So, what have you been doing?
Music! I did arrangements for an orchestra and underground dance music, and almost everything in between. Just to giveyou an example: At the moment I am writing pop songs with JJ McCool , all sorts of Jazz songs with my very talented “little†brother Junus Manuputtij , Hip-Hop/Rock together with Rivelino for his new album, TV & documentary music forFirm Innovative Media and theatrical music for Close Act and I love it all! I am not the kind of person who can do onestyle of music forever. For example, I just finished a Dutch album and I am really, really ready to lay down some heavyHip-Hop tracks with Rivelino .
Isn’t it harder to get jobs when people can’t put a label on you?
Yes, I think so. It is. It seems that it is a bit harder to work in the music business when people are not sure aboutwhat it is you do. But you know, it’s all me. I grew up in a family where my parents listened to Mahalia Jackson, ElvisPresley, Pat Boone, Otis Redding, Classical music and typical Dutch music. My uncle listened to Meatloaf, Diana Ross,Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire. At school Dutch reggae group “Doe Maarâ€(do what you have to do) was unbelievable hot!On the radio Michael Jackson ruled the airwaves and of course the movie Grease was the talk of my street. I guess it allinfluenced me. Later, when I was 13 years old, with friends I discovered Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, Dazz band,Maze, The Gap band, Lee Ritenour and all the other GRP stuff. And when I started to play in a band I got more into Jazz.I always had a very mixed record collection. But…what was I going to say? Ah, oh yeah. It’s all me. I really love alkinds of music. Don’t get me started; I can really go on for hours about the different kind of music styles that hascrossed my path. Also professionally!
Do you have any heroes?
Musically you mean? I have a few. Quincy Jones, he has really made it. I don’t know how he pulled it off. Besides hisunbelievable talent, he too is into a lot of different music styles. First as a trumpet player, from jazz to pop, filmmusic, arranger, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra…look it up on the internet, all those names he worked with representingdifferent music styles. But I also have to say the BeeGees and their talent to write great songs. Producers Jimmy Jam & TerryLewis. I think the people I just mentioned and Michael Jackson, The Temptations and Elvis Presley are the people who gotme to do more then just listen to music.
How do you want to be remembered?
(Laughing) That sounds so final! I am blessed with a lot of talents and of course I hope that people recognize that. Butmost of all, I hope that people remember me not of what I did for a living, but of who I am. I hope I can be of apositive influence.
Did you ever considered going into politics then?
(Again a laugh) It’s funny you ask. But yes I did, and still do sometimes. But for now I stick with music.
What do you want to do in the future?
I want to continue what I am doing now: working on all sorts of music. I would love to do high-profile projects with JJ McCool . Music just comes so naturally when we areworking together. I also like to do more projects together with Jeroen ‘Big Dawg’ Nap. We have been friends since kindergarten and during work we always find timefor joking around. We shed buckets of tears of laughter in the studio…
Any dreams?
I dream of making music for a Disney animated movie...
