Neverskin (The Netherlands)

Interview with Clint (vocalist, co-composer and producer)
https://www.facebook.com/neverskin.music

Neverskin is an independent Dutch nu-metal and rock duo based in Lelystad, consisting of musicians Clint Bakker and Remy Dovianus. Initially playing together in the mid-2000s under the name Ambiossis, the pair took a two-decade hiatus before roaring back to the music scene with heavy, groove-driven, and rap-infused tracks. We sat down with Clint Bakker to talk about band’s sonic evolution, the resurgence of the nu-metal scene, and the chaotic inspiration behind their new music. Here is our conversation with Clint from Neverskin.

Metal Revolution: Hello guys, pleasure chatting with you. How are things nowadays in The Netherlands?
Neverskin: Flat as always, and the weather isn’t great at the moment, but we find ways to entertain ourselves (Laughing). The pleasure is ours! We hope you are doing well, too.

MR: Yes, Thanks. Can you introduce your band to our readers? Can you tell us about the very beginnings? I know you were initially active in the mid-2000s (with the band Ambiossis), and now returned after a nearly 20-year
hiatus…
Neverskin: It’s nice to see you are so well informed, that saves me a few sentences! (Laughing) Well, to try and stay original I will give you the extended version: Remy (guitarist) and I actually used to live on the same street, though we didn’t know it for years. I can’t remember exactly how, but we started talking on ICQ (look it up, young bucks, it was one of the first online chat options! (Laughing)
Instead of doing what normal people do, we decided that for our first real-life meeting, we would cycle about 13km to a neighboring town to drink at the local rock bar and cycle back, the ride back was certainly easier due to certain substances, though! (Laughing) That’s how we met. Later, we replied to an ad for a drummer, bassist, and guitarist, whom we met at the skatepark in Almere, and Ambiossis was born. It was a great time, full of ambition, experiences, and the freedom of doing what we loved.
(Imagine that SpongeBob announcer saying this) “…20 years later…” I was jogging outside with some music on when an Ambiossis song popped up. It triggered me to wonder how Remy was doing, so I reached out. We met up after 20 years of not speaking or hanging out, got back into making music again fairly quickly, and thus, Neverskin was born! (Laughing)

MR: Relatively recently you released two comeback singles, namely; “Snatched” and “Piece of Mind”, and a more recent one, right? What can you tell us about these three songs?
Neverskin: ‘Snatched’ was our first song to release since reuniting, but it was actually the second song we worked on. The first one did not make the cut, so to say.
‘Snatched’ is special to me, as it was the first song we did together in 20 years, but also because it makes me happy and bouncy (and it still does!) listening to it. It has a lot of diversity to it, from a groovy, flowing verse with fast, rapping vocals, to the chorus that takes a hard left turn by being melodic and big, a wall of sound strengthened by multi-layered vocals. And then there is that surprising bridge to boot. Fun fact (for you, not me): when I started singing again after not recording for quite some time, I was worried I couldn’t do it anymore, an age and skill thing. I struggled the first few days thinking I lost it, but I found my groove again, thankfully.
‘Piece of Mind’ was a more calm take, something that tries to make you feel. It has a steady flow, almost a stream, a river, that flows through the song. A very different approach, trying to crescendo at the end with a more complicated vocal build-up, singing through each other with different lines. It was a doozy to mix and master, but thankfully Remy is a very skilled producer.
Then we released ‘Time’ a few weeks ago. After a small sabbatical of a few months, it was a song that had been ready to release for quite some time, but we simply did not. It is a more serious take on things, through a varying flow in music, bringing the melodic multi-layered chorus back in a different form and, again, a very different bridge that almost leans towards a form of opera. It tells another metaphorical story of the passage of ‘Time’ for both myself and for the world as a whole.

MR: Utilizing any new recording techniques to these songs, compared to the songs you created before with Ambiossis?
Neverskin: Very much so. A lot has changed in the way music is made and recording is done in the last 20 years. I studied studio engineering some time ago, and Remy has been on top of the production game nonstop for the last 20 years. He has done quite some work for other bands, such as Hed PE and some members of Ill Niño, with his solo project, REMAI. So, we do possess the necessary skills to do things independently.
In these current times of AI-generated music and plugin-heavy recording, we consciously opt not to use any form of AI to create our music. We want it to be authentic – purely and utterly us. We do utilize modern mixing and mastering techniques, and in my opinion, Remy is one of the best in the business when it comes to creating that insanely awesome, thick sound that our songs have in the end.

MR: Your early music focused on teenage angst and raw emotion. What themes drive your lyrics today?
Neverskin: Did it, though? (Laughing) Sure, we were younger, had a different lifestyle, and different ambitions, so our views on the world were naturally different. On the other hand, back then I was already in my 20s and working. While things were looser and more focused on “party time”—and yes, songs like ‘Waste of Time’ and ‘Beg You’ were more or less emotional dumps and party songs – I was already writing metaphorical tracks, like ‘Metaphor’ (surprising, eh?) and ‘Remove the Dirt’.
But yes, 40+ years of life changes your views, changes the message you want to share, and gives you time to put things into perspective. I’ve continued the metaphorical way of writing, but it is less about temporary hatred, fleeting feelings of love, or the like. Instead, I’ve moved toward a more general approach, touching on the state of the world, the impact of AI, the economy, war, and politics. I try to put those themes into a form that is less “loaded,” and hopefully written in a way that offers the listener or reader the option to interpret it in a way that feels comfortable to them, or that fits their own views and feelings.

MR: How does your creative process work? What’s the creative process like when you make a new song?
Neverskin: We usually start by jamming with guitar at Remy’s place, searching for a riff that grabs us both. From there, we work on evolving it into at least a verse and a chorus.Then, I take it home to vibe to it solo, writing lyrics and humming some vocal lines. During the writing process, I start recording base vocals; when I have a verse and a chorus – or sometimes multiple different versions, I send them to Remy so he can let me know his thoughts.
If we are both still enthusiastic, we keep that going until a more complete song forms. If needed, we get together a few more times to shape the song, and I add vocal layers to fill out the sound.

MR: Which of the three ‘new’ songs resonates with you personally the most and why?
Neverskin: Like I mentioned earlier, ‘Snatched’ remains my personal favorite because of that initial spark we felt when we reunited. However, I don’t want to repeat myself too much! What I can tell you is that Remy has a different pick: he’s currently obsessed with the track we have lined up for our next release. He’s been telling me it’s his new favorite, so I think fans should keep a close eye on that one, it’s going to be something. (Laughing)

MR: Nine months ago the band released a new official lyric video for a gritty, hard-hitting single “Snatched”. Can you tell us a bit more about this particular song? What inspired you to choose this title?
Neverskin: A lot has already been said about this track, but it might be fun to add that we also created the lyric video ourselves. I handled the lyrical part and the flow, while Remy took care of the visuals, putting those two together was a complete collaboration. (Laughing)
As for the title, I can’t remember my exact mindset at the time, but I wanted something snappy, something that felt a bit more “street” and rough around the edges. I needed a word that captured the vibe of the song in one go, and ‘Snatched’ just felt like the right fit.

MR: Has the lyrical content changed over the years? Where do you get inspiration for writing lyrics and who’s the main songwriter? Or do you both participate equally?
Neverskin: Did it, though? Sure, we were younger, had a different lifestyle, and different ambitions, so our views on the world were naturally different. On the other hand, back then I was already in my 20s and working. While things were looser and more focused on “party time” – and yes, songs like ‘Waste of Time’ and ‘Beg You’ were more or less emotional dumps and party songs, I was already writing metaphorical tracks, like ‘Metaphor’ (surprising, eh?) and ‘Remove the Dirt’.
But yes, 40+ years of life changes your views, changes the message you want to share, and gives you time to put things into perspective. I’ve continued the metaphorical way of writing, but it is less about temporary hatred, fleeting feelings of love, or the like. Instead, I’ve moved toward a more general approach, touching on the state of the world, the impact of AI, the economy, war, and politics. I try to put those themes into a form that is less “loaded,” and hopefully written in a way that offers the listener or reader the option to interpret it in a way that feels comfortable to them, or that fits their own views and feelings.

MR: What obstacles or challenges, if any, do you encounter when it comes to getting your music out there and heard by potential new fans?
Neverskin: The initial challenge is simply getting people to your music, making them aware you exist amidst all the other great musicians out there, and hoping they can and will differentiate your music from the rest. In the end, all we really want is for our music to be heard, so we can share what we are so incredibly passionate about.
In that sense, times have really changed. Back in the day with Ambiossis, the media came to us to see if we were interested in interviews, features, or radio play, and they wrote reviews based on the fact that they genuinely had an opinion about the music, good or bad. That no longer seems to be the case. It all seems to come down to “pay-to-play” now. Promotions, features, influencer coverage, there are just so many ways you’re expected to pay for your art to be shared. Platforms like SubmitHub and Groover are examples that I’m personally not the biggest fan of.
I honestly miss the times when the media just listened and thought, “Fuck, I love or hate this music, I just want to write something about it.”

MR: Now that nu metal is experiencing a massive resurgence with a new generation, how do you feel about the genre’s legacy? Do you embrace the label, or did you ever feel restricted by it?
Neverskin: This is an interesting one. If you had asked my 20-year-old self, he probably would have responded rebelliously and hated the whole labeling thing. Now, at 40+, I would say I am still not a fan of labeling, but on the other hand, the absurd amount of genres and subgenres we have now doesn’t make things any clearer. At least, not to an old fart like me (shout out to all you young bucks). (Laughing)
The way I approach it now is with a mix of pride for what the genre, metal, and nu metal in this case, has meant to a lot of people, including myself. I embrace and accept that our core sound is nu metal/alternative. What I always add, however, is that we do not let the genre define us. If we want to add reggae, opera, pop, or death metal, we will. We have electronics, some opera-style singing, and maybe even some poppy approaches here and there without even realizing it. You don’t like it? Fair enough, but we most definitely do. (Laughing)

MR: Nu metal vocalists often pivot between aggressive rapping, whispering, and melodic singing, sometimes in the same song. What is the process like for mapping out these vocal dynamics?
Neverskin: A voice is a signature. The upside is that it is recognizable in most cases, but the downside is that it is limited in what it can do, within reason. I am at a stage now where I have kind of maxed out what my voice is capable of. Where I was always aiming for the highest level of vocal excellence, as that is (sometimes unfortunately) the type of person I am, I have reached a point of acceptance. I realize I might not be the next Daniel Johns (Silverchair), Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire), or Tyler Carter (ex-Issues/Woe, Is Me), all singers (especially Daniel) who have incredible reach and vocal control, and who in fact master the diversity you describe in your question. What I try to do is max out creativity, hooks, and raw emotion, and mix it with lyrical surprises and left-field writing. In short, I try to be and stay original within the playing field I have.

MR: The guitar work in nu metal often relies on down-tuning and heavy syncopation rather than traditional guitar solos. How do you approach crafting your riffs to lock in with the bass and drums?
Neverskin: Remy does this by taking full control over all three. Because we write from a base of guitar and add bass and drums at the earliest stage, getting the right riffs and drum parts in place early makes the flow and small changes much easier to make. I am currently writing some stuff at home, recording guitars and bass on top of a basic drum part. It is a really nice way of adapting the drums, bass, and guitars at an early stage. Plus, it makes vibing to the song and feeling where it needs to go much more natural and easy.
If I am completely honest, I am not really down with the whole “how low can you go” guitar thing that is going on. I mean, yeah, chugging parts sound nasty, but the highs kind of evaporate in a way. Plus, to make sure the bass, guitar, and kicks do not intertwine in the same frequency during the mix, you need to mainly focus on adding mids and highs, reducing the bass in your guitar, and tweaking out some buzz frequencies. But yeah, like you said, it is the time metal music is living in.

MR: Now, would you tell us what the next step is for Neverskin? Any new projects in the pipeline that you can share with us?
Neverskin: We are working on the final stages of our next single, and as stated before, it is Remy’s new favorite track, so take from that what you will. The only thing I can say about it is that it is noisy! (Laughing) I can’t say exactly when we will be releasing it, but I hope it will be within the next few months. Apart from that, we have been working on a completely different type of song. It is a track that is turning out to be very personal to me lyrically, touching on a subject I have never written about before. Other than that, we are simply trying to spread our music as much as we can, talking to fans and seeing how we can get more people to our socials.
I hope we will be able to release a few more songs this year and that our music will reach people. Like I said, that is all we really want right now.

MR: What about your musical inspirations, which are your main influences? You’ve been compared to acts like Taproot and Incubus. What do you think of this comparison?
Neverskin: I heard these comparisons back in my time with Ambiossis, but I haven’t read many comparisons regarding Neverskin just yet. If that is the case, I can only say that it would be a huge compliment. Taproot and Incubus were definitely bands we grew up with and I very much enjoyed listening to.
Stephen Richards is a very original singer, kind of a trademark of the 90s/00s. Taproot was one of the best live acts I have ever seen. They were one of the first bands I saw when I was young, and that experience is truly imprinted in my mind. Brandon Boyd was one of the best singers in our genre at that time, both on recordings and live. So incredibly tight and clean, unbelievable. It is a real shame he has been struggling with his voice over the years.

MR: Do you have any knowledge of the Danish metal scene?
Neverskin: I am sad to say, I only know Volbeat (which I did not know was from Denmark)! And that’s even after visiting Copenhagen for a few days, shame on me. I know some football players, though! (Laughing) If we are ever there, can I give you a call so you can take us to see the best ones you’ve got? (Laughing) And I am always happy to get to know more music, especially from other countries, so hit me up with suggestions if any Danish fans read this and want me to check some out! I am, however (and I wonder if I score points or lose some with this), a huge fan of the band Blindside hailing from your neighbors in Sweden. I never got to see them, which is one of the things in my life I really regret.

MR: OK; cool – be our guest please. How can people reach your band & music?
Neverskin: Let me start by saying we love talking to people and fans, and we are at a stage where we still can – most of the time. So, if you decide you want to share thoughts, stories, or just reach out and leave a comment, expect us to reply at some point, as long as we aren’t superstars yet (absolute sarcasm!) (Laughing)
You will find an overview of all things Neverskin here, You can find our songs on YouTube here: ‘Time‘,  ‘Piece of Mind‘:
‘Snatched‘, and our socials here, Facebook,Instagramand TikTok.

MR: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Would you like to add anything to the readers of Metal Revolution?
Neverskin: First of all, thanks to the team at Metal Revolution. It was a great, original interview, I’ve done quite a few lately, and this one definitely ranks in my top five. (Laughing) To the readers and fans: thank you. Seriously, thanks a lot for the time and interest you’ve shown by reading this, and hopefully by checking out our music. I honestly love Denmark; it’s a free-thinking, clean, and hospitable place, though the beers were a bit pricey if I remember correctly! (Laughing) Take care of each other out there. Go to shows, support the music you love, and most of all, enjoy the ride. Thanks for having us!

MR: I appreciate your kind words and thanks once again, it’s been a pleasure.