‘SLIEB finally gave me the space to really move forward’

Kes knew early on where his passion lay. ‘In high school, I was already producing music on my laptop, writing songs, recording vocals, experimenting with synthesisers and digital instruments. I loved every part of it.’ He wanted to pursue music professionally, but many of the programs he considered felt too traditional. ‘It was always about becoming a singer or mastering one specific instrument. That felt limiting to me.’ The MediaMusic programme at the ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede offered exactly what he was looking for: a Songwriter & Producer profile. ‘That sealed the deal. And since I’m from Enschede myself, the choice was easy.’

A programme that encourages freedom

Kes speaks highly of the programme. ‘It’s well-structured, inspiring, and we’re given a lot of creative freedom.’ For him, that freedom is essential. ‘In music education, you need room to focus on networking and building your career after graduation. ArtEZ really supports that.’
He has certainly taken advantage of those opportunities. Alongside his programma, Kes runs his own studio, records and mixes for clients, gives workshops, and works with young people. ‘My schedule was already packed. And that was the challenge. I still needed to complete an internship to graduate, but I kept thinking: how am I going to fit that in? I was finally gaining traction, earning money, and growing my business. I didn’t want to put that on hold.’

Discovering SLIEB

Kes was introduced to SLIEB by coordinator Andrew David. ‘Andrew approached me, and I explained that I was already so busy and had no idea how to approach my internship. He told me about SLIEB, and it immediately sounded like the perfect solution.’ The idea that he could complete his internship within his own company, without losing momentum, lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. But the program also brought unexpected challenges.
‘I was especially curious about seeing entrepreneurship from a different perspective, particularly that of Saxion students. During LevelUP! the required entrepreneurial track at Saxion for SLIEB students. I suddenly found myself in a completely different world.’

Learning to chase opportunities

For Kes, SLIEB became an intensive crash course in entrepreneurship. ‘At Saxion, there’s a strong focus on acquisition. Don’t wait for work to come to you, go out and find it. In coaching sessions, we were told: ‘Walk into a local company, ask for a coffee, start a conversation.’ That was totally new to me.’ Introducing yourself, and pitching your services felt uncomfortable at first. ‘But you learn so much from it.’ Because Kes followed a hybrid internship - partly within his own business and partly at an external company - he also gained valuable experience working with Len Gout, a mixing engineer in Arnhem known for collaborating with Dutch hip-hop artists. ‘That expanded my network within the industry. I met artists and producers I’d love to work with in the future.’

From saying yes to everything to having a clear vision

One of his biggest lessons was learning to focus.’I do a lot of different things at once. That suits me, and it’s part of how the music industry works.’ But within SLIEB, he was challenged to clearly articulate what he actually offers, and why someone should choose to work with him. ‘They really push you to be able to convince someone in five minutes. I genuinely learned that there.’

He also started looking at assignments more strategically. ‘Before SLIEB, I basically said yes to everything. I was just happy that jobs were coming in and that I was earning money.’ But when asked where he saw himself in five years, he began to reflect. ‘Are these the kinds of projects I want to keep doing? Do they have long-term potential? Sometimes that means saying no, even when it feels strange.’ He also discovered new ambitions. ‘I’d love to start producing music for commercials. During SLIEB, I met many startups that I might collaborate with in the future.’

Space to grow

For Kes, SLIEB accelerated his entrepreneurial journey. ‘It’s ideal if you feel your business has real potential, but you don’t yet have the freedom to fully commit to it. You gain time, coaching, a broader network, and a completely new perspective on entrepreneurship.’ Perhaps even more importantly, he says, the program helped him grow personally. ‘You learn who you are, as an entrepreneur and as a creator. And you’re building something that continues after graduation.’

SLIEB (Internship in Your Own Business) gives students the opportunity to use their internship to further develop their own company professionally. In collaboration with coaches from ArtEZ and Saxion, students work on their business plans, visions, networks, and entrepreneurial skills, building a solid foundation for their future careers.