Interviews: Neverskin

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Nu-Metal band Neverskin from the Netherlands. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

NEVERSKIN: "It actually came out during a brainstorming session, right after we discovered that our initial choice for a band name was already taken. We were looking for something snappy, easily recognizable, and packed with a strong metaphorical meaning. 'Neverskin' just clicked perfectly."

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

NEVERSKIN: "Because it’s truly where our hearts lie, and it’s the music we grew up with during our teens. We vibe the most with this heavy alternative/core style, but we also love total creative freedom. We just mix and match whatever we feel like. You might hear influences ranging from reggae to death metal, and from pop to drum 'n' bass. The beauty of music is having the absolute freedom to create exactly what you feel."

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

NEVERSKIN: "Yes, we actually go way back! We used to play together in a Dutch underground metal band called Ambiossis about 20 years ago, and we hadn’t really hung out since that band split up. The way Neverskin started is pure coincidence: I was out for a jog when an old Ambiossis track randomly popped up on my playlist. It made me think, 'I wonder how Remy is doing.' Right after my run, I decided to shoot him a message. We started going back and forth, met up, and the reunion ball got rolling."

4. Each band member's favourite band?

NEVERSKIN: "Our favorites all orbit around the same musical universe. For the classic old-school vibe, we love bands like Korn, Deftones, Silverchair, Taproot, Sevendust, and Ill Niño. When it comes to more recent and modern acts, we heavily blast Memphis May Fire, Northlane, 36 Crazyfists, Finch, Sleep Token, Architects, and President."

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

NEVERSKIN: "I (Clint) write my lyrics metaphorically; I’m not really the type of writer who is straight-to-the-point. I prefer packaging them in layers, drawing inspiration from my personal life as well as things that were, are, or what I see happening in the future of our world. Our single 'Time,' for example, reflects my personal views on the passage of time—what it entails and represents—coupled with how the world is moving through it at this very moment. Musically, everything starts with us jamming out on a basic riff together, shaping the song based on pure emotion, feeling, and sound. Since we control the entire process from start to finish, we can do whatever we want. Some tracks make it through that grinder—like 'Snatched,' 'Piece of Mind,' and 'Time'—while others get scrapped prematurely."

6. Where was your last gig?

NEVERSKIN: "Since we haven’t played live with this new project yet, my last personal gig was with my previous band at our local venue called 'Underground,' which was an EP release show at the time. For Remy, his last gig was a couple of years ago with his former band 'Frontstreet' at a massive venue in Friesland (the exact name slips his mind). He also performed a couple of songs live with (Hed) P.E., as he actually co-wrote some tracks for them a while back. As for our last gig together in Ambiossis? Man, that’s a tough one. We played so frequently back in the day that they all sort of blur together!"

7. Where would you like to perform?

NEVERSKIN: "Being from the Netherlands, we’ve always said we’d love to play at Lowlands festival, even though the crowd and lineup have shifted quite a bit over the years. We would also love to play the legendary Melkweg in Amsterdam together—I had the pleasure of performing there with my previous band. In an ideal dream world, iconic European festivals like Rock am Ring, Download, or even Vans Warped Tour would be mind-blowing, but those are the same dreams we had 20 years ago! [Laughs]"

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

NEVERSKIN: "Sharing the stage with bands like Korn or Taproot would be a dream come true—honestly, any of the bands we mentioned earlier. But ultimately, we simply love playing with bands and people who are down-to-earth and fun to hang out with. Personally, I would love to collaborate on a track with vocalists like Stephen Richards from Taproot—that band holds a very special place in our hearts. Daniel Johns (Silverchair) or Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire) would be incredible, too. I also have to mention Eric Kalsbeek from the former Dutch tech-metal band Textures; I’ve had the pleasure of playing and hanging out with him before. He is a super stand-up guy and genuinely one of the most talented singers I have ever seen and heard live."

9. Whom not?

NEVERSKIN: "Any musicians who don't bring the right vibe or who impact the atmosphere in a negative way. I could easily throw a hater remark at certain pop artists or genres completely outside of our scene, but that’s just not how we roll. Plus, you never know—there might be some really interesting people with completely different perspectives out there. It might actually be super interesting to hang out with some K-pop stars or Justin Bieber! [Laughs]"

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

NEVERSKIN: "Real, paralyzing stage fright? Fortunately, no. We’ve always experienced that healthy, pumping nervous energy before a gig, but in my opinion, that nervousness should be there. The exact second you hit the stage and the music starts, it always just melts away. However, while singing in my previous band, I did lose my voice mid-performance for the first time. That definitely caused some real fear-sweat to run down my back! But what are you supposed to do? I just leaned into it, adapted my singing to safer techniques on the spot, and focused heavily on the visual performance itself. To any beginning artists who suffer from actual fear: just remember why you are doing this. Performing needs to bring joy to both you and the audience. If you are just starting out, you’re likely playing smaller venues, and the people there are there to support you and they will understand. Don't shoot for the stars during your first few shows unless you are stone- cold confident. Just lean into your own identity, be unapologetically yourself, and show them who YOU are. Enjoy the moment."

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

NEVERSKIN: "For me (Clint), I really got interested in singing when I first heard Silverchair. Daniel Johns' vocals are absolutely amazing—the raw emotion mixed with insane technical control was incredibly inspiring to me. Performance-wise, Taproot truly shaped us. I saw them live a long time ago in the Melkweg and was completely blown away. Stephen was jumping into the crowd, leaping off the stage, even jumping off the venue balcony and crowd-surfing his way back to the stage. That gig is permanently imprinted in my brain."

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

NEVERSKIN: "Nothing too crazy, mostly just autographs on all kinds of weird objects and body parts! However, we did have a friend who broke his finger in the mosh pit during one of our old shows. If I remember correctly, he literally ran to the hospital nearby, got it bandaged up, ran straight back to the venue, and jumped right back into the final mosh pit before our set ended. Now that is hardcore! [Laughs]"

13. What do you think of your fans?

NEVERSKIN: "With this project being so fresh, we haven’t had the chance to meet our fans in person yet. We mostly connect through the comments under our YouTube videos, and we truly, TRULY appreciate every single piece of support or feedback we receive. We actually just received an email from a fan asking for a signed photo, and I’m currently in the process of getting them something special! Generally speaking, we deeply appreciate anyone who simply takes the time to listen to our music. In the end, that’s all we want: for our music to be heard. Love it or hate it, feel free—just give it a spin."

14. What do you think of our site?

NEVERSKIN: "On one hand, it looks really nice and clean! Though, since I have a visual impairment myself, I have to admit the logo is somewhat difficult for me to read. Also, that game advertisement on the right side featuring the three ladies definitely grabs your attention—even mine! [Laughs]. Overall, it seems like a fantastic platform for this interview and our music to be showcased, and we are truly honored and thankful that you are offering us a spot on your site."

15. Something to add?

NEVERSKIN: "Some of these questions were incredibly original! Thank you so much for that. I’ve done five interviews this week alone, and the original ones always make me smile and think, which is a massive positive. To anyone who read all the way to the end: thank you so much for showing interest in us. Please go check out our tunes, spread the word, and leave a comment or chat with us on our channels. We are still small enough to reply to almost everyone, most of the time! And a huge thanks to the crew at Breathing The Core for this opportunity and your time. We hope to meet you real soon and look forward to the next time!" 

Official Neverskin Links: 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/neverskin

Snatched (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/YifIn4kEnBg 

Piece of Mind (Official Visualizer): https://youtu.be/e4GiO4ToJqk 

Time (Official Visualizer): https://youtu.be/iRVyO-rjDkc

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