Thijmen Kassies went from making music in his spare time to creating audio that can be heard on the radio every day. Last spring, he graduated from the Academy for Popular Culture. He has now been working at 3FM as a radio and audio designer for almost three years. How did his education contribute to his ambition? And what was it like to do an internship at such a large company? Read about it in the interview below.
“What I like best is that my work can be heard right away on the radio and is listened to by thousands of people.”
What I like best is that my work can be heard right away on the radio and is listened to by thousands of people.
Why did you choose the Academy for Popular Culture back then?
“In my free time, I was always making and producing music, but at first, a creative programme didn’t even cross my mind. I was more interested in programmes with better job prospects, like the Hotel Management School or a programme to become a geography teacher. Fortunately, my parents encouraged me to choose something that made me happy.”
“One day, I was flipping through a Hanze brochure and came across the Academy for Popular Culture. The idea that I could spend four years pursuing my hobby under professional guidance really appealed to me. It made me see the possibility of eventually turning my passion into a career. I’m glad I pursued this programme. If you put enough time and energy into it, you get a lot in return.”
What did you hope to achieve when you started the programme?
“I really wanted to work in radio or television. My uncle did freelance work for Talpa, and back then he’d sometimes let me tag along to check out the studios. I found that fascinating. I dreamed of producing music for TV shows, but I also had the ambition to become a DJ.”
So, did that work out?
“Yes, I can definitely say it worked out! The program gave me great support in achieving my goals. I spent a lot of time on music production and was able to make real progress. Gradually, it became clearer and clearer that I wanted to work in audio within the media industry: a fun job with creative freedom. I also produced electronic dance music together with Abel, a classmate. For my third-year internship, I visited many media companies and record labels. Eventually, I came across a job opening at 3FM for a radio and audio designer. I got the internship, and they ended up hiring me. With my audio work, I help give the station its musical character.”
What was it like to land a job at such a large company right out of college?
“Very educational! At a large company, I learned many things you don’t learn in school, such as collaborating with colleagues, organizing meetings, and working within a professional organization. During my internship, I learned to channel my creativity in line with the brand and the target audience. I wrote scripts and produced audio, but always kept the listener and the company’s values in mind.”
“At school, I worked more intuitively, whereas at 3FM, you work in a more structured way. The pace is also fast, and there are a lot of deadlines. At the same time, you’re given the freedom to stay innovative. What I enjoy most is that my work can be heard directly on the radio and is listened to by thousands of people. I also think it’s cool to work on big projects, like Serious Request.”
What’s your dream for the future?
“I still really enjoy my work at 3FM and hope to continue growing here. In the future, I’d be interested in applying my audio experience to major brands like Nespresso or Audi. On the other hand, I dream of performing and traveling with Delirean, the producer duo I’m part of. Ideally, I’d like to combine those two worlds in the future: working on creative audio concepts while also fully dedicating myself to my own music.”