Maaike Breijman

Maaike Breijman, born and raised in The Netherlands but better known in the United Kingdom, is the lead singer, dancer and pianist of the international Kate Bush tribute show Dreaming of Kate. She is also a talented songwriter, which she proves with her own songs. Her new album 'The Maaike Principle' is inspired by the pop music of the 60s and 70s, which forms the basis of the contemporary and authentic sound created by Maaike in collaboration with co-writer Remco Engels and producers Francis Dunnery (USA) and Bart Wagemakers (NL). Maaikes songs are both a source of comfort and an invitation to dance and celebrate life.

Maaike has a wealth of experience in the international music scene and an unbridled love of the stage. ‘With my timeless lyrics I hope to provide my audience with some inspiration and positive energy. My sound is contemporary, but with more than just a nod to sounds from the past that will be instantly recognisable to many music lovers. And it is exactly this familiarity that often helps to prompt a smile or trigger a moment of happiness,’ according to Maaike.

Maaike was simply born for the stage. She studied singing at the conservatory in Alkmaar in the Netherlands before unleashing her unique talent live on the national and international music scene. An energetic live performer, Maaike aspires to touch the soul with her music. She has proven herself to be a performer of international calibre, thanks in no small part to her very successful Kate Bush tribute show Dreaming of Kate, touring since 2010. Her rich imagination and love of storytelling are evident in the lyrics that she writes. Maaike: ‘I have been lucky enough in the past to be able to work on many wonderful musical projects, but now I hope to steal the hearts of the public with my own album and with the positive message that I wish to share through The Maaike Principle.’

"Dreaming of Kate" is the creation of Dutch professional singer and dancer Maaike Breijman, who started working together with a Liverpool based band in 2011 to create a live music show to perform the songs of Kate Bush live on stage. While singing Kate's songs is a challenge in itself, ambitious, theatre minded Maaike decided that the ultimate Kate Bush tribute show would involve dance routines and numerous costume changes too.

In 2013, the band toured across the UK and Holland with what was then known as "Wow - A Celebration of the Music and Artistry of Kate Bush", and received standing ovations in all 14 theatres, among which the famous Shepherds Bush Empire (London) and Royal Theatre Carré (Amsterdam). Their audience included members of the Kate Bush fan club in both countries, and celebrities like Bonehead (Oasis), Vinny Peculiar, Johnny Robinson (X-Factor), and Del Palmer.

After splitting - due to various reasons - with the producer of "Wow" (who then got offered a production job for Kate's own Before the Dawn show), the full band and lead singer Maaike decided to continue the project. With the conviction that performing Kate Bush’ music requires dedication to the look and performance, the band and Maaike developed Dreaming of Kate as a theatrical show. This means Maaike is not just a lead singer: she sings, dances, plays the piano and puts herself through a number of costumes changes. Maaike says: “The concept of the show can be a bit confusing. People expect us to be a regular band since we are a band. But with all the costume changes, dance routines and props we are more than that. On the other hand, we are not performing a musical or any particular story, which is what people expect when you say ‘costumes’ and ‘stage props’. We aim to perform, well… a fantasy, a dream.”