VAN DE FORST is not about riding a wave, she pushes herself to the limit and that can sometimes be exhausting, but always worthwhile. That is unconditionally VAN DE FORST. And that’s why the new album by the singer and multi-instrumentalist is called “Unconditional”. It’s the result of a long journey on which the Münster born musician has experienced and amassed so much. Münster in Westphalia, not exactly the most obvious springboard for a turbulent, exciting, ever-increasing journey through the world of country music. A genre that has not yet been given the respect it deserves in Germany compared to back in its homeland, the USA, and yet, for VAN DE FORST everything started here, at the city festival with “We´ve got tonight”, the monument of country, immortalized by the unforgettable Kenny Rogers. VAN was nine years old when she first attempted the piece. It was the swift beginning of her creative energies leading to the embracing of the temptation to strive for more – music is her passion and it’s a serious business. Of course, VAN DE FORST was later no stranger to Nashville. In the “City of Music” she surrounded herself with the soul of “her” music for weeks, wandering through the bars, feeling how the music lives, what it does and what it triggers. You don’t forget that and you can’t ever take that away from a musician either. If you’re at the source of the energy, feeling this hand-made art night after night, then this city gives you undoubtably the best advice: Pay attention to the music! Feel the passion for it and treat it with respect, but most of all, put everything into it that you can muster. “I listened to and loved so many bands and musicians in bars during my time in Nashville,” says VAN of her magical months at the heart of live music. “The musicians took their audience on an exciting journey which was then so rewarding. It was all about having fun, having a good time together. And that’s exactly the vibe I want to convey.” With an open ear and an open heart VAN DE FORST paid close attention in Nashville. Her first album “Lucky” (2016) is more than a first sign of life: it’s a proof of identity, a statement – and that deserves respect. Tony Carey, Billy Falcon, who has already written songs for the multi-platinum rockers Bon Jovi, and John Parr (“St. Elmos Fire”) contributed their creativity to the album. The single “The Radio” received extensive airplay and VAN DE FORST was invited by the wondrous voices of Bonnie Tyler and Michael Bolton to be their opening act. Her songs, with which she not only thrills on stage but which have also been regularly featured in the radio charts for weeks at a time, were fine-tuned and polished to perfection in Nashville. Her single “Paint this Town”, released before a stadium tour with sell-out performer Andreas Gabalier, was mixed by Billy Decker, whose name is on over 30 million records sold including 14 singles that have featured in the Billboard Top 100. What better apprenticeship is there than bearing the Nashville stamp of quality and then performing live in front of tens of thousands of spectators – first with Gabalier and later with chart topper Ben Zucker. Michael Voss accompanies and promotes VAN DE FORST along her continued journey. Voss is not just a rock veteran who tours the world with the hard rockers Mad Max, but above all an experienced producer and songwriter. Someone who has already seen and experienced a great deal in the music world, who has been working with the ingenious and eccentric guitarist Michael Schenker for decades and knows how to channel talent, will and creative energy into songs. When it comes to VAN DE FORST, Voss is unparalleled in his role as “the man for the job”. He speaks of the vision that VAN DE FORST has and has the necessary staying power needed to stick to the right path. And he knows: This album is a “turning point” – things are changing and pioneer VAN DE FORST is about to take a big step. And so “Unconditional” has become an album that is not only the sum of all the experiences and progress thus far, but also a small declaration of war. VAN DE FORST would never claim that herself, but it is a statement of independence and a rejection being pigeonholed – breaking free from those format fetishists and those who merely only want to see their own expectations fulfilled. VAN puts it this way: “’Unconditionally’ is for me the absolute devotion to something, the unconditional love for something or someone. “Unconditional” is an expression of that unconditional love for music – for the music that I want to make.” Four years of development went into “Unconditional” – four very personal years too. “I’ve matured a lot during this time, and I’m much more aware of everything around me. You can definitely hear that in the songs.” Some exceptional musicians are at VAN’s side in this leap of faith. Hugh McDonald, bassist for multi-platinum seller Bon Jovi, contributed the all so important bass-backbone, as did Bonnie Tyler bassists Ed Poole and Mark Hill, who otherwise play with country superstar Keith Urban. Bruce Bouton plays the steel guitar on the album, renowned for his guitar work with Garth Brooks and earlier for Kenny Rogers. Great songwriters like Janey Clewer or Billy Falcon also provide songs for the album – the resumé just gets longer and longer. And all of these wonderful musicians like what they hear. “I love it, her voice sounds great,” enthuses McDonald about his “My Cowboy”. “Great song” – Hill celebrates the title track and Bouton’s opinion: “It sounds just wonderful.” The greatest praise comes from Dann Huff, one of the world’s most renowned studio musicians and producers: “A great production. She has such an impressive presence and it sounds wonderful”, and that coming from somebody who has worked with Shania Twain and Taylor Swift. Everyone of course likes to hear and read that, but names, no matter how big, don’t really matter – it’s all about the music. And if it is handmade and honest, the best you can get should play their part and be allowed to work on it too. “These people play on the album because they are an asset to every record”, Voss dismisses any notion of soulless name-dropping. “Everything on this album is handmade, no sound is canned, purely out of respect for the music and the desire to create something true, original and beautiful.” Voss continues, “all musicians bring their own color, their own line. This all culminates in the end however, to the creative power and energy of VAN DE FORST”. Even though all things are destined to move forward: “Unconditional” closes a gap in a wonderful way: “We´ve got tonight” is the name of the most successful single from the album to date. The song that started it all. It feels very special to sing it again today. So much has happened and “We’ve Got Tonight” was always there.” It’s the memory of the beginning and at the same time the proof that VAN DE FORST has matured. She no longer simply just sings the songs, but she infuses the music with life and personality. Unconditionally. “It makes me proud to be pushing this wave of country music in Germany and I’m sure that English-speaking country music will eventually gain more popularity there with time. We are currently at the forefront of this movement”. The musical life of VAN DE FORST continues. It plays out on her albums and on a variety of big and small stages, not tucked away in convenient drawers or following the usual well-trodden paths but out in front, as the pioneer of a new sound. VAN DE FORST is leading the way – with Nashville in support, country in her heart and the whole world laid out before her.