The Dutch band Kingfisher Sky was founded in 2005 by former Within Temptation drummer Ivar de Graaf and singer Judith Rijnveld. These two are also the last remaining founding members. Five studio albums, several EPs and singles as well as a demo have been released so far. Six years passed between the last two albums ‘Technicoloured Eyes’ (2018) and ‘Feeding the Wolves’ (2024). Due to the Covid pandemic, there were a few acoustic sessions in between. The band’s sound is difficult to describe. It consists of a mixture of Melodic Metal, Progressive and Folk Rock. Kingfisher Sky have thus created their own niche. Next year, the band will be celebrating their twentieth anniversary. So there are many reasons to ask the band.
MHF: Hey, I’m Rainer and I write for Keep on Rocking and Metalheads Forever Magazine. Thank you for letting me do this interview with you. How are you doing?
KS: Hi Rainer! We are doing very well, thank you. We just finished the first few shows in support of the new album. Oh, a small correction: Edo vd Kolk is also one of the original members from the first line-up 🙂 (According to Encyclopaedia Metallum, Kingfisher Sky have existed since 2005 and Edo has been playing in the band since 2007. Note: the author)
MHF: Although the band has been around for almost twenty years, it is certainly less well known outside the Netherlands. Please introduce yourselves briefly.
KS: We are Kingfisher Sky. We started the band with no specific style or genre in mind. We just wanted to make music that we wanted to hear. Music that contained all the elements we love from traditional folk music to metal to prog and beyond.
MHF: Ivar and Judith founded the band in 2005. How did you get to know each other? What musical ideas did you have for the band?
KS: We met in a cover band and quickly decided we wanted to make our own music. The first band we started was a hard rock band with no keyboards or orchestra. We wanted to keep it very simple and basic. Problem was we got bored with that pretty quickly and that is when we decided not to limit ourselves to one genre.
MHF: How did it come about that you named yourselves after the kingfisher?
KS: The Dutch Kingfisher is a beautiful colourful bird but also has a very sharp beak to catch fish with. That contrast is also present in our music.
MHF: Five studio albums were released during this time. How has the sound of Kingfisher Sky changed?
KS: I think it has become more balanced. We feel more secure in who we are and what we want to convey musically and in our lyrics. There is also more room for orchestral arrangements than on the first albums.
MHF: The cover artwork of the albums and EPs are extraordinary. The eponymous kingfisher is always depicted. Many of them were designed by Judith’s mother Joke Rijnveld-Stortenbeek. Who came up with the idea for these colourful paintings?
KS: That was Judith’s mother Joke! She always hears the music and gets the lyrics in an early stage so she can let her imagination run wild. The wolf on the cover has the shape of a Kingfisher in its head if you look closely!
MHF: Your fifth album ‘Feeding the Wolves’ was released a few weeks ago. I read in the press info for the album that you were inspired by an old Cherokee legend. So is this also a concept album?
KS: The wolf is a recurring theme throughout the album. The song Feeding the Wolves is about that Cherokee legend about two wolves who are in constant battle with each other. One is darkness and despair, the other light and hope. Which one will win? The one you feed.
You could say that the songs are like those wolves. There are songs dealing with dark subject matters and little hope for the future of humanity. And on the other hand there are songs celebrating all the beautiful things this life has to offer. So in that respect you could call it a concept album.
MHF: You started a crowdfunding campaign for the album. What does the support from your fans mean to you?
KS: Everything! Without them we wouldn’t be able to create an album like this.
MHF: How did the songwriting for the album work? Is there a main songwriter or do you write the songs together in the rehearsal room?
KS: Writing of the songs is mostly done in home studios. In the beginning stages of the band it was mostly Judith an myself (Ivar) who wrote the songs. On this album our keyboard player Erik and bass player Nick also contribute songs and Erik is also responsible for the orchestral arrangements on the album. Guitarist Edo van der Kolk always comes up with the most beautiful solos so every member is essential to the songs.
MHF: You were able to recruit a number of well-known guest musicians for the recordings of ‘Feeding the Wolves’, first and foremost Troy Donockley (Nightwish). How was the collaboration with the guest musicians?
KS: It was wonderful! Their contributions really lifted the songs to a whole new level. Troy brought a traditional Celtic feel that we could never do ourselves. The legendary singer Edward Reekers sang on ‘Feeding the Wolves’ which also added a whole new dimension.
MHF: How happy are you with the current album?
KS: Extremely happy! We feel it might be our best album to date.
MHF: What was the reaction from the press and fans?
KS: We are getting great reactions from the press and our fans! It seems that it makes a real emotional connection with people and for us that is the greatest compliment we could receive.
MHF: You are presenting the new album on a short tour through the Netherlands. Will there also be concerts outside your home country?
KS: Nothing planned for abroad yet but that might change!
MHF: If I am correctly informed, your 20th anniversary is coming up next year. Of course that has to be celebrated! Do you already have plans for the anniversary?
KS: Wow, time flies! We did a 10-year anniversary show back in 2017 (counting from the year Hallway of Dreams was released) so if we have 2017 as the year of conception we still have a few years to think about that 😉
MHF: Thank you once again for this interview. Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans at the end?
KS: Thank you, Rainer! To the fans we would like to say, hope to see you on the road and thank you for sticking with us throughout the years!
Kingfisher Sky are:
Judith Rijnveld – Vocals
Ivar de Graaf – Drums
Erik van Ittersum – Keys
Edo van der Kolk – Guitar
Maaike Peterse – Cello
Nick Verschoor – Bass Guitar
Discography:
Demo 2006 – Demo 2006
Hallway of Dreams – Album 2007
November – Single 2008
Skin of the Earth – Album 2010
Arms of Morpheus – Album 2014
To Turn the Tables – EP 2017
Technicoloured Eyes – Album 2018
Cornelia – Single 2018
The Lockdown Sessions – EP 2020
The Winter Sessions – EP 2021
Rise – EP 2021
Walk the Plank – EP 2022
Winter Waltz – Single 2022
Feeding the Wolves – Album 2024
Social Media:
Bandcamp – https://kingfishersky.bandcamp.com/album/feeding-the-wolves
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kingfishersky
Homepage – https://www.kingfishersky.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kingfishersky/
SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/kingfisher-sky
Twitter (X) – https://x.com/kingfisher_sky
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/kingfishersky
