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

Discover how Lars Koehoorn transitioned from making music as a hobby to becoming a chart-topping artist, navigating industry challenges, and collaborating internationally.In this episode:Lars Koehoorn shares his early beginnings and influences, including his love for Volendamse folk musicThe shift from artist to songwriter and producer, and the reasons behind itInsights into the creative process, including working unprepared and in diverse genresThe challenges and rewards of writing for international markets, especially ChinaHow the pandemic influenced his career path and opportunitiesThe impact of social media and streaming platforms on his growthThe story behind his Chinese number one hit and working with Chinese artistsAdvice for aspiring musicians on developing their sound and navigating industry hurdlesThe importance of persistence, timing, and industry connections in achieving successTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Lars Koehoorn and his musical background00:28 - Lars’ early interest in music and performances01:40 - Transition from performing own songs to cover acts02:01 - Influence of Dutch folk and pop artists like Nick & Simon02:34 - Career shift during the COVID pandemic to studio work03:05 - The move from artist to songwriter/producer and focusing on the creative process04:03 - Working across genres and languages for diverse audiences04:38 - The value of not niching down unless aiming for big pop acts05:06 - Language use and vocabulary considerations in songwriting05:45 - Adjusting songwriting style based on music genre and target audience06:13 - The role of human intuition and creative energy in production07:06 - Lars’ preparation process for studio sessions and collaboration style07:59 - The importance of having conversations before work starts08:36 - Collaboration dynamics: working with artists and labels09:04 - Handling songs that are developed but not released10:06 - The lengthy process of getting songs into the market and industry delays11:05 - The demand for good songs in the Netherlands and the export of Dutch music11:23 - The small pool of writers and producers in popular genres12:23 - Typical studio day and the creative flow pattern13:33 - Balancing studio work as a hobby and profession14:31 - International opportunities: writing for Chinese artists and the huge Chinese market16:43 - Experiencing a Chinese number one hit and the global reach of music17:36 - The challenges and opportunities of writing in English for Chinese markets18:13 - Balancing personal projects with professional work for clients19:02 - The inspiration needed for making music for oneself20:38 - Experiences performing live, including big shows with DJ Licious22:06 - The key to success: right place, right time, and perseverance23:53 - The financial realities of new artists and early career struggles25:12 - Long-term strategy: building a steady stream of releases26:18 - Lars' biggest musical dreams and recent achievements, such as stadium performances27:13 - Exploring international markets beyond the Netherlands28:04 - Following Lars on social media and the importance of Wisseloord Studios for emerging artists------------------------------------------------------------------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 exclusieve liveoptredens.🎧 Ook te bekijken als podcast via YouTube en andere audioplatforms.📺 Abonneer je op dit kanaal voor nieuwe afleveringen, livesessies en clips