When I was 18 years old I left my home, my friends, my family and everything I knew to chase this dream of mine: to learn how to create that feeling of belonging that I got, and get, from music and literature. If I could make one single soul out there feel less alone, feel like someone understood, then my mission would be completed. And this is still my mission, every single day, because who knew there were so many souls out there in need of comfort.

Ever since that day I have dedicated all I am and have, every hour of every day to grow, learn, reach more people and prove to everyone that you can become exactly who you want to be, if you just want it bad enough. I spent a year homeless on the road because I simply couldn't afford rent, and I will keep doing everything I can to keep building this community of mine.

But, I can not do this alone.

I'm a completely independent artist and author, doing everything all on my own, by myself. You, your support and your help is the only reason to why I can keep writing, learning, creating and reaching out. We're doing this together, because alone I'm nothing, but together we can be heard.

Thank you for wanting to help to keep doing this. I love you forever.

   

 

WHAT THE DONATIONS GO TO:

1. Equipment + studio-time to write, record and produce my next album.

2. Mixing, mastering and printing of album #4.

3. Editing, proofreading, artwork & printing of a new book.

4. Printing of merch, flyers and posters to promote my work.

5. Travel expenses for house concerts and live gigs.

6. To just simply keep me and my existence up and running, so I can keep creating, learning and releasing new art. (A roof over my head and something to eat every day.)

Every single tiny bit of amount matters, and I'll owe you the world if you decide to be a part of this and make this journey together with me.

 

Here’s a little list of other things you can do to support and tell the world about our existence:

• Tell all your friends, brother, colleagues, family and internet friends about my music and books.

• Share my YouTube videos, Spotify links, posts , writings and quotes on your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, blog and everywhere else.

• Buy my CDs, books and merch from the Official The Glass Child Store

• Give my books 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads!

• Send an email to your local radio station and ask them to play my songs! My beautiful friend and creature Tina actually got Best Part Of Me played on 3FM in Netherlands a while ago!

• Stream my music on Spotify.

• Be who you are and dare to go after your dream with me.

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We’re not so different you and I. We’re both just trying to find our ways and get something out of this life we’ve been given. Some people find it, some people don’t. I’ve been through things, seen things and felt things that I wish I could erase, but still I consider myself lucky. Because I found a reason to breathe. A reason to believe.

I found music.

The way it gives me heaven for some hours. The way it makes everything beautiful — even though it might not be. The way I can write my life in a better way, in the way that I want to remember it, and how I lose my fears and worries when I sing. And most of all, how I left everything I’d built for 18 years, and found my home in my art.

There weren't a lot of people who supported me when I found music and decided that I wanted to spend my life doing it. The fact that I more often than not live on my friends’ floors because I can’t afford my own place, that I some days can’t afford dinner, that it’s expensive to record, produce, print CDs, buy instruments, equipment and tour, is just another reason for family and friends to not support you in this. But, I don’t know if you’ve found that yet, that one thing that you were born to do. That one thing that makes everything else disappear. That one thing that makes you want to go up every morning. I have, and I will never ever let anything or anyone take that away from me. The music industry today is the devil’s game. To afford touring and releasing high-standard albums you need money. I’ve told this story before but:

 

Before I decided to start my own record label, release my first EP and do everything on my own, I went to meetings with “industry experts”, labels and managers. I didn’t know a lot about the business-part, or what it takes to get your music out. All I knew was that I had all those thoughts and unspoken words within me that I needed to tell. All those meetings, talks and dinners ended the same way: a bold guy in costume telling me to dress more sexy, act more mature and write more simple pop-songs. Basically change so that it fits into their little box.

He told me how I could be on all the covers and in all the big magazine, and when I asked how, he said ‘because we have the money and we can pay for your success’. I still remember that choking panic in my chest when I mumbled that that’s not me and that I believe in music and that if I write clear and loud enough about what I feel then maybe other people out there will hear me and understand and maybe even let me know that I’m not alone in feeling those things. I rambled the whole thing about being true to myself, doing things in my way and not compromising myself, and then the bold guy called me ‘honey’ and something about being immature and not knowing the business, and then I ran out with an ocean of choking tears in my throat, promising myself to never be in contact with those people again. Those people who don’t care about music anymore, who don’t know how music can change a life, and has saved mine.

 

This is how it works, but music means too much to me to ever give up my belief that it’s bigger than status, money or who’s got the right contacts. And after a couple of those bold guys in suite, I decided that until the last breath of my life, I would live to prove them wrong. To prove to them that I can do this on my own without their money. That I will show the world that music can still connect and change lives, without a mainstream company that pays for it. That is what makes me keep pushing some days, when I doubt myself: that I will never let them win. I will never sit down and admit that they were right.

For those of you who’s gotten to know me through my blog, twitter, facebook or anywhere else, you know that I aim higher than what’s in my reach with everything I do, because the only way to realize your full potential is to reach beyond it, right? I have tons of goals and dreams this year, but the two main-goals are to produce, record and release my thrid full length album, publish my second book and play as many house concerts as I possibly can for as many people as possible. I’ve talked about these goals for a long time now and you’ve all been so supportive, writing beautiful motivational words and you’re the reason to why I’ve kept pushing for this, even though everyone else told me that producing my own albums by myself, booking tours by myself and doing this and that just wasn't achievable of me.

Since I started to connect with you on the internet, I don’t feel like I’m doing this by myself anymore. I feel less alone. I’ve said it before, but we’re in this together. I could never do what I’m doing today if it wasn’t for you. Both because of how you inspire me everyday to not give up, but also for you support by buying my music and spreading the word about our existence. It’s us against the world. And we have a message to tell.

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I’m a firm believer that you can get everything you want with determination, but I really really need your help to make this possible. We’re all in this together, and I think we can achieve great things together, and show the world what real music and passion is all about.

I still feel very uncomfortable about everything that has to do with money, but I hope you understand that to make this dream come true, I need your support. You’re the reason to why I can do this, and to why I WANT to do this.