Lydia Luce
Classically trained yet deeply rooted in folk tradition, Lydia Luce brings both emotional weight and graceful restraint to her songs. In early December 2024, the Fort Lauderdale-born singer and guitarist ...
Immen
I first knew Dutch-Frisian indie folk songwriter Immen simply as one of the employees of my favourite record store Plato in Utrecht. Little did I know she writes some of ...
Parker Millsap
Hailing from Purcell, Oklahoma, Parker Millsap is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music seamlessly blends blues, country, rock, Americana, and folk. His soulful sound and character-driven narratives captivated the ...
Jarrod Dickenson
When Jarrod Dickenson and his wife Claire walked into the Mailmen studio in Utrecht a couple of months ago, their life was a lot different compared to the moment I’m ...
Case Mayfield
After more than a decade, Dutch songwriter Case Mayfield is back. He made a jump start back in 2010, released a couple of beautiful records that were as volatile as ...
Chima
Kohei Kondo describes Chima’s music as something out of a fairy tale; soft-spoken yet layered with emotion. Watching them perform together, it’s clear how their crafts complement each other: Chima’s ...
Andrea von Kampen
Andrea von Kampen’s music felt like a secret discovery, a while ago, when I first heard her work. Like she’s singing and playing just for you. And although plenty modern ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Early James
Early James is a folk and blues musician based in Birmingham, Alabama. Back in November, he was the last session we filmed at the TakeRoot festival in Groningen. And it ...
AWKWARD i
If you’re a regular visitor of The Influences, you’ll have seen our earlier sessions with Dutch indie folk songwriter AWKWARD i. Well, good news, seven years after Kyd, Djurre de ...
Jeffrey Martin
‘I can’t think of anything that has an ounce of meaning or dimension that doesn’t come from failure’, Portland songwriter Jeffrey Martin states on his website. He must have been an ...
2024. The most productive year in The Influences’ existence
I still remember sitting in that little tent at the Sziget festival in Budapest, in the summer of 2007. Weeks before, I had bought my first video camera and reading ...
Abe Partridge
Abe Partridge isn’t your typical folk singer. Hailing from the Gulf Coast, he brings a raw, unapologetic voice to the Americana scene, mixing personal storytelling with biting social commentary. After ...
Katherine Priddy
Since starting The Influences back in 2008, discovering new music has always been the driving force behind it. That fact remains sixteen years later. So, when I first heard Katherine ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Tyler Ramsey
Five years after his first session for The Influences, Tyler Ramsey joined us at the same TakeRoot festival and recorded a new one, with covers of Ron Sexsmith’s Tell Me ...
Erika Angell
Erika Angell’s musical universe is as expansive as it is unconventional, blending elements of classical, folk, rock, and pop with jazz, electronic, free improvisation, and avant-garde influences. She is best ...
Christopher Paul Stelling
Before he left Europe, I caught up with my old friend Christopher Paul Stelling. We trekked out to an old repurposed airfield in Soesterberg at sundown and filmed a video ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
John Paul White
For the last seven years, The Influences has collaborated with the TakeRoot festival in Groningen, and filmed sessions with musicians from the festival’s line up. November 2nd this year, we ...
Willy Mason
He walked into Bridie’s Bar & General Store carrying nothing. Not an instrument or a bag, not even a cup of coffee. Upstairs, he picked up two of my friend ...
Annika Kilkenny
Annika Kilkenny’s music is a harmonious blend of inspiration and originality. In our conversation, the twenty-year-old Irish songwriter opens up about the influences that have shaped her music and the ...
Jeffrey Foucault
In September Jeffrey Foucault released The Universal Fire, his first album of entirely new material since 2018. He calls the album ‘both a working wake – Foucault lost his best ...
Lindsay Clark
Lindsay Clark weaves together the threads of traditional English folk, country, and a personal take on experimental folk that feels both timeless and intimate. Her music unfolds like a quiet ...
Marlene Bakker
Thanks to her captivating voice and her widely praised debut album RAIF, Marlene Bakker has secured a unique spot in the Dutch music world. Even listeners who don’t speak the ...
Andrew Combs
There are some artists who just keep getting better, the more they seem to let go of expectations or boundaries set by other people. Andrew Combs is one of them. ...
Daryll-Ann
To have one of your favourite and probably most influential Dutch band reunite after ten years, with their first new album after twenty, is pretty special. And to then be ...
Giant Julie
The afternoon at the Volkshotel wasn’t my first time meeting Yulya Divakova, aka Russian musician and producer Giant Julie. About a year prior, she was the engineer who recorded the ...
John Blek
Cheer up! That’s the simple message from John Blek, and the title of his brilliant new album coming in September. Leading up to the album, Blek released the songs Country ...
Myles O’Reilly
As an extraordinary filmmaker, Myles O’Reilly documented a special era in emerging Irish music, mostly from 2009 – 2020. He calls it ‘an epic journey filled with enormous creativity and ...
Sheesham, Lotus & ‘Son
Sheesham, Lotus & ‘Son, a trio from Canada, bring a distinct and lively approach to traditional folk music. Specializing in old-time Appalachian sounds, the group – Sheesham Crow (fiddle, harmonica, ...
Kristina Murray
There’s something about Kristina Murray’s voice that speaks to me, whenever it comes through my speakers. The country singer from Nashville – but born in Georgia – showcased her voice ...
Ro Yourell
The first session recorded during this year’s visit to Kilkenny in Ireland, was with Dubliner Ro Yourell. Joined by Finnish-born but Ireland-based Fanni Fagerudd on backing vocals, the singer covered ...
Susan O’Neill
There’s a couple of albums being released in the autumn of 2024 that I’m really looking forward to playing, and high up on that list is Now In A Minute, ...
Rachel Baiman
Rachel Baiman stands out in the contemporary folk and Americana scenes with her voice, songwriting and musicianship. Raised in Chicago, Baiman made her way to Nashville at 18 with the ...
Jeffrey Silverstein, Bobby Lee & Joe Harvey-Whyte
What could three musicians from Portland (USA), Sheffield and London (England) have in common you ask? Well, more than you’d think. In the case of Jeffrey Silverstein, Bobby Lee and ...
Small Town Jones
During the Kilkenny Roots Festival, Small Town Jones delivered an unforgettable session for The Influences at Bridie’s. The intimate performance featured captivating covers of Ray LaMontagne’s Jolene and James Warren’s ...
Emma Swift
Blonde On The Tracks, Emma Swift’s album containing a selection of immaculate Bob Dylan covers, was one of the most-listened albums of 2020 here at The Influences’ headquarters. The Australian ...
David Murphy
David Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist based in Cork, Ireland known best for his work with the pedal steel guitar. Murphy’s unique application of the pedal steel guitar has resulted in ...
Louien
Meet Louien, a Norwegian artist whose musical roots run deep. Growing up in a family steeped in creativity, Live Miranda Solberg developed a love for harmonies and songwriting and honed ...
Porcelain id
Porcelain id‘s maverick style and commanding voice have become a champion for authenticity. The Rwandan-born Hubert Tuyishime grew up in a small Belgian village. Here began a journey into the ...
Caitlin Rose
After a 9 year gap, Nashville-based songwriter Caitlin Rose returned in 2022 with her third full-length record Cazimi – and it is a work of art. Rose’s album features some ...
Gemma Hayes
Gemma Hayes recorded ‘At Constant Speed’ and two covers of Sparklehorse’s ‘Sunshine’ and Jackson Browne’s ‘These Days’.
Villagers
Last Friday, May 10th, Dublin singer-songwriter Conor O’Brien returned with the seventh Villagers album, named That Golden Time. A couple of weeks prior, I met up with O’Brien in an ...
Aoife Ní Bhriain
The Influences went to Kilkenny, Ireland and invited local musicians to join them in the tower of the monumental Kilkenny Castle to record sessions. And they did. One of the ...
Omar Velasco
You’ll never be disappointed in Alela Diane‘s choice of support acts to bring over to Europe. Join us in exploring Omar Velasco’s tribute to Leonard Cohen’s You Know Who I ...
Trapper Schoepp
‘I wish I was a trapper’, Johnny Cash sang on Neil Young’s Pocahontas. Well, on March 10th, I met ‘Wisconsin boy’ Trapper Schoepp in the apartment he rented in Maarssen, ...
Tami Neilson
Being cradled in Roy Orbison’s arms as a baby, and singing a duet with Willie Nelson are only some of the many impressive aspects of Tami Neilson’s life. Hours before ...
Broken Chanter
In just a couple of weeks, Chorus Of Doubt – the new record by Broken Chanter – will be released on Glaswegian label Chemikal Underground. It doesn’t take much to ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Dylan LeBlanc
Ever since 2016’s Cautionary Tale, Dylan LeBlanc has been on The Influences’ wish list. The American songwriter released multiple beautiful records since, like 2019’s Renegade, 2021’s covers EP Pastimes and ...
Jerry Leger
Jerry Leger has become a regular here at The Influences. The prolific Canadian songwriter just keeps releasing brilliant record after brilliant record. His latest Donlands is no exception. Leger and ...
JP Harris & John R. Miller
Two songwriters and a fiddle player walk into a room… and record a brilliant session for The Influences. That’s – simply put – what happened eleven months ago at TivoliVredenburg ...
Rachel Grace
When someone like Gavin Glass suggests another local artist to film with, you simply say: ‘Yes, please’. In The Influences’ fifteen years of existence, I’ve filmed many musicians who I ...
Spencer Cullum
When you get multiple reactions from other musicians after posting a photo of a session, you know you just filmed a great musician. Not that I didn’t know that before, ...
Robert Ellis
The biggest compliment any musician can give me, is to come back for another session. Truly. So, when Robert Ellis reached out to record a third session, it was a ...
Malin Pettersen
When I heard her EP Alonesome for the first time, I knew I had to film with Norwegian singer Malin Pettersen at some point. I’d heard about her before, from ...
Hollow Hand
Had I taken the time to list my favourite records of 2023, Hollow Hand’s Your Own Adventure would be pretty high on it. There’s something about the Brighton based folk-rock ...
Stephanie Struijk
Finally, after 15 years, a Taylor Swift cover on The Influences! Years after our first session plans fell through, Dutch singer Stephanie Struijk, her band and I met at the ...
The Influences in 2023
2023 has been a year to remember for The Influences and me personally. I’ve filmed and published more sessions than any previous year I can remember, we celebrated the 15th ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
The Pink Stones
I’ve lost track of the number of New West Records-artists that have recorded sessions for The Influences by now. All that matters right now is the newest addition: The Pink ...
Mick Flannery
Last Summer I visited Ireland to film sessions and Mick Flannery was pretty high up on my wish list. It didn’t work out logistically then, but luckily the singer – ...
Robyn Hitchcock
Sometimes the greatest sessions happen spontaneously. Like this one, when Robyn Hitchcock played in Utrecht with Emma Swift and agreed to also record a session the next morning. At the ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Kassi Valazza
Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing is one of those records you just can’t help but play over and over again. The American folk singer from Portland Oregon – who grew up ...
David Keenan
David Keenan, the songwriter from Dundalk in Ireland, is one of the most inspired and inspiring songwriters I’ve gotten to know in the past few years. Ever since that acoustic ...
Niamh Regan
Niamh Regan is a critically acclaimed songwriter from county Galway, Ireland. Her songs are windows into her world, snapshots of the intimacy of everyday life. Regan recently finished recording her second ...
Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears
In the 15 years of The Influences that have passed, a lot of my new favourite musicians are people I’ve gotten to know through other artists. They’ve either supported them ...
Brian Dunne
About a year and a half after his first session, Brian Dunne recorded another session. This time in the extraordinary surroundings of Soesterduinen, a sand drift East of Utrecht. The ...
Bertolf
I remember a phone call by Bertolf Lentink once, telling me he basically was planning to end his solo career. For a while after he toured with other bands, but ...
Conchúr White
Conchúr White, a singer-songwriter from County Armagh in Northern Ireland, was on his way to a show in Cork on Ireland’s south coast this August, when he and his fiance ...
The Brother Brothers
The first time I met Adam and David Moss, a.k.a. The Brother Brothers, they were seated next to me and Judy Blank at dinner during Down By The River festival ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Alexa Rose
Alexa Rose has a talent for writing songs that subtly force their way into your heart. Every since I first learned of her name – after noticing she was opening ...
Fantastic Cat
When four songwriters join up and start a super group, and you’ve filmed with three of them before, chances are you’re going to like their group efforts. Well, I don’t ...
Niamh Bury
The Influences went to Kilkenny, Ireland and invited local musicians to join them in the tower of the monumental Kilkenny Castle to record sessions. And they did. One of them ...
Ole Kirkeng
One of the lessons these last few years have taught me, is don’t take any opportunity to connect for granted. You never know when you’ll see that person again. So, ...
Aestrid
Aestrid feels like more than just a band. The Utrecht-based rock band is more of a pact between three good friends who help each other through whatever life throws at ...
Ireland, Sessions, TakeRoot festival
Adrian Crowley
Three years after filming his first The Influences session, Irish songwriter Adrian Crowley returned for another, during TakeRoot festival in late 2021. Yesterday we reached the 20.000 subscribers mark on ...
Ireland, Sessions, TakeRoot festival
John Blek
One of the great things about the TakeRoot festival in Groningen is that you’ll get to see some of your favourite acts perform and always will discover one or more ...
The Influences is coming to Ireland
Great news: I’m heading to Kilkenny, Ireland in August, to film sessions during Kilkenny Arts Festival. Over the course of two weekends, I will be filming a couple of acts ...
Krea
Karen Cowley compares releasing her first solo EP with ‘cycling a bike without stabilizers for the first time’. The Callows is her first solo work as Krea after her band ...
Lentink & Son
Allow me to introduce: Lentink & Son! You might know Dutch extraordinary songwriter and guitarist Bertolf from one of his six solo albums, his previous two sessions, live videos on ...
Alela Diane
This week marks the 15th anniversary of this website. It’s pretty special and a bit mind-blowing to think about everything that has happened in that decade and a half. I ...
15 year anniversary concert
The Influences exists 15 years! Since 2008, Matthijs van der Ven has been filming his favorite musicians covering their favourites. In 2016, Café de Stad in Utrecht became the permanent ...
The Deslondes
Bringing a band back together after a break isn’t always a good idea. Plenty of reunions end up a disappointment for both fans and the members. Well, not for The ...
Prize Collect
You haven’t heard anything by Prize Collect, yet. Until today. The Influences has the honour of sharing the first music by the Dutch band, formed by songwriter Marzio Scholten. Scholten ...
Sam Vano
Last week, Sam Vano released his debut EP Solitaire. Sam van Ommen, the Dutch songwriter, was previously known for Sam & Julia and these days plays guitar in Tim Knol’s ...
The Tallest Man On Earth
The Tallest Man On Earth and The Influences started almost simultaneously. His debut album Shallow Grave was released in 2008, the year this website started. Ever since, I’ve been following ...
Mariee Siou
Mariee Sioux Sobonya was born on the Humboldt coast in Arcata, California. When she was two her family moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills in the Yuba River watershed in ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Don DiLego
About a week ago, I filmed a session with New York City super group Fantastic Cat and attended their show at the Paradiso. That band consists of four songwriters, two ...
Dominic Billett
Erin Rae, Andrew Combs, Courtney Marie Andrews, Caitlin Rose, Kelsey Waldon… these are just a few names of artists who have had the pleasure of having Dominic Billett on drums ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Diana Jones
The first time I heard Diana Jones sing live was over a decade ago in Glasgow. My friends of Doghouse Roses opened for her at – I think – the ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Tyler Ramsey
Not unlike myself, Tyler Ramsey some years ago moved closer to nature with his wife and daughter. For me personally, I can tell you it was the best decision I’ve ...
Hala
People often ask me how I get musicians to record a session. The answer is simple: either I invite them nicely, or they contact me. Ian Ruhala of the Detroit, ...
Nathan Ball
Imagine driving across Europe for weeks, by yourself, playing shows and then driving hundreds of miles for the next one. That’s exactly what English songwriter Nathan Ball did last summer, ...
Siv Jakobsen
In a serene and picturesque setting in the woods close to my house in Huis ter Heide in The Netherlands, Norwegian songwriter Siv Jakobsen delivered a breathtaking second live session ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
S.G. Goodman
“I never want to leave this world, without saying I love you.” As soon as those first lines of Space And Time, the opening song of S.G. Goodman’s debut album ...
Sophie Janna
Sophie Janna played ‘Thistle’, and gorgeous covers of Nick Drake and Anaïs Mitchell in an 19th century church. She also wrote an essay about her love and admiration for Mitchell.
Erin Rae
Since her first session for this website, Erin Rae has released her album Lighten Up – a gorgeous collection of songs, with a slightly new sound to them, compared to ...
The Influences in 2022
Last night I slept 73 minutes in total. Is that enough? Probably not. But here we are, I’m finishing up this year’s overview and you’re reading it. It’s been a ...
Adia Victoria
A lot of people sing the blues. Not many do it quite like Adia Victoria does. Her third record ‘A Southern Gothic’ blew me – and many others – off ...
Andrew Combs
If you haven’t listened to Andrew Combs’ latest record Sundays, you’re doing something wrong. It’s as simple as that. It’s his finest work yet and I was so glad that ...
Sessions, TakeRoot festival, USA
Native Harrow
If you’re described as ‘Laurel Canyon-style folk rock with shades of Joni Mitchell’, you’ve got my attention for sure. And to be honest, the soulful folk duo Native Harrow had ...
The Influences presents Tim Baker
Tim Baker is a prolific dreamer. In 2022, the Canadian returned with his album ‘The Festival’, a sonic embrace, a call to love and a cry for connection. Come see ...
Tré Burt
It was on a drive back from one of the islands in the North of The Netherlands that I heard Tré Burt first. Properly, at least. The perfect combination of ...