Between Cities didn’t start from success, but from doubt.
After years of making music, the Dutch alt-rock duo found themselves at a crossroads: stop, or begin again, without knowing where it would lead. They had seen how easily dreams can stall, how often doors close, and how quickly you can lose yourself in other people’s expectations. Quitting would have been easier. Starting over, honestly, felt necessary.

So they chose to make music without masks. Less façade, less role-playing, less surface-level emotion. Not to prove anything, but to understand what was happening inside themselves. Conversations about doubt, identity, change, and feeling stuck became the emotional core of their songs. Between Cities became a place for people who aren’t “there” yet. For those who are still becoming. For those who feel deeply but don’t always have the words. Their music doesn’t try to fix you, it simply says: this is allowed to exist.

Sonically, Between Cities blends the emotional intensity of post-hardcore and emo with sharp, song-first pop sensibilities. Their sound is built around big, atmospheric hooks wrapped in heavy guitars, drawing comparisons to acts like Holding Absence, Dayseeker, and Caskets, always with melody at the core. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Nick Jongenjan and drummer/backing vocalist Gijs de Waal, whose chemistry creates a cinematic yet hard-hitting dynamic.

This vision has translated into rapid momentum. Their latest singles, produced and mixed by UK producer Dan Weller, tripled their monthly listeners and streaming numbers, marking a major turning point in their trajectory. The releases led to a successful European support run with Hands Like Houses. Earlier, the duo played their very first support shows as a band: a fully sold-out Dutch tour opening ten venues nationwide for rock phenomenon The Dirty Daddies, an unusually strong start for a new act.

Beyond the stage, Between Cities has gained strong traction online and in the media, earning placements on major editorial playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday, alongside dozens of independent curations. They also made a national television appearance on Dutch TV with their own rendition of Iris, reaching a multi-million audience.
With new Dan Weller–produced music on the way, Between Cities continues to carve out a space for honesty, intensity, and emotional clarity in heavy music. Loud about what matters, and unafraid to be real.