Acclaimed Dutch folk artist Gitta de Ridder is set to release ‘Heroes For a Day’ on May 23rd, the final single taken from her upcoming record N(i)e(u)w Land due out on June 20th. Produced by Jonatan Backelie and released on her independent label Little Memories Records with an album launch at the Green Note the same month, ‘Heroes For a Day’ is an insight into the themes of self-acceptance, longing, grief and change on this personal yet universal collection of works.
Built around a gentle, fingerpicked guitar and delicately layered string arrangements, ‘Heroes For a Day’ offers a sparse yet emotionally resonant soundscape that merges folk-rooted storytelling with a pop-leaning lightness. Gitta’s double-tracked vocals bring an intimate immediacy, inviting listeners in: “It’s about the magic of everyday life, the beauty of sharing moments of joy and play, even amidst heavier feelings…. A commitment to always return to life’s lighter side while also embracing the dark.”
Created in the midst of profound life changes – becoming a mother, grieving the passing of her father, and navigating a world in the aftermath of lockdown – N(i)e(u)w Land is a deeply introspective and healing body of work. Recorded in her home studio between feeds and first steps, it reflects both the fragility and resilience of life. “The songs speak of longing, of hope, of getting in touch with all of ourselves; our scars, our hurt, our joy and our playfulness,” says Gitta. “The light and the dark. The duality of life.”
While previous records were self-produced, acoustic and more traditionally folk, a new collaboration with Jonatan Bäckelie as producer sees Gitta skillfully crossing the boundaries from modern folk and new acoustics to pop while maintaining a distinctive and recognisable sound. Where poetic lyrics meet the honesty and rawness of folk music, she adds a lightness and pop edge without losing sight of meaning and authenticity.
This is the first time Gitta has worked with an outside producer, collaborating with Swedish musician Jonatan Bäckelie. “I’d been searching for someone who could understand and expand my vision,” she shares. “Working with Jonatan—whom I met during a songwriting course in the pandemic—was like finding a creative soulmate. There was instant trust and a shared language that made this album such a joyful process, even in a time that was emotionally tough.”
The album’s lead single, “Dear Memories,” is a poignant centrepiece and inspiration for the album’s bilingual title—a nod to Gitta’s journey from the “new lands” of the Netherlands (Flevoland) to her adopted home in the UK. “It’s a song written in the wake of losing my dad, about how memories become our most precious possessions when we can no longer create new ones.”
Each track on N(i)e(u)w Land dives deep into themes of loss, love, vulnerability, and the quiet strength of everyday life. “High Hopes” reflects on resilience and holding onto beauty in life’s simple moments, inspired by philosophical conversations with German singer-songwriter Ulrich Zehfuss. “Hollow” explores the vulnerability of motherhood, while “Tough Loving” and “All of Everything” focus on self-acceptance and the complexity of our inner emotional worlds. “Heroes for a Day” celebrates the return to playfulness and wonder, honouring the joy found in the small rituals of love. The first single, “Tiny” gives voice to the quiet longing for a child during years of uncertainty and waiting. The album closes with “Shine Sun Shine”, a radiant and comforting song that gently builds from a voice memo into a full arrangement.
With comparisons drawn to Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, Gitta de Ridder continues to enchant listeners with her emotive vocals and lyrical depth. N(i)e(u)w Land is a vulnerable and empowering companion for life’s emotional journeys, showing how music can be both mirror and balm.
Join Gitta for the album launch this June at the Green Note, London.
Credits:
Guitars, vocals, backing vocals: Gitta De Ridder
Additional instruments: Jonatan Bäckelie
Production and mixing: Jonatan Bäckelie
Mastering: Eric James at Philosophers Barn Mastering
