Introduction about Thorn by Marc Lankreijer (AMS)

Two best friends since high school, Hugo van der Wolk and Roel Hoogendoorn, formerly formed the pop/dance crossover LIVE act Audioknights. Mason tipped these young and very talented producers-songwriters to me. He knew I was looking for good songwriters who could bring their songs LIVE on stage in (dance) clubs. They first formed a duo where both took care of the vocals, guitars and synths. Before they did their actual first performance with their new LIVE band, they ended up in the finals of ´De Grote Prijs van Nederland´, Dutch most popular talent contest. The contest launched the careers of Junkie XL (JXL), Nobody Beats The Drum, Pitto and many other Dutch artists who later became famous.

After a year of touring as Audioknights, their fresh new sound turned out to be too pop for the (underground) dance culture and too danceable for the pop culture. Maybe they were just too early with their sound, as there wasn’t any LIVE act in The Netherlands bringing Audioknights kind of crossover dance/pop music on stage. Advised by me and finally to their own happiness they split up and started their own solo careers. Hugo Casper launched his new alias and for his LIVE act he now focuses on producing house music, while keep writing pop songs for other artists. Thorn went back to his first love ‘techno’ and keeps bringing his sound LIVE on stage. During Amsterdam Dance Event 2011 each of them presented their first EP with their own new sound. The last months they prepared their new LIVE show and are ready to rock their fresh new solo careers.