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Ernst Jansz

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ernst Jansz was born in Amsterdam on 24 May 1948 and grew up in the Rivierenbuurt. His father was an Indo from Semarang on Java, who was in the Resistance during the war and ended up in a German concentration camp. Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Frédéric Chopin were his great musical examples. Before Doe Maar he played in the folk band CCC Inc.

Music and breakthrough

Jansz was one of the founders of Doe Maar, the Dutch ska and reggae band that grew into one of the most successful groups in Dutch pop history. He was first asked as a keyboard player and played synthesizer on many tracks. Together with Henny Vrienten he wrote most of the songs, and the two took turns as lead singer. For the album Skunk he wrote Rumah Saya, about the feeling of not entirely belonging anywhere, neither in the Netherlands nor in Indonesia. In 1982 Doe Maar became enormously popular, but two years later the band split up under the pressure of all the fuss. In 2000 a last album followed, with occasional reunion concerts after that.

Influence

After Doe Maar, Jansz returned to CCC Inc. and from 1995 played in the backing band of Boudewijn de Groot. He made solo albums such as De Overkant (1999) and Molenbeekstraat (2006) and wrote novels, partly autobiographical. In them his Indisch background and the history of his father are central. He also published a book with translations of lyrics by Bob Dylan.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Rumah Saya by Doe Maar. Notice the lyrics: Jansz sings about the country of his birth with no mountains on the horizon, and about the country of his father, where he would also be a stranger. Notice too the Indonesian words with which he asks where his home actually is.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists