"It must always sound perfect" - for bassist Amber, perfect is when she no longer cares about if others think it's cool

After nine years of growing, studying, and searching for her own sound within the walls of the ArtEZ Academy of Pop Music in Enschede, it's now time for Amber to showcase her musical self and shine onstage. "My schedule is jam-packed this festival season. Almost every weekend, I'm performing with one of my bands, and in between, I'm working on my own music."

In the lead-up to graduating from the Bachelor’s course Academy of Pop Music, Amber Wolters shares her future plans in this story.

"A bassist creates the groove, is the backbone, and connects melody and rhythm in a band. That role fascinates me." Amber says. She first encountered the bass during her initial conservatory studies in Music in Education. "There, you learn the basics of various instruments, including the bass guitar. When I first picked up the bass, it felt immediately right. I understood the instrument and quickly made progress intuitively. I had previously played piano and guitar in bands, but never felt that they were instruments that truly suited me. The bass is different for me; it directly translates the input you give, making it an incredibly expressive instrument."

During her Music Education studies, Amber began to doubt whether she should switch to the Pop Academy.  After earning her diploma, she began the Bachelor’s programme at the Pop Academy. She has now completed with an autobiographical final performance, showcasing where she comes from and where she is headed. "This was the first time I presented my own solo project," Amber says. "I hadn't done this before. I had to search for my own sound for a long time, because to me, it had to be "perfect" first. Perfect, for me, is the moment when I no longer care what others think of what I'm doing."

A full schedule

"The conservatory in Enschede is a place where most students find their extended family. Since most fellow students share the same ambitions and drive, we really understand, support and encourage each other. The bands that are formed at the conservatory receive a real boost because everyone wants them to take off, figuratively speaking," Amber says. Since students spend a lot of time playing together and have access to rehearsal rooms and studios, projects develop very quickly. Amber performed recently at Best Kept Secret with one such project, which she reports was "an incredibly beautiful experience."

The professional field

During her studies, Amber gained a lot of practical experience through various internships and co-organising the Booster Festival. Gradually, she began to see her fellow students and friends becoming her colleagues. "Initially, it takes some getting used to, having to handle business matters with your friends, but it makes sense," she says. "Everyone at this school will eventually work in the music industry in some capacity. That network consistently proves to be incredibly valuable in practice."

Her future plans

"Being a professional gigging musician feels like something I simply have to do. I also want to release my own music, where I play and sing myself. For the past year, I’ve been writing seriously, and during my graduation show, I previewed two of my songs. It will continue to evolve on its own, but genre-wise, I’m leaning towards indie, with a bit more edge," Amber says. She plans to continue playing for other bands and teaching, but her main goal post-graduation is to release her own EP or album.

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