I am obsessed with stories. To me, sharing stories lies at the root of a connection, at the core of what it means, simply, to be human.

My professional path began in the underground nightlife of Amsterdam. Here I came to realize that it wasn’t the music itself that fascinated me most, but the people within it, and the stories constantly created through this cultural exchange. The music formed a space of fluidity, transformation and connection, a place to bond, to share, and to imagine a world in which even the most marginalized in our society could be accepted and safe.

It was in these spaces that I first became aware of how culture and identity are carried and altered, not only through words, but through sound, space, and experience. Sound became the medium through which I listen to those stories, to connect, to understand.

Through travels, expeditions and collected stories, I create spaces where suppressed voices, endangered environments, and distorted histories can speak for themselves. My academic and artistic practice is rooted in paying attention to what is often overlooked, unheard, or actively silenced. By connecting culture, music, and science, I aim to amplify marginalized voices and communities.

With roots in the Netherlands, Suriname, India, and Indonesia, my work mainly focuses on protecting vulnerable cultures within these regions, often Indigenous to the land and deeply affected by (post)colonialism. I engage with decolonization, cultural heritage, and transmission, exploring how sound carries identity, spirituality, and collective memory.

As an ethnomusicologist, I am drawn to musical practices beyond performance. Sound can turn the ordinary into something meaningful. Instruments, voices, and natural cycles hold stories of history, resistance, and resilience. I believe that listening can open a path to deeper understanding, of each other and the world around us.