Last year, a quiet but deliberate experiment began somewhere between Echobox Radio and Productiehuis Nowhere. The result was Echonow, part incubator, part mentorship programme, part love letter to the future of Amsterdam nightlife. Seven young talents were selected, each carving out their niche across the sprawling ecosystem of club culture: DJing, production, promotion, visual art, and everything in between. Armed with mentors, resources, and support from the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK), they were given something rare in an industry that has grown increasingly hard to break into: a genuine shot.
Now, the first cohort is graduating, and they’re doing it properly. Tomorrow night, Garage Noord becomes the playground. AMBIT is the event, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: the full scope of what these seven have been quietly building toward, finally let loose on a room.
It matters more than it might seem. Young talent has always been the lifeblood of night culture, but the pipeline is under pressure, rising costs, shrinking spaces, and an industry that can feel impossible to get a foothold in without the right connections or capital. Echonow is a case study in what happens when public funding is pointed in the right direction.
Ahead of the night, we fired some questions over to the makers: Performance artist Amber Heijkers, DJs RUMI JILL and Tamacoochies, Producer duo North not South, visual artist Victor de Groot and curator Nina Herdigein. What came back was sharp, funny, and full of exclamation marks, a snapshot of seven distinct personalities who, between them, have a lot to say about creativity, inspiration, and the city’s dancefloors. Consider this your introduction.
Can you introduce yourself in just three words?
Amber Heijkers, Performance Artist: I love ramen.
Nina Herdigein, Curator: Young, hot and ready!
RUMI JILL, DJ: Really fucking cool
Tamacoochies, DJ: I asked my friends and they said: 1. Funny 2. Caring 3. Creative
When in Amsterdam, you can find me at…
North not South, Producers: Treehouse Studios NDSM.
Victor de Groot, Visual Artist: Iso Amsterdam, Where my studio is located.
Tamacoochies: The club…not saying which one tho. If you see me, you see me.
RUMI JILL: Any place in the North side actually. My home first and foremost, because when I’m not working or clubbing, I love to be there. But besides that, one of my favorite spots in Noord is FC Hyena, I love to catch a movie there or drink wine!
Nina: Spirit or the Exit (I know).
How did you find your medium? Or did it find you?
Nina: I got drugged when I went out for the first time and didn’t want that to be what clubbing was going to be for me forever.
RUMI JILL: I love going clubbing and we have so many amazing DJs out here in the Netherlands so it’s always been a very inspiring landscape. But it really started around two years ago when I felt like I needed something creative besides my day job. I’ve always really loved dancing, so DJing felt like the next logical step!
North not South: The bass in the subwoofers found the way to our hearts
Tamacoochies: I think it found me. I’ve been inspired by music throughout my whole life and always wanted to do something with it. I never had the patience for producing (which I will get
into), so DJing is a nice way to still play around with music.
Victor: I guess I found it at the same time as it found me. It was there all along but only until relatively recently I decided to start getting into scenography and design in context to music.
I find inspiration in…
Victor: Construction sites and industrial products, as well as nature and the different energies of sounds and Music.
Amber: Fka Twigs, techno, queer community, fashion…basically everything extravagant and cunt. But also in the crowd from some of my favorite clubs like Radion.
Nina: LITERALLY ANYTHING QUEER (POC ESPECIALLY.) Every great and iconic thing is inherently queer.
RUMI JILL: Nature, my friends and through reading.
North not South: Small producers making weird music
What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever made? Anything counts.
Amber: Definitely my latest concept video “a girl feels good” (it’s on my Instagram, go check it outttt)
Nina: Jewelry for my family and friends <3
RUMI JILL: My most recent favorite thing is the set I did at RRFM. I had a lot of fun while playing and I feel like you can hear that!
North not South: The mothership synth rack in our studio.
Tamacoochies: My NTS Radio set is still pretty #goated, so I guess that.
Victor: Forest stage at Phonolake festival last summer.
Gatekeeping or gatebreaking?
RUMI JILL: Gatebreep
Tamacoochies: Gatebreaking for sure! I used to be a chronic gatekeeper, but at the end of the day, sharing truly is caring 😛
Amber: Oh gatebreaking for sureeeeeeee. Share that stuff and inspire others with the things that inspire you.
Nina: Selective gatekeeping is allowed in my personal, humble, gatekeeploving opinion
North not South: GATEBREAKING!!!
Victor: Selective gatebreaking
What’s one thing about Amsterdam’s nightlife that nobody talks about?
Tamacoochies: Me
Victor: The disappearance of the (inside) smoking area
Amber: Oehh this is a hard one…maybe the entrance prices being insane right now. But lowkey everyone talks about that hahaha!
Nina: Every area in Amsterdam is divided into designated spots regarding sexuality! Let them kakkers be a little fruity and let femmes vibe to some Mula B please.
RUMI JILL: In a lot of ways it can be a very exclusive and unsafe space and that’s something that needs to be talked about and worked on more.
North not South: Live sets in clubs 😉
It all started somewhere. Your first ever night out was…
Amber: I think it was bitterzoet…when I was like 17?
Nina: At club UP unfortunately…
RUMI JILL: When I was twelve… I went to TDF, which is basically the equivalent of FRIS but then in Friesland. I actually remember going into the city that week with a friend to specifically buy a new shirt just to wear that night.
North not South: at Disco Dolly (R.I.P.)
Tamacoochies: In hell (Gusto Aruba.)
Victor: Loveland 2016 (?) I don’t know if it was my absolute first but I remember it as if it was.
What’s one telltale sign of a great club night?
Nina: Women and fems lowkey being butt ass naked in the club cause that is a telltale sign of a REAL safe space. Also people wearing heels… bring that back.
Amber: Waking up next to the big three: your keys, wallet and phone.
RUMI JILL: Stepping out of the club and realising the sun is already shining again.
North not South: Exploring the woods in bright sunlight after the party
Tamacoochies: FLINTA* / Queer DJ line-up
Victor: When Nathan Peters is there (when you’re planning for an early night in, but end up clubbing till closing.)
F*ck, Marry, Kill: Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Soulseek
Amber: F*ck bandcamp, marry soundcloud (because who doesn’t love a soundcloud rapper am I right ladies?), and kill soulseek.
Nina: I love Soundcloud DOWNNN, I’d die for her I’m sorry… Marry her, F*ck bandcamp and kill ?? soulseek. I don’t know dada, my apologies.
What’s the best party in Amsterdam?
Victor: no clubs.
Nina: PON DI PRIDE !!!!! and anything transmission organized when they were still active
RUMI JILL: I really loveeee going to Pon Di Pride!!!
North not South: Club Folder
Tamacoochies: Wherever my loud ass friends are <3
Amber: AMBIT!!!
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
RUMI JILL: This question is very difficult…… And I’m definitely overthinking it, but the first album that came to my mind was Gang Starr with One Of The Best Yet, so that’s going to be my pick.
Amber: Eusexua by FKA Twigs
Nina: Unlocked by Denzel Curry and Kenneth Beats
North not South: The King Of Limbs by Radiohead
Tamacoochies: Dangggg…only one? Hmmm…it’s really hard to choose between Rei Harakami, Guitar Michael Luckner, Oklou and Ralphie Choo…but probably Supernova by Ralphie Choo.
Victor: Meng by JEANS
What’s your biggest takeaway from Echonow?
Amber: Try as much stuff out as you can, know your network and enjoy the process. The end result is not a reflection of all the hard work you put in, it’s just the cherry on top.
Nina: I need to do me, cause I’m not doing enough me right now and the world deserves to see her.
RUMI JILL: I really had the time and space to deepen my craft, which didn’t stop behind the decks but extended to all the other aspects, from personal branding to networking. It gave me the guidance that I needed to better understand what I want and how I want to carry that outwards.
North not South: Building a live set is not for the faint hearted
Tamacoochies: Gaining the confidence I needed to keep going.
Victor: There are a few different disciplines in our group and each discipline brings different aspects to the spotlight. Bringing these differences together is sometimes challenging, but even more special when it can become a coherent whole.
What will your role be at AMBIT?
Amber: I’ll be performing that night with my own dance piece.
Nina: Curator!
RUMI JILL: You can catch me upstairs, in Bar40, behind the decks – so come dance !!!!!
North not South: Producing and performing a live set
Victor: I made the lighting system above the dance floor and a composition of sitting objects which act as hangout!
Tamacoochies: Drain out all of your last bit of energy…in a good way of course 😛
