Spinvis is a Dutch one-man music project centred on Erik de Jong (born 2 February 1961, Spijkenisse). Using experimental, lo-fi music, Spinvis has earned two gold records in the Netherlands, and performed sold-out tours in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Biography Spinvis In 2001, Erik de Jong, or Spinvis, at the age of 40, sent a three-song demo to the Dutch indie label, Excelsior Recordings. Within two weeks, a record deal was signed. The label decided to keep the songs that had been recorded by Spinvis on his home computer. With some minor mixing touch-ups these songs comprised Spinvis' first album, released in the Netherlands on 1 April 2002. The music press responded with positive reviews and the album reached number one in Oor magazine's Moordlijst, an alternative chart in the Netherlands. De Jong began touring, and played at the Crossing Border Festival in Amsterdam with Toots Thielemans. He at the end of 2002, Spinvis' song "Smalfilm" was second in the VPRO's Song of the Year 2002 contest. In addition to this De Jong received an Essent Award, a prize for breakthrough artists. Spinvis and his ensemble completed a brief tour in early 2003. With labelmates Bauer, De Jong created a track for a Dutch music webzine compilation. In August, Spinvis performed in Germany (Haldern Open Air) and Belgium (Pukkelpop). On 1 December, "Nieuwegein aan Zee" was released, containing a live registration and a number of unreleased tracks. On 17 December, Spinvis performed with an orchestra in Vredenburg, Utrecht. In early 2004, Spinvis won two Dutch awards, the Silver Harp and the Annie M.G. Schmidt prize. In honour of the fourth edition of the Cross-Linx festival De Jong composed a musical piece that consists of three rhythmical monologues. Actress Roos Ouwehand, opera singer Lucia Meeuwsen and actor Hans Dagelet performed the pieces together with Spinvis. For filmmaker Theo van Gogh, Spinvis wrote the title song for the television series Medea. This six-part series on Dutch politics was shown in the winter of 2004. In this busy year Spinvis also contributed to Claudia de Breij's song "Nieuwbouwwijk". Dagen van gras, dagen van stro During the Noorderslag music festival, the Ringtone Society presented a website that promoted the artistic development of ringtones. Spinvis participated in this project. The song "Idee Zeventien" ('Idea Seventeen') appeared on the compilation The Pet Series: Volume 4. During spring 2005, Spinvis Performed in Dutch theaters with his