so many successes together.” He is currently ‘looking for his sound’. “If we had stayed active together, that solo adventure would have been seen as an outing. Now it will be my first steps as a solo artist. There are many more eyes on it. But I try to keep my open-mindedness.”

Also listen to the AD Media Podcast with this week’s long summer break of RTL and SBS, Festival der Liefde with Anita Witzier and Edson da Graça and Nick & Simon.

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