I stumbled across Remco Hoogsteen's cover of "I Feel Love" by accident. Being a synth-freak, one day I had an urge to hear that catchy Moroder Moog synth line and searched YouTube for it. Before I located the original 80's version I saw a thumbnail of Remco's YouTube video staring back at me on the screen. I thought "what the hell. Let's see what this guy's version sounds like!" I'm very glad I did because I was completely blown away by it. In fact, I watched it FIVE TIMES in a row. That's how much I liked it. After my FIFTH consecutive viewing and after checking out a few of Remco's other YouTube videos -I knew I had to interview him for "Creative Tech Nerds". It was a sure bet that if I was digging Remco's music this much our readers would also want to

check him out. That's how the interview you're about to read came about. Enjoy!

CREATIVE TECH NERDS ( CTN ):  I accidentally stumbled across your cover of the Donna Summer / Giorgio Moroder hit "I Feel Love" on YouTube. I was completely blown away by it. What's the reaction to that video been like so far?

REMCO HOOGENSTEEN:  The reaction has been great so far! We were also really blown away! I made the video with a friend of mine just for fun, and we didn't expect it to be this well received. I really like the fact that people enjoy it and that they want us to make more. So last month we recorded another video, we will upload it soon!

CTN:  Can you tell us a little about yourself and your musical background? 

REMCO: Yeah, of course! My name is Remco Hoogsteen, 23 years old and living in the Netherlands. I play keys for the band "Vangrail" and at this moment I am studying at the Artez Conservatory Zwolle. I started playing the piano when I was around ten years old. I got really into blues, my heroes were B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix -you name them! When I was around fifteen years old, I started to play with Max Mollema, one of    my best friends and the drummer in the Donna Summer video. 

At that time, I really got into Hammond ( -the Hammond organ ), because I think that you can reach the same expression as the great blues guitarists. I always liked well distorted sounds and screaming solos -think Jon Lord ( -Deep Purple's iconic organist/ keyboardist ).  

At seventeen years old, I went to a music education called D'Drive in Leeuwarden ( -the Netherlands ). D'Drive is a very practical education. I learned a lot from performing live on stage with a lot of people. After that I went to the Conservatory. I'm now in my third year. Last year I got into a cover band called "Vangrail". We play a lot and I really like it! Performing is a thing I like to do most. 

In these years I really got interested in synthesizers and 80's music. The love for 80's and synthesizers and the adoration for artists like Prince, Donna Summer, Depeche Mode, Aha and Kraftwerk made me create my own synthwave duo called "ModEnv". Currently, I'm playing with a Techno collective "Kornische VermoeitHeit".

CTN:  In the "I Feel Love" video it looks like you're performing in a professional recording studio. Are you a studio musician? By the way, the drummer who accompanies you ( -Max Mollema ) on that track is really

good too!

REMCO:  Yes, I see myself as a studio musician. I have not yet recorded many things because of my study but I really like recording for other people and in the future I hope to do it even more. The studio where we recorded the "I Feel Love" video is at Max Mollema's home. He built this studio so he can rehearse and record drums. We were just chilling in his house when we decided to make a cover! I really like playing with Max, he is one of my best friends and one of the best drummers I know.

CTN:  Tell us a little about your gear. Are there any specific keyboards or synths that you'd feel lost without and that are critical to achieving your sound? 

REMCO:  I can talk a lot about my gear. For this video I used my Nords ( -the "Electro 5" and "a1" ). I really like Nord keyboards; they sound good and are hands on. I love the Hammond sound on the "Electro 5D", and with the drawbars it feels amazing. But my love for vintage synthesizers made me buy a Moog "Grandmother", Yamaha "DX7 IID" and a Roland "Juno 6". These synths sound amazing! I use both analog synths in my next video. I think the Roland "Juno 6" is one of the most beautiful synths I've ever played on. It's "the 80's". 

Recently, I also got into modular synthesis. I got the Moog "Studio 3" set. These three modular Moog synths are really great for exploring and creating original sounds and ideas, especially for my Techno collective. The most precious gear I have is definitely the Roland "Juno 6" and the Moog "Grandmother". The Nord "Electro 5D" has a special place in my heart being my first serious keyboard. I've even been two weeks in London carrying the Nord around on my back.

CTN: You cover a very eclectic swath of music ( -from Donna Summer to Kraftwerk to Chic Corea and some Brazilian samba, i.e: "Brisa" ). How do you select the songs you cover?  Are they just your favorites or the favorites of the people you collaborate with?

REMCO: Some songs on my channel are formed out of school projects, like "Brisa" and "Man Machine Man".   I am really interested in all genres of music, and when you are surrounded by all kinds of different musicians you must take the opportunity to make and record with all of them. I like to play different things and explore genres I am not used to, this way you grow as a musician and as a person! 

The "Spain" cover was a jazz piano assignment. We decided to record it and post it on YouTube. "I Feel Love" was just a spontaneous idea; I hope more of those ideas will come.

CTN:  And speaking of collaborators -can you tell us a little about the friends and fellow YouTubers seen on your YouTube cover song videos? They're incredibly talented!

REMCO:  All musicians in my videos are friends and schoolmates I consider as friends. It is really fun to record and make videos with your friends. They are also really talented. It is a real privilege to have these people as friends. 

CTN:  Do you and your YouTube collaborators have any music CD's or downloads available for sale at this time? ( -If so, where can our readers purchase them? ). And if not, do you plan to at some future date? 

REMCO:  Yes! With "ModEnv" I have an EP online called "ModEnv", you should check it out! In the future I am going to record with "Kornische VermoeidHeit" and with "Vangrail". There is not much out yet but in the future I will make a lot more music and post it online. Maybe I will even make a solo album!

CTN:  I'm wondering if you've ever heard of Moot Booxle ( -Matt Baxley ) another YouTube musician? Your style and the music you cover reminds me a lot of him. Any chance of you two collaborating on a YouTube video, CD or download? 

REMCO:  No, I never heard of him. I just looked him up and his channel looks really cool! The first video that popped up is about an FM synth I own as well. Maybe it's a sign! 

CTN:  Do you have any plans to record/ release some of your own, totally original tunes? 

REMCO:  Well, I'm not sure yet, but I think I will. I really like to be in my studio, and with the gear I have it would be a shame not to make it into an album or EP.  With "ModEnv" and "Kronische VermoeidHeit" I will definitely release some songs!

CTN:  Lastly, what can we expect from you in the way of future projects, concerts, recordings, etc.? 

REMCO:  That is a good question. As I said before "Vangrail", "ModEnv" and "Kronische VermoeidHeit" are currently my biggest projects. Because I am at the Conservatory right now, I am very busy with school stuff, but when I am finished, I am going to do a song with an orchestra, so that is something to look forward to!  Whatever happens, I certainly will keep playing and posting stuff online. 

                                                                -END  OF  INTERVIEW-

"I FEEL LOVE" ( -Donna Summer Cover ) 

 -Ah, well here's the one that blew the doors off: ( 69,000 ) YouTube views as of late August, 2022'. Watch it.

You'll know why...

"BRISA" 

-A nice Brazilian samba riff. Fun. Friends. Goofing off. With a great vocalist.

"K.K. CRUISIN' ( COVER ) -CLUSTERFUNK

-A contemporary tune. Nice. 

"MODENV -BACK IN TIME ( -LIVE ) FT. FRANK BREMER"  

-A nice pop-rock tune. Lamenting the fact they were born too late to be a part of the "80's generation". Some nice guitar work, vocals + vocoding. And watch for Remco's cool Moog solo! A catchy "radio-worthy" song.

"VANGRAIL / 2022 /2023 / NIEUWE SHOW / NIEUWE PROMO" 

-A promotional video for "Vangrail" ( -a pro level ) cover band from the Netherlands. Watch for Remco on keys!