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

Alexandros Anesiadis

One Question Interviews • July 15, 2026

Alexandros Anesiadis (Tear It Down, Crossover, New Wind – author) Was there a particular record or moment that inspired the genesis of Tear It Down, about crossover? It wasn't the day I first heard the opening track on side two of the Cro-Mags' The Age of Quarrel. It wasn't when … Read more

The Drolls

One Question Interviews • July 14, 2026

Denny Bartlett (The Drolls – guitar/vocals) SPB: You’ve been in multiple bands. What is the origin story of The Drolls? What was your radioactive spider? Barltett: I hadn’t played live in almost 20 years and other people I knew from back in the day were getting back into it and … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

The Mistakes

One Question Interviews • July 13, 2026

Shane (The Mistakes) SPB: What is the most tiresome stereotype about punk rock? I think for me the biggest stereotype about punk rock music is that it's simple music for with one core message of Anarchy, but it's so much more. Punk rock is where people can get an education … Read more

Hot Pennies

One Question Interviews • July 10, 2026

Trash (Hot Pennies) SPB: What venue is your favorite to play (and why)? Trash: This is a challenging question. We have a lot of great venues in the Phoenix area. My personal favorite has gotta be Chopper John's for its wily crowd and good times. There's always a great mix … 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

Alexandros Anesiadis

One Question Interviews • July 15, 2026

Alexandros Anesiadis (Tear It Down, Crossover, New Wind – author) Was there a particular record or moment that inspired the genesis of Tear It Down, about crossover? It wasn't the day I first heard the opening track on side two of the Cro-Mags' The Age of Quarrel. It wasn't when … Read more

The Drolls

One Question Interviews • July 14, 2026

Denny Bartlett (The Drolls – guitar/vocals) SPB: You’ve been in multiple bands. What is the origin story of The Drolls? What was your radioactive spider? Barltett: I hadn’t played live in almost 20 years and other people I knew from back in the day were getting back into it and … Read more

The Mistakes

One Question Interviews • July 13, 2026

Shane (The Mistakes) SPB: What is the most tiresome stereotype about punk rock? I think for me the biggest stereotype about punk rock music is that it's simple music for with one core message of Anarchy, but it's so much more. Punk rock is where people can get an education … Read more