Feature / One Question Interviews
Netherlands

Words: Loren • April 1, 2018

Netherlands
Netherlands

Timo Ellis of Netherlands

SPB: What is the weirdest description you’ve heard others say of your music? Do you think it’s accurate or can you see where the idea came from?


Timo: “You’re like the Sybil of music, with some sort of dissociative identity... I feel like you’re dancing on some sort of “post-sensibility” ledge. Often with regard to visual art, there’s this notion of 'removing the hand of the artist' and those who attempt it, often do it in an overly rational way -- scrubbed and antiseptic. I feel like your musical equivalent is not about removing the hand, it's about having more hands than a Hindu god.” 

IMO, this is kind of the best compliment I’ve ever received in regards to my work, overall. (And perhaps it’s a little grandiose of me to want this uncritically reprinted in full... but hell, why not??) For me it’s an intuitively brilliant and accurate reading of my entire M.O... I have hugely varied tastes, advanced level skills (not expert... yet) and want to comprehensively explore, and express them… so I do (and IMO, not in a fuckin’ dilettantish way, etc.) 

Recently more people are (maybe) more familiar with my work in the context of my sludge-rock band (NETHERLANDS)... but I also have a reasonably gigantic catalog (25+ solo albums, under several different pseudonyms) of other kinds of work, ranging from field recordings, country, noise, Italo-classical, electronics, minimalist and ambient adventures, disco, “pop”, punk/ hardcore/metal, and (so far)... three baritone ukulele records... among many others. And if I may be so bold, NONE of these records fucking suck, aiight??? My point being: check me out! It’ll be well worth the investigation, I assure you! Thank you. #nofalsemodesty #fuckbranding

Loren • April 1, 2018

Netherlands
Netherlands

Related features

Unseemlier

Interviews • April 24, 2026

It was about a year ago I discovered Unseemlier, shortly before the release of I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere. It's a wordy title and a somewhat unwieldy band name -- and I’ll use that “a lot going on in a little space” metaphor even further to talk about the … Read more

Guest List: War On Women

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2026

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 … Read more

Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2026

Maria (Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental – vocals/artist) SPB: The artwork of your album took over a year to make. What was this long experience like for you? Maria: If I were to put it shortly, the first thing that comes to mind is a long and winding road: exhausting but exciting … Read more

Brux

One Question Interviews • April 14, 2026

Brux SPB: You choose to skip English and sing in your mother tongue. What are the pros and cons of this choice for you? Brux: Our songs are mostly in our mother tongue (spanish / catalan), we just have a few in English. Pros: they sound more natural, the link … Read more

The Goons

One Question Interviews • April 13, 2026

Serge (The Goons - vocals) SPB: How did writing the new material compare to when you sat down and started work on your last record – 19 years ago? Serge: The old stuff was written more collaboratively than the recent songs. These days we don’t get together as often as … Read more

Related news

Eyesores from The Netherlands

Posted in Bands on July 13, 2025

Preview new Netherlands

Posted in Records on July 9, 2022

More from this section

Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2026

Maria (Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental – vocals/artist) SPB: The artwork of your album took over a year to make. What was this long experience like for you? Maria: If I were to put it shortly, the first thing that comes to mind is a long and winding road: exhausting but exciting … Read more

Brux

One Question Interviews • April 14, 2026

Brux SPB: You choose to skip English and sing in your mother tongue. What are the pros and cons of this choice for you? Brux: Our songs are mostly in our mother tongue (spanish / catalan), we just have a few in English. Pros: they sound more natural, the link … Read more

The Goons

One Question Interviews • April 13, 2026

Serge (The Goons - vocals) SPB: How did writing the new material compare to when you sat down and started work on your last record – 19 years ago? Serge: The old stuff was written more collaboratively than the recent songs. These days we don’t get together as often as … Read more