Name: Jacob Streefkerk
St. Maarten Nickname: Kobbe
Age: 30
City and Country of residence today: Tilburg [Chill-burg], North Brabant, the Netherlands
Occupation: Musician (Guitarist)/Producer
Recap your story: I was born on December 19, 1978, in Zeeland, the Netherlands, and moved to St. Maarten as an infant. I grew up on St. Maarten and was lucky to have a mom who encouraged sports & music so I was a pretty active kid growing up.
I graduated from Milton Peters College (MPC) in 1996 and moved to Holland to study engineering. I switched to marketing shortly afterwards and finally ended up choosing music & music production. In 2002 we started the rock/crossover band "Intwine" of which I am a co-founder and guitarist. Early this year we signed a record deal with German label Tiefdruck-Musik/Universal, and are releasing our first worldwide album on August 14, 2009.
What St. Maarten district are you from? Great Bay
Where did you go to school on St. Maarten?
St. Peter's Hillside Primary School, Milton Peters College (MPC)
What is your favourite St. Maarten memory?
As a child... learning to windsurf at age 8.
As a teenager... camping out on Pinel Island with friends.
As an adult... jammin' the Heineken Regatta & The Alley these last couple of years!
What was your biggest surprise when you left the island?
I wasn't really surprised by many things as I have a Dutch father and have spent a few summers in Holland as a teenager visiting family.
What are your accomplishments?
I've established myself as a professional musician and have recently started producing and engineering commercially. I've recorded and released six full-length albums and various singles/videos, which have combined sales of approx 250,000 units.
What are your goals?
To continue to make music I believe in.
What makes you special?
Besides my good looks? Ha ha... no I don't know, I've never considered myself to be special really. But if I had to say something, I guess it would be my story and the fact that I have been and still am a part of one of the biggest rock formations ever to come from the Dutch Antilles.
Where do you get your drive?
My ambition to succeed.
How long have you been gone?
13 years.
Do you have any advice for the young people of St. Maarten?
Pursue what drives you & live it up!
Are you planning to return to St. Maarten in the future? I've been up and down to St. Maarten quite regularly and definitely plan on keeping that habit going!
