Hans & his daughter Hannah (2008)
Photo edited by Marco Rens
The legendary record producer and songwriter Hans van Hemert passed away on October 7th. I had the privilege of interviewing this music maestro for my former Luv' fan site, first sharing our conversation on December 9th, 2008. At the time, Luv's original trio (Patty Brard, Marga Scheide & José Hoebee) was sporadically touring the nostalgia circuit in the Netherlands and Belgium.
As a tribute to the man who shaped Luv's legacy, I'm reposting this special interview. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the mind of Luv's visionary creator.
Hans in the early 1970s
In 1976, Hans van Hemert conceived Luv', a group that would become iconic. With the help of Piet Souer, Hans crafted an eclectic blend of catchy songs, drawing inspiration from bubblegum pop, disco, Latin American rhythms, exotica, and schlager. His vision catapulted Luv' to the top of the charts three decades ago. Beyond this legendary girl group, Hans' talent nurtured a wide array of successful acts, including Mouth & MacNeal, Kamahl, Sandra & Andres, Vulcano, Ramses Shaffy & Liesbeth List, and American Gypsy, to name a few.
Hans' achievements are nothing short of remarkable: 140 hits on the Dutch Top 40, 8 #1 singles in the Netherlands, a dozen international hits, and prestigious accolades such as two "Conamus Export Prizes" for the best-selling Dutch acts abroad (with "Mouth & MacNeal" in 1972 and 'Luv'' in 1979), a Golden Harp Award in 1974, an ASCAP award in the US for Mouth & MacNeal's classic "How Do You Do," and 40 gold and platinum records.
A curly and young Hans in the early 1970s
In recent years, his timeless music has found new life, with several compositions being covered or sampled by contemporary dance and techno artists such as Loona, Party Animals, Scooter, and Sheffield Jumpers, underscoring his enduring influence on modern music.
During the 1990s, Hans launched his own music production company. Today, he's ventured into new territory with a real estate project in Bali, Indonesia.
Three years ago, I decided to reach out to Hans via email to express my admiration, never expecting a response. To my surprise, the Dutch pop maestro replied, offering kind words about my former weblog. We exchanged several emails, and more recently, I sent him a list of questions about Luv'—and once again, he graciously responded!"
Hans van Hemert in his studio in Laren, the Netherlands, in 2008
Ralph Ruiz-Van den Heuvel: There's a popular story about the German disco girl trio, Silver Convention that inspired you to assemble the members of Luv. Is that true?"
Hans van Hemert: I was watching a German music show on TV and saw Silver Convention. I said to my wife: "I'm going to form a group with three lovely girls (a blonde, a red-haired and a dark-skinned one), and I'll let them sing happy and fresh songs". Later, I received assistance from Piet Souer, who brought José, and Han Meijer, who suggested recruiting Patty, who had applied for a job as a secretary at my office. I came up with the name Luv' for the group in the meantime.
Silver Convention: Inspiration for Luv'
Patty Brard, Marga Scheide & José Hoebee as Luv' in 1977 at the time of their debut
Ralph: Did you have other inspirations?
Hans: No.
Ralph: As you mentioned, Piet Souer and Han Meijer assisted you in forming this girl group. How long did it take to find the perfect combination?
Hans: Almost a year.
Ralph: Who was the first Luv' girl to be recruited?
Hans: Patty.
Ralph: What about the two other ladies?
Hans: Marga was recommended to me by a modelling agency. She had previously graced the covers of a couple of records I had produced. Piet Souer asked José to join Luv'.
Ralph: Piet Souer and you composed the Luv' repertoire as "Janschen & Janschens." How did you write the songs? What was the songwriting process like?
Hans: I attempted to write songs with Piet but was unsuccessful. I am the type of person who prefers to compose "tutti solo". I wrote most of the major hits by myself, and when I couldn't complete a composition, I asked Piet to write a chorus or a couplet. Additionally, Piet composed tracks on his own, such as "Ann-Maria".
From left to right: Hans van Hemert, Pim ter Linde (Luv's manager), Patty Brard, Marga Scheide, Piet Souer and José Hoebee celebrating Luv's first number-one hit "You're the Greatest Lover" (1978)
Ralph: Who selected the songs for release as singles? Did the record company have a say in the decision?
Hans: No, when it was time to choose a follow-up single to a hit, I made the decision and insisted until no one on the label could say, "It has no potential."
Ralph: Is it true you received a Mexican gold record for "Ooh Yes I Do/Si Que Si"?
Hans: No, I'm still irritated by the fact that the girls had it and not me! Furthermore, they received this gold record when Patty was lured by the man who would become her husband, Carlo Nasi.
Patty Brard, Pim ter Linde, Bart ven der Laar (CNR/Carrere Netherlands record executive), Discos Musart director, José Hoevee and Marga Scheide receiving gold records for the "True Luv" album the "Si, Que Si (Ooh, Yes I Do)" single in Mexico City, May 1980
Ralph: Which of the Luv' songs do you prefer? Why?
Hans: First: "My Number One" because this track was exactly what I wanted it to be, and Piet added an excellent arrangement. Second: "Mother of the Hearts" because it deals with my youth. José and I recorded it on our own in a big, dark studio. She sang it so well that I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes.
Ralph: Luv' was an export success. You and the ladies received a "Conamus Prize" (like Mouth & MacNeal earlier). However, they were unsuccessful in English-speaking countries, except for South Africa and New Zealand. What are the reasons for this failure?
Hans: I experienced something similar with "How Do You Do" by Mouth & McNeal. It was a huge success all over the world except in the UK. When I asked the English record company why a TV performance wasn't scheduled for this unique duo, Johnny Franz, a famous producer and A&R manager at Philips' English subsidiary, said, "Don't tell us how to promote records". The same story happened to Luv', and I had so many artists on my roster that I couldn't plan everything.
Hans van Hemert, Mouth & MacNeal and Harry van Hoof (1972)
Ralph: You co-founded a limited company (InterLUV') with Pim ter Linde, Piet Souer, and the ladies in 1979, lasting two years. Are you content with this outcome?
Hans: It was an illegal action that the tax authorities blamed on me. Because of it, I almost lost everything. Luv's shares could be purchased.
Ralph: You left Philips/Phonogram in 1979 to sign a 750,000 Dutch Guilder deal with CNR/Carrere Records (source: De Telegraaf). In hindsight, was is a good decision?
Hans: Claude Carrere, the founder and former CEO of Carrere Records, never paid the agreed amount because he could withdraw from the deal if there were any changes in Luv's original line-up. He offered the money for the group as it originally was, including Patty, but then she left.
De Telegraaf - October 8th, 1979: Luv' signing a lucrative deal with CNR/Carrere Netherlands after their departure from Philips/Phonogram
Click here to read the article online
Ralph: What did you enjoy about Carrere Records? Did you experience more artistic freedom with this label?
Hans: No, the thing is that I simply left Phonogram, period.
Ralph: When Luv' issued a statement about their breakup in March 1981, they had many projects (including a TV series and the conquest of new territories such as the Soviet Union, Japan and Australia). Which projects were abandoned due to this breakup?
Hans: I've no idea. I only focused on music and was not directly involved in other plans. Rumour has it that I have unreleased Luv' tracks in my archives, but that isn't true. I always prepared new songs at the very last moment.
Ralph: Apart from Luv', which other Dutch girl group do you like?
Hans: Mai Tai. Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma wrote fantastic R&B classics such as "History", "Female Intuition", and "Body and Soul", flawlessly performed by Jetty Weels, Mildred Douglas and Caroline de Windt.
Dutch R&B vocal trio " Mai Tai" (Caroline de Windt, Mildred Douglas and Jetty Weels). This group enjoyed international success, especially in the UK, in the mid-1980s.
Ralph: In 2005, after you and René Moonen had reconciled the ladies, Luv' surprised you with a performance at your birthday party. Did you ever think such an event was possible?
Hans: I had almost given up on it because I had been working on it for two years, and there had always been something wrong. So it was a big surprise when the girls performed at my birthday party. My friend, De Aal, had planned everything... but don't ask me how! De Aal is the stage name of Albert Anton Johan van Aalten. I had a Top 10 Carnival hit ("Een barg die hé un Krul in de steert") with him in 1980. He's nicknamed "the singing dentist" because of his regular job in dentistry.
Luv's surprising appearance and performance at Hans van Hemert's 60th birthday (April 7th, 2005)
Ralph: What is your relationship with the official fan club? How did the club contribute to the "25 Jaar Na Waldolala" compilation, the "Completely In Luv'" box set, and the "Back In Luv'" DVD?
Hans: René Moonen did an excellent job. As a Luv' lobbyist, he knew how to persuade Universal Music to put out these ambitious compilations, which were way better than simple rush-released "Greatest Hits" CDs, as they included exclusive bonus tracks.
René Moonen, José Hoebee, Hans van Hemert and Ria Thielsch at the "25 na Waldolala" release party, October 2003
Ralph: What's your opinion on the current crisis in the music business?
Hans: When you ask teenagers if they listen to music, they often answer "very often". When you ask how they obtain the music, the answer is almost always "the internet". And when you inquire if they have paid for it, they look at you as if you came from another planet.
Ralph: What are your current and future projects?
Hans: I'm busy with other things. I see with great delight that my old hits somehow come back (sometimes there are cover versions, remixes and samples). Songwriting is a hobby, and I build houses in Bali to earn money.
BIG THANKS to Hans for making this interview possible and for your music !!!
Hans & his Luv' protégées in October 1988, backstage at Mies Bouwman's TV charity show "Samen"
Source: Allaboutluv Tripod (archives)
Comments