With Dreaming of a Sea of Time out now, we took some time to hear from Martin Kuiper. Read below to learn more about Martin Kuiper, the story behind Dreaming of a Sea of Time, and what’s to come.

Hi Martin Kuiper! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

It’s the name given to me by my parents. In daily life, people call me Martin Kuiper too. 🙂

What city are you from, and where are you based now?

I was born in Hengelo in the Netherlands, and I live in Ruurlo now, a small town in the east of the Netherlands.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I recorded a demo 30 years ago with a band, but we did nothing afterwards. I always kept writing, so the songs kept coming. But, the little voice in the back of my head became louder and louder. Once my dad passed away (my mom died in 2013) in 2021, and I approached my 50th birthday I made a pact with myself: releasing my first solo album before my 50th. And, it happened. To Feel Is To Believe was released in June 2024. This new release, Dreaming of a Sea of Time, sees the light now that I am 50.

Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?

I was an absolute Beatles fan, and I listened to a lot of Beach Boys and Rolling Stones too. In the eighties, the pop idols like George Michael inspired me and after that I went into a rock and metal phase with Guns n Roses, Metallica and Megadeth. I like all styles of music.

My parents really didn’t encourage me to purse a career in music, but as my bio tells, I always did work based around music and musicians. So, I always was connected to music.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

I think my music is a mix of folk, rock, indie and classic pop with a focus on melody and thoughtful lyrics.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I like sports, history, politics and psychology. Creativity is part of my DNA. As long as you don’t follow the rules and work in a big company with many employees, you can stay unique and creative. 😉

Who are some of your main musical influences?

The Beatles, Beach Boys, Metallica, Nirvana, George Michael and Thin Lizzy.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

Recording my debut album, To Feel Is To Believe, and releasing it with a band full of music professionals. Rinus Gerritsen from Golden Earring played bass in the band.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

Like Nike says: Just Do It.

Now onto your release, Dreaming of a Sea of Time. What inspired this EP?

Dreaming of a Sea of Time (EP)? Dreaming of a Sea of Time deals with the healing power or haunting dimensions of Dreams. It’s you who decides what your dreams feel like. Another theme is the passage of time. The older you get, the less time you have. So, no lingering around any more!

What is the overall theme of Dreaming of a Sea of Time?

‘Dreams’ started out as an acoustic song, but turned into this synth driven almost meditation like song about the power of Dreams. ‘Hanging on a Pink Moon’ has a soothing relaxing effect on me. It deals with the healing power of music and is a hommage to ‘Pink Moon’ by Nick Drake and Tim Hardin’s ‘Hang On To A Dream.’ Both songs helped me through emotional unstable times. ‘Sea Of Time’ deals with the longing for a period in your life, your youth, when time was no issue. Now I am older and time getting shorter and shorter. ‘Baby’ is one of the first songs that I wrote 30 years ago and is a twist on the word ‘Baby,’ in this song it deals with an unborn child. ‘Seven Days’ is a song I always wanted to write. It starts of with an acoustic theme and turns into this jazzy midtempo piece, before it evolves in a thunderous classic rock track. The lyrics are written about the first seven days of a relationship with all the excitement and fear that go with it.

Is there a specific song on Dreaming of a Sea of Time that speaks to you the most? If so, what is it called, and what is it about?

‘Seven Days’ is a song I always wanted to write. It starts of with an acoustic theme and turns into this jazzy midtempo piece, before it evolves in a thunderous classic rock track. The lyrics are written about the first seven days of a relationship with all the excitement and fear that go with it.

What do you hope fans take away from your music and from Dreaming of a Sea of Time?

That you are never too old to pursue your dreams.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

I am working on my rock album, Prison Of Modesty. The first song, ‘Ego,’ will be released in August or September. In June 2026, the whole album will be released with a release show.

Where can we follow you on social media?

https://www.instagram.com/demartinkuiper

https://www.facebook.com/martin.kuiper.37

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!