His profound knowledge of ethnic, classical and electronic music were influenced by his Asian and Japanese Language and Literature Degree studies at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan in the Associated Kyoto Program exchange with Connecticut College.
With the support of Thomas Brooman and Peter Gabriel, Takkenberg and the members of his band "Bass Camp", performed at the WOMAD World Music and Dance Festival in 1995 where he recorded with Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Joe Strummer of The Clash, Mark Rutherford, and Ayub Ogada.