Dim Crimson- Female fronted metal band from Enschede, the Netherlands. Formed in 2014.
Interview conducted on January 16, 2021
By Dan Locke
Dim Crimson is a female fronted metal band from Enschede, the Netherlands, excisting of five members. The music is an arrangement of melodic and technical guitars and solid drums. The vocals are pure and delicate, classical grounded and have a wide range in both chest and head voice. The band originated in 2014. Founded by Jeroen Terpstra, Bart Terpstra and Tamara Bouwhuis, who shared their passion for the metal and rock scene. They found a bassist and a drummer and ever since the five dedicated members put their heart and soul in their own written music and work hard perfecting and renewing it.
At the end of 2016, they recorded their first demo ‘Lost’ in their own studio together with their former bass player Patrick van den Brink. He recorded all of the parts and helped in the mixing process shortly before his departure.
Debut EP released in December 2020
You band is from the Netherlands. What is your upbringing?
Tamara Bouwhuis: I grew up in a very supportive and loving family!
How did you discover music?
I have always been a fan of music. My mother and her husband are big fans of bands such as U2, Radiohead, Pink Floyd etc. I have grown up listening to these bands. But when I was ten, I discovered Within Temptation and I really started to get into metal.
How did you start to write music?
I began by writing my own lyrics. I think I was ten and discovering Within Temptation inspired me to become a musician myself. I wasn’t getting English at school back then so my vocabulary and grammar were horrible. But I did learn about the language by doing so.
The song Lost that we have on our YouTube channel is partially lyrics and a vocal melody that I wrote when I was fifteen. I remember working on the instrumental part with Dim Crimson and that feeling when your idea really comes to life is amazing. Especially because it was the first time and this idea was in my mind for a few years already. It’s very special!
Describe your music.
Our music fits best in the symphonic metal genre but also has some rock influences. One of my biggest inspirations is Within Temptation and a lot of people can hear the similarity in the vocals. The boys are inspired by bands such as Guns ‘n Roses, Tool, Xjapan and Muse.
How did you form the band?
We started back in 2014, that’s also when we first met each other. Jeroen Terpstra, Bart Terpstra (both are guitarists) and me. Half a year later Huub Slots joined us on drums. We had a lot of bassists over the years, Serafym Kravchenko is our third but he has been with us the longest.
What was your first performance at like?
A 30-minute show with just a few people watching. But they seemed to be enjoying the show! There was one guy that seemed to be blown away by us. He filmed me from up close which was awkward but also warming because I’m not making music to show people what I can do, but to enjoy music together. It was a great first experience.
What makes a good songwriter?
A songwriter that writes songs that really touch you.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Nope
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Chasing Dreams. We only recorded it on our phone. The song was quite confusing but it did have a really nice guitar solo 😉
Why did it take you so long to create a BandCamp account?
The only song we released before our EP, which we released on the 26th of December 2020, is Lost and we recorded it ourselves and it’s not that great of a recording. I was planning on making one when the EP was released. Which I now did! Also, because people started to ask about it.
Tell me about the recording of your first demo “Lost”?
We recorded it with our former bass player. He had a; little home studio. It was fun to do and nice to have something out there! But we also figured we needed a professional producer to really get the sound that we were looking for.
How was it to record your EP at MilkMark Studio?
Great experience! Jeffrey Revet is a really nice guy to work with. Very patient and really made us feel comfortable in the studio. He also helped us by making the songs more catchy. It also was an obvious choice for us because he used to play the keys in Stream of Passion and he was willing to write some keys and orchestrations for our music. I would definitely recommend working with him!
Tell me about your upcoming EP “The Prey”?
It is actually already released on the 26th of December! The Prey contains four songs that perfectly describe Dim Crimson. Three songs that are on the heavier side and one ballad.
We called it The Prey because every songs’ theme has a victim in it. These themes are partially based on imagination and partially my own experience or experiences/inspiring stories from others.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Every song has its own special meaning to me.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
If you’re a singer don’t smoke and don’t drink. Drinking makes your voice lower. That’s a bad thing if you sing symphonic metal. And get enough sleep.
And for the rest of the band: don’t perform drunk or stoned cause you might fuck things up.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I like it. Everything is within reach.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital has many benefits. But I do have some CDs. I love to look at album designs.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Just the Two of Us by Grover Washington, Jr. has been stuck in my head for days, maybe even weeks. When I was seventeen, I had an internship at a flower shop and this song was on the radio every day.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
No idea!
To make things a bit more complex, there is talk that people could either mix the manufactures of the vaccines or in the case of Moderna studies have shown you could take a half doses for the first shot and still be alright for the second vaccine. Do you feel that this is right?
Let’s stick to the rules, shall we? No risk takings!
You were going to have a release show before the virus. Did you ever have it?
No, it got canceled, unfortunately. Funny thing is that the idea of releasing an EP started due to the exam show that I had to do for my study. I wanted to combine my exam and the EP release because it would’ve been on a big stage. It would’ve been awesome. We will probably do a release show after corona but not on such a big stage.
Tamara- You did vocals on Whiteabby. How was that?
It has been an honor! And I’ve learned a lot from doing this because I had to record all my parts at home. And Steve Moore is also a great guy. He is very passionate about music and that makes him really nice to work with. There were definitely some challenges in the vocalizes that I had to sing but I gave it all that I had in me and discovered that I am capable of doing more than I thought.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I like painting with watercolor. And playing Elder Scrolls Online.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Netflix!
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Difficult question, no idea! But very bad news for artists.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Diehard fans won’t let their favorite artists down.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Cool but I think I prefer the real thing. It is very handy for older people though. Or handicapped people. For them it would be great! Then they would be able to experience concerts without restriction.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Work as a graphic designer.
What is your happy place?
On the couch with a blanket.
Spotify just deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Yes! I had no idea that this happened.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Stay healthy and don’t give up hope!
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