My roots

My family heritage is from Maluku, the Moluccan archipel of Indonesia.
Both of my parents were born in Indonesia, being rooted from the Molucca islands of Indonesia, concerning:

-my father-
• originating from the capitol island of the Moluccas, named: Ambon. Place of descent: Hutumuri,
regarding my father, Gerard Hendrik Leonard van der Hoeven, born in Djambean / Indonesia (1942),
descendant of Leonardus Christiaan van der Hoeven and Paula Huizen, both born in Indonesia.
Further ancestry:
Hendrik Leonardus van der Hoeven, born in Indonesia, and Elisabeth (Lies) Thenu, born in Indonesia.
Place of origin: Hutumuri / Ambon / The Moluccas / Indonesia;

-my mother-
• originating from the mother island of the Moluccas, “Nusa Ina”, as it’s called by Moluccans, named: Ceram.
Place of descent: Amahei,
regarding my mother, Edith Irene Kruijsboom-Kakiay, born in Surabaja / Indonesia (1940-1998), descendant of
Hector Dirk Kruijsboom, born in Situbondo / Aceh / Indonesia (1898-1945) and
Adriana Argina Kakiay, born in Kota-Radja (= Banda Aceh) / Aceh / Indonesia (1906-1993).
Further ancestry:
Johannes (Johanis) Kakiay (1869-1926) and Martha Hallatu (....-1926), daughter of
(Raja 1872-1899) Wilhelm Hallatu.
Place of origin: Amahei / Ceram / The Moluccas / Indonesia.

Martha Hallatu & Johanis Kakiay

Influence & musical expression

Since my heritage is from the Moluccas, though I'm raised in Europe, I have been absolutely influenced by this culture, which has very distinctive traditions from western cultures, as well in perception, as in music. Values and living conditions as unity, togetherness, family ties, brotherhood, pride, dignity, harmony, love, respect, religion, superstition and musical expression are the basics of this culture, my upbringing, my life and my musical expression, which still finds the natural reflection in my music and my way of life.
For my roots is my ultimate inspiration to my soul, my heart will always be the messenger. Music is my language.

Next generation

I certainly am very proud and happy to have notice of the joy, the passion and soulpower of my sweet loving daughter "Sanne", keeping the spirits of our ancestors alive by listening to her heart and always being in touch with her soul to whatever she is doing, which is, according to music, very obvious when she starts composing her songs on the piano, writing and singing her lyrics of life with open heart and open mind, and especially when she plays the Tifa (Moluccan drums) as blood can tell. As she once told me, when she was still at a young age:"Playing the Tifa makes me forget all relativity of life, as being released from every burden, and gets me into a state of being in total ultimate harmony with nature and most of all myself.