Wat doet King Sepi?
Laura Hofman: King Sepi is an independent Rotterdam-based live platform, founded in 2013 by local promoter Laura Hofman. So basically King Sepi books and organizes concerts.
Wie helpen er allemaal bij King Sepi?
L: 'I do it all alone with me, myself and I. Frank Schröer designs my posters and for King Sepi Fest Bart Kalkman has made animations but the rest I do everything alone. King Sepi is one woman's dream come true in someways.'
Wat is de opzet van een King Sepi event?
'I want to introduce new music/bands for the audience/scene in Rotterdam. I want to bring good quality music from different genres to Rotterdam. When I started nobody else booked bands from Belgium, Germany, nordic country's or East European country's. That was a clear choice what I made when I started that I let the other promoters keep booking Dutch bands and I focus bringing bands from other country's. Now I see a change, Rotown books more and more bands from Belgium which is a great thing because there's so much great music in that country, Nordic indie pop scene is also becoming more popular and it's not a wonder to see a danish band playing in Rotterdam. I was bringing artists from the east side of Europe and Russia to Worm and it's just heart warming to see them still doing that and digging deeper and making connections between local and foreigner musicians and artists.'
Is dat veranderd in de loop van de tijd?
'Of course a bit. Now I know much more people from the scene than when I started and the first few years I felt I was really doing everything alone and fighting against windmills. Now if I have a problem, I can always call somebody and get help or advides. At the begin I was constantly questioned because I'm a woman, foreign and I have kids. Now I don't have to listen anymore how I'm a terrible mother by doing what I do and how I just want to book bands so I can hang around with musicians. Btw, I hope that's not anybody's motive to do this work! My network got bigger, both national and international, and now I don't have to search bands that much anymore. The music comes to me.'
Waar komt de naam King Sepi vandaan?
Sepi is my dear old nickname which my best friends back in Finland cave to me when I was 9 years old. It comes from my family name Seppänen. I come from a small city up north in Finland and I want to remember my background. I choose King to go with Sepi because I was told so many times that I can't do this work because I'm a woman so I thought, fuck you all, I call my self a king and we will see.
Waarom organiseer je een King Sepi Fest?
This is my 7th year organizing shows and third year at Roodkapje so timing felt right. I have already done few evenings with 4 bands so this had to be a bit bigger than that! I'm extreme grateful for the local bands who wants to come play at my shows so this is also my way of saying thank you to them and giving a spot to play. King Sepi Fest is ode for the underground scene in Rotterdam and beyond.