Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Reindertsen.
Hi Melanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Singing and performing has always been my biggest passion. Ever since I was I kid I was in musical theatre, did some large musical productions in The Netherlands and Belgium like “Ciske De Rat” (Stage Entertainment, and Oliver (Musical van Vlaanderen), took singing and dancing classes and loved to perform for people. So I always knew I had to do something with music of performing when I grow up.
At the age of 12 I picked up the guitar and started taking lessons. I also started writing my own songs. It all started rolling from there. In 2015 I competed in an online talent competition “Giel’s Talentenjacht” by well-known radio host Giel Beelen, and this competition really sparked my passion for songwriting. In 2019 I released my debut EP “Where the Journey Begins”, and the following year I appeared on the SBS6 TV program “We Want More,” where I introduced my country-pop genre to the Netherlands, sang a duet with jury member Davina Michelle, and reached the finals.
In 2023 I released my sophomore EP “Girl From ’99” full of songs with the country-pop flavour. A lot of them were written during my first trip to Nashville in 2022. These songs brought me to incredible places and paved the way for me, like opening for countrypopstar Dasha in a sold out Melkweg Amsterdam, and participating in the Popronde. I even quit my job as a graphic designer to focus full time on my music career.
But last year my career really took off. At the beginning of 2025 I had some radio successes with my duet “Eye of the Storm” featuring Jop Dorris. We got some airplay at large radio stations like Radio2 and Radio 5, and we got to perform the song live at Radio 538 for radio host Edwin Evers. I also played at the Zwarte Cross festival with my band and did my first ever tour in well-known venues like Luxor Live Arnhem, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, Mezz Breda, and De Pul Uden.
So now here we are. I can call myself a full-time musician, working on my debut album, making a living with playing shows, a growing on and offline fanbase, ready to tackle the shows for this year and even playing a few shows abroad! The country music community is growing here in the Netherlands and it’s my mission to bring my country-pop music to a broader audience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The tricky part has been the genre. I absolutely ADORE Country music, but a couple of years ago it wasn’t as booming here in the Netherlands as it is today. After releasing my sophomore EP “Girl From ’99”, I got rejected by the large radiostations all the time, claiming they don’t play Country on the radio. So frustrating! They wouldn’t even listen to your music. By saying “I’m a Country artist”, they would already slam the door shut.
Getting booked for shows is also a never ending struggle. The Netherlands is a small country with limited spots for artists to fill, let alone artists who are just starting out. It’s always the large artists that get booked for the festivals and that is still frustrating.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Country-pop artist from the Netherlands writing her own music and releasing her own songs. I’m an independent artist without a label, so I spend a lot of my time writing music and promoting my songs on social media.
I can’t make a living out of my original songs (yet), so I try to make a living by playing shows like festivals, weddings, garden parties, etc. I’m proud that I am able to work on my music full time.
I also love creating content, so I also spend a lot of time on social media. Promoting my original music, filming vlogs, sharing songwriting tips, and rewriting Dutch classics into country songs I like to call “countryfied covers”.
I think what makes me unique is the fact that I’m a Dutch girl who loves, writes, and sings Country. That isn’t a combination you often find in Holland.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I find that songwriting and doing cowrites is the best way of networking and finding a mentor. Obviously, it is great for developing your songwriting skill, but it is also a tool to talk about your experiences with someone who’s on the same path as you. You can learn from each other.
What also helps is going to other musicians’ performances or open mics and meet people there!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melanieryanmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanieryanmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanieryanmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanieryan_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melanieryanmusic/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/melanieryanmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ReNCqNlGVnBM4RGOWkUK4?si=6GYq9gAiTdOmhljpXCFLdA
