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

UK Subs

Interviews • August 23, 2026

50 Years of Chaos: Charlie Harper and the U.K. Subs More than five decades after the first sparks of punk lit up the U.K., Charlie Harper remains one of its most enduring figures. As the driving force behind U.K. Subs, Harper has seen entire scenes rise, fracture, and reinvent themselves … Read more

Commerce or Amusement? #2

Green Noise Records

Regular Columns / Commerce or Amusement? • August 22, 2026

Are You In The Music Business? Or Just Involved In Music? Interview Series #2. Featuring Martin Winch of Green Noise Records CC: Howdy Winch! Could you start off by telling the readers a little bit about yourself and Green Noise Records? How did you come to acquire it and what … Read more

Paths 2 Glory

One Question Interviews • August 19, 2026

Chris (Paths 2 Glory) SPB: What is your favorite Bad Religion song? Chris: It's hard to just have one favorite Bad Religion song. I have a few but the one that will always be my favorite or go to answer is "You." I first heard that song while playing Tony … Read more

The Sleights

One Question Interviews • August 18, 2026

Luke Blanton (The Sleights) SPB: Do you have any vinyl that you own strictly for collector’s purposes and never listen to? Blanton: I have never really bought a record specifically to collect it but I have bought a few records that ended up falling under that category. I was in … Read more

Dez Dare

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • August 17, 2026

Dez Dare talk about his studio gear including the Knas Moisturizer and Death By Audio's Echo Master and Space Ensemble.  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

Paths 2 Glory

One Question Interviews • August 19, 2026

Chris (Paths 2 Glory) SPB: What is your favorite Bad Religion song? Chris: It's hard to just have one favorite Bad Religion song. I have a few but the one that will always be my favorite or go to answer is "You." I first heard that song while playing Tony … Read more

The Sleights

One Question Interviews • August 18, 2026

Luke Blanton (The Sleights) SPB: Do you have any vinyl that you own strictly for collector’s purposes and never listen to? Blanton: I have never really bought a record specifically to collect it but I have bought a few records that ended up falling under that category. I was in … Read more

Dez Dare

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • August 17, 2026

Dez Dare talk about his studio gear including the Knas Moisturizer and Death By Audio's Echo Master and Space Ensemble.  Read more