#7: From Dutch Success to Chinese Number One: The Journey of Lars Koehoorn (Wisseloord Short)

<p><em>Discover how Lars Koehoorn transitioned from making music as a hobby to becoming a chart-topping artist, navigating industry challenges, and collaborating internationally.</em>In this episode:</p><ul><li>Lars Koehoorn shares his early beginnings and influences, including his love for Volendamse folk music</li><li>The shift from artist to songwriter and producer, and the reasons behind it</li><li>Insights into the creative process, including working unprepared and in diverse genres</li><li>The challenges and rewards of writing for international markets, especially China</li><li>How the pandemic influenced his career path and opportunities</li><li>The impact of social media and streaming platforms on his growth</li><li>The story behind his Chinese number one hit and working with Chinese artists</li><li>Advice for aspiring musicians on developing their sound and navigating industry hurdles</li><li>The importance of persistence, timing, and industry connections in achieving success</li></ul><p>Timestamps:<br />00:00 - Introduction to Lars Koehoorn and his musical background<br />00:28 - Lars’ early interest in music and performances<br />01:40 - Transition from performing own songs to cover acts<br />02:01 - Influence of Dutch folk and pop artists like Nick &amp; Simon<br />02:34 - Career shift during the COVID pandemic to studio work<br />03:05 - The move from artist to songwriter/producer and focusing on the creative process<br />04:03 - Working across genres and languages for diverse audiences<br />04:38 - The value of not niching down unless aiming for big pop acts<br />05:06 - Language use and vocabulary considerations in songwriting<br />05:45 - Adjusting songwriting style based on music genre and target audience<br />06:13 - The role of human intuition and creative energy in production<br />07:06 - Lars’ preparation process for studio sessions and collaboration style<br />07:59 - The importance of having conversations before work starts<br />08:36 - Collaboration dynamics: working with artists and labels<br />09:04 - Handling songs that are developed but not released<br />10:06 - The lengthy process of getting songs into the market and industry delays<br />11:05 - The demand for good songs in the Netherlands and the export of Dutch music<br />11:23 - The small pool of writers and producers in popular genres<br />12:23 - Typical studio day and the creative flow pattern<br />13:33 - Balancing studio work as a hobby and profession<br />14:31 - International opportunities: writing for Chinese artists and the huge Chinese market<br />16:43 - Experiencing a Chinese number one hit and the global reach of music<br />17:36 - The challenges and opportunities of writing in English for Chinese markets<br />18:13 - Balancing personal projects with professional work for clients<br />19:02 - The inspiration needed for making music for oneself<br />20:38 - Experiences performing live, including big shows with DJ Licious<br />22:06 - The key to success: right place, right time, and perseverance<br />23:53 - The financial realities of new artists and early career struggles<br />25:12 - Long-term strategy: building a steady stream of releases<br />26:18 - Lars' biggest musical dreams and recent achievements, such as stadium performances<br />27:13 - Exploring international markets beyond the Netherlands<br />28:04 - Following Lars on social media and the importance of Wisseloord Studios for emerging artists</p><p>------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p>PuntNL is hét Nederlandse clubhuis voor muzikale makers, producers, schrijvers en liefhebbers. Met een thuis in de Wisseloord studios, een liefde voor Nederlandstalige muziek, maar een diepgewortelde interesse die grens- en genreoverstijgend is.Presentator Mattijs Franken gaat in gesprek met artiesten over hun muziek, het maakproces en de verhalen achter de songs. Geen vluchtige interviews, maar verdieping en context. De gesprekken worden afgewisseld met