Today we’d like to introduce you to Gertjan Mulder.
Hi Gertjan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story is basically about really following what your heart tells you to do. Really drown out the noise of other people’s opinions and to truly ‘do you’.
These lines look cool as an inspirational memes on Instagram, but to actually live by them, is a different ballgame.
I am Gertjan Mulder, pka Brainpower: a bilingual multiplatinum artist / songwriter / producer / label-owner who travels between Amsterdam & The States.
And I’ve played in a few movies.
I started playing the piano at an early age and soon after, I fell in love with Hip Hop Culture, I loved all of it. And mainly because of the combination of lyricism & rhythm, I just KNEW that this was my thing, this was what I needed to do. I remember hearing songs by Run DMC & Eric B & Rakim, and I just felt it in my whole being: this is you…… I always loved language and started writing songs as a kid. I built my music career from the ground up, doing open mics, freestyling – and doing any and all shows (‘paying dues’) for about a decade – before I released my first single. Mind you, this was during the era that Hip Hop was really considered a ‘sub-culture’ out here. There was so much groundwork to do. I would say I was in the trenches of rap for years…..then in 1998, I was literally delivering my first tape on my bicycle to stores throughout Amsterdam. In 1999, I was selling my first vinyl record from the trunk of a friend’s car, driving throughout the Benelux. I wrote articles for music magazines (as a ‘side hustle’ in exchange fro free CD’s / Vinyl albums, and there were some perks sometimes – so I managed to fly to London once or twice and some of my records ended up there as well. Getting a positive review in the NME (New Musical Express) or being in Mr. Bongo’s (Legendary UK Record Store) Top 10 felt like winning a Grammy for an underground artist like myself at the time. This was from 1997-1999
I would say there was over a decade of preparation and honing my craft as an artist/songwriter/producer. Then from 2000 until 2010 I executed my vision and was fortunate and blessed enough to see some of my dreams come to life. I dropped single after single, album after album, toured and won a bunch of awards, kind of paving the way for many rap artists to follow in those footsteps. Over the last few years, ‘local’ rap music has become the biggest thing out here.
However, I wanted to keep developing as a human being and as an artist / songwriter & more and just keep feeding my creativity.
Growing up on ’80s & ’90s Pop Culture, I always knew I wanted go to the States. I visited Philly & Miami a few times and went to New York many times. I dig all three places, but I really felt at home in New York…
Then I fell in love with Los Angeles in 2010, when I first went there. Obviously, the weather is sweet, but I really went all over and just wanted to get to know the depth of the city: From Inglewood to Hollywood, Venice, Compton, Burbank, Santa Monica, West LA, I just love and appreciate all of it.
Being a movie buff, and just an all-around film and pop culture fan, I just LOVE finding locations where so many of my favorite movies (or music videos for that matter) were filmed at. Another one of the many reasons I love LA.
The Amoeba Music Store on 6400 Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite places, I even did two video’s there. (Haven’t visited to new location yet but looking. forward to do so)
After a decade of fame in Europe, the anonymity of being in LA, the fact that no one recognized me felt kind of liberating as well.
I really met some good people out here along the way and made some great friends.
I was involved in 14 films as both an actor and a voice actor, mostly in Europe, as well as doing soundtracks and scores.
Via Bruce Richmond (HBO) who loved my music I met Art Ford, and in 2012 one of my tunes ended up in the movie ‘Thunderstruck’.
In 2018 I was asked to do some music for ‘The Equalizer 2’ by one of Art Ford’s partners: Jabari Ali, who works closely with director Antoine Fuqua
I definitely want to get more into film music and acting, I think that’s a combination that seems to work for me, next to being an artist / songwriter.
I am constantly releasing music in both the Dutch language as well as the English language, and I co-write songs with and for other artists as well. I feel at home on stage, and touring is something I truly love, but of course the pandemic changed a lot of things as far as that goes
I travel between Amsterdam & The States
Anyway: It’s more than just the love for what I do, creating content, making music, writing songs, working on films, uplifting and inspiring others through art, it is my calling.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was not really a smooth road tbh. I think the hardest part of it is the non-believers and the naysayers.
I mean when I started out, people out here were like, ‘Oh that’s not music’, and now 20 years later every talk show wants to have a rapper at their table lol.
– You really have to be able to listen to that inner voice, really believe in yourself and know your worth.
The latter is still tough sometimes, but I’m getting there.
I think fame amplifies who you really are as a person. So dealing with that has been a very valuable experience. And you have to be in it for the right reasons, so again: I know this is my calling so I treat it as such and although it is easy to get side-tracked, I always come back to staying true to my inner tuning fork. It is about the art of balancing the responsibilities of life and really dancing to the beat your own drum.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist / songwriter / producer and I run my own label.
I am mainly known for my music, I am in about 15 albums, 60 videos and 95 singles deep and I am currently working on my next studio album. I specialize in writing lyrics and in production, the whole process of making something from nothing really creating a song from scratch until the final release, mixed and mastered and then the video.
I also co-write songs for and with other artists. I really, really love that.
I have acted in a few movies and did voices for some Disney films. I get asked for Talkshows / TV shows in Europe on the regular to share my love for and knowledge of music & pop culture, as I guess I’m known as a connoisseur in these areas of expertise.
But, I think what I’m most proud of, is the respect I get from other artists, especially some of the greats: that means a lot to me. I performed with Chaka Khan twice in 2018. That was amazing.
Working on songs with elite wordsmiths like Pharoahe Monch & Daylyt. Working with a gifted producer from LA like Willie B (producer for Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole) who is also happens to be one of the dopest rappers I ever heard: The Ichiban Don. I love that.
I guess what sets me apart from others is the fact that I speak English, I speak Dutch, and I write in both languages for myself and for others. Being bilingual and loving language is a powerful thing. I love building bridges and I think knowing and understanding multiple cultures is is really something that is pretty unique and very powerful. I mean being from Europe is one thing, I was born in België, grew up in Holland, I lived in Amsterdam most of my life, traveling to the Dutch Carribbean & the French Caribbeanand then of course the States, I see the differences but also, very much, and maybe even more so, I see the similarities. And I just love people. I love music, I love Hip Hop, I love the culture that created it, and I also love the people who created it, and I love the places and the culture(s) that some of the people who created it are originally from.
I did a show in Jamaica with Yellowman (the original King Of Dancehall), that was mind-blowing. And to give you an example, Jabari Ali, who later asked me to work on ‘The Equalizer 2’ in 2018, loved the fact I did a song with Yellowman back in 2010/2011
Anyhow, this all creates a unique angle, a different view on things as a creative… an artist, a songwriter and an actor. I operate based out of love and not out of fear…
I co-wrote some songs with Eva Simons that I’m really proud of as well. Co-wrote some tunes with Candy Dulfer (she played Sax with Prince for about 18-20 years) that I’m proud of.
I am proud to know Steve Lobel and be up on the wall in his new Hip Hop Museum/Studio/Dispensary at Lemonnade Van Nuys
I opened up for Eminem in Europe, when I was still kind of coming up. Being the first Dutch rapper to win the MTV Europe Music Awards. These things…I am super thankful for. Even though I worked my ass off, I am just grateful and I stay focused on my calling…
I am proud of the fact that I am currently working with a store in Las Vegas called Endless Tees, we just dropped a merchandise collab line inspired by my recent single ‘Cazals & Keytars’.
And I am proud of the fact I picked up a Global Peace Song Award for my single ‘All the Same’ ft Orange Grove
I love this quote by Quincy Jones: ‘You can never be a better musician than you are a person…’ and I always keep that in mind (and in my heart!)!
Staying humble is the shit, no one is waiting for you. So I cannot and will not let anything. go to my head, I just keep working through ups & downs, in life and in music and always remain positive.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Aside from the pandemic having changed the current dynamics of the industry I’m in, I think it will be very interesting.
As everyone is talking NFT’s and that is something that is still developing and could be a very powerful space.
(I have worked on the first ever Virtual reality music videos in 2014, and there is still so much terrain to gain in that field….that company I worked with even made to the Guinness Book Of Records)
So NFT’s could be part of a shift that is just starting and it could take years to be fully accepted and understood by many.
I think we need to look at more at rights for songwriters and artists alike, and there is a lot going on concerning that as well. Even though it seems harder than ever to make money as a musician, I think there will be many new opportunities in the future as well……
….whatever tech is gonna make our future better our easier, and in whatever way we will ‘consume’ entertainment and enjoy art there is no match for a great song coming from a pure heart written by a craftsman or woman…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brainpowernow.com
- Instagram: @MCBrainpower
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MCBrainpower
- Linkedin: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/mcbrainpower
- Twitter: @MCBrainpower
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/MCBrainpower
Image Credits
Pic 01: Jean-Marc Kessely Pic 02: Brainpower Personal Archives / Fannie Tijssens Pic 03: Jean-Marc Kessely & Jelle Smid Pic 04: Brainpower Personal Archives / Arash Yazdani Pic 05a: Set Very Pic 05b: Set Vexy Pic 06: Sharik Derksen (MC Sharq) Pic 07: Dann Gillen Pic 08: Brainpower Personal Archives / Arash Yazdani Rights free to use for this article
