In 2019 and 2020, songwriters/musicians Rocco Ostermann and Wout Kemkens embarked on a journey as embedded musicians, searching for unique stories and musicians within prisons. This resulted in a successful album, a podcast series, videos, a series of columns, and live performances in clubs and prisons.

In 2023, we’re hitting the road again. For De Niemanders II, we’re making our presence known in asylum seeker centers throughout the country. This time, we’re pushing the creative boundaries, exploring new methods, styles, and band compositions, while also delving into other media formats. We’ll create a newspaper, a website, a podcast, and organize a festival. Together with participants from asylum seeker centers and reception centers, we aim to create high-quality end products and share them with the rest of the world. And you can help us make it happen!

Why are we doing this?

We not only want to draw inspiration from the stories of different “niemanders” (people who feel like nobodies), but also actively collaborate with them. From an artistic perspective, we invest in revealing the human behind the refugee, aiming for change, visibility, and a positive contribution to the lives of the participants.

How will we do this?

The project unfolds through multiple products and expressions. Our goal is not only to create a stunning album for De Niemanders II, but also to develop the De Niemanders newspaper (physical), this website where we share online columns, stories, and news, a podcast series, and – the cherry on top – our own festival: De Nacht van de Niemander at Luxor Live on December 30, 2023.

The music projects’ results will be showcased at De Nacht van de Niemander, which will also be an interdisciplinary evening featuring a variety of artists and creators performing and exhibiting in the theme of “niemanders.” In early 2024, the album will be released, followed by a tour of fifteen multidisciplinary performances at music venues and festivals across the Netherlands.

Donate!

Our aim is to create a framework of interconnected stories that continue to expand, forming a tapestry that cannot be ignored. Together, we’ll transform “niemanders” into “iemanders” (somebodies). Will you help us make this a reality?