The Tomtom Three

In more than half a century, Dutch band The Nits have created their own musical and cultural universe. Over the course of many episodes, we have attempted to describe and analyze this world, to approach it in interviews with the protagonists and fans from many countries. Now the time has come to ask the really important question: Why?

On Monday, the 16th of May 2022, a fire destroyed their rehearsal room, studio and archive of Dutch band The Nits. Despite this devastating event, that robbed the band of their creative laboratory, the musicians and their team went on. The first step was to record six songs that document the burning of the Werf.

For many years, the Nits have been participating in side-projects with other musicians. The focus of this episode is on these rewarding musical expeditions and collaborations with musicians and singers from the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland.

Where are these Dutch mountais? In the east of Amsterdam, in Watergraafsmeer. Rows of two storey brick houses, far from the touristy part of the city. A walk through the neighborhood provides sources for the many songs of the Nits, that have this place as a backdrop. A walk through the place with singer and lyricist Henk Hofstede.

Nits go on with their exploration of sounds and stories. The album “Angst” is followed by two more albums of tracks based on improvisation. The outcome are alternatingly challenging and beautiful, between classic pop songs and seemingly free form-structures. The albums “Knot” (2019) and “Neon” (2022) are unexpected late in the career-highlights.

This episode features the thoughts and insights of various musicians and a philosopher into the work of the Nits. They also share their views on why this oeuvre is important both on a musical and more general level. A colourful bouquet of different approaches.

„Angst“ is an album of memories. Memories of World War II, of Dutch nazis, of “Fanta erfrischt”. But then also memories of the Seventies, of Saturday evenings and grandma’s place, with Dutch showmaster Rudi Carrell on the TV and the men in the family playing cards. And, “Angst” is also the first of three albums where the songs were improvised.

Covering songs by the Nits isn't the easiest task, and neither is it one that has been often undertaken. For the 40th anniversary of the band, some Swiss Nits-enthusiasts thought it was high time to change the latter. The result: “Isnt Nits”, a 3 CD-box with 51 cover versions from artists from around the world.

As usual with the Nits, another album means another approach. Gone are the more straightforward poppy structures of the two albums before this; “Malpensa” from 2012 is built on electronica and loops. 2014 is filled with celebrations for the 40th birthday which allows for a look back at history with a Best Of-box set and a second live album in 2015.

The Nits are children of the Sixties. In 2008 and 2009, the Nits publish twin albums, that bear the influence of the period of classic pop music. These are shorter, upbeat songs, that still bear their own unmistakable mark. Back to the future!