In Sync with Synchro music is an interview series in which I put our artists and clients in the spotlight.
At Synchro music, everything revolves around collaboration, creativity, and building a distinctive sound. In this series, we give the people behind the music a voice — sharing their background, creative process, ambitions, and the path they are carving within the music industry.
From producers and bands to songwriters and performers, each interview offers a unique insight into the stories behind the tracks and the collaboration with Synchro music.
In this edition of In Sync with Synchro music, I speak with Joni de Groot — Joni de Groot (pronounce like Dzjoni) is an illustrator, musician, and emerging cabaret performer based in Den Bosch. What once began as intuitive musical experimentation has grown into a fully developed creative path. With a background in illustration, a sharp eye for storytelling, and a growing love for songwriting, she is shaping a unique artistic voice that blends music, humor, and personal expression.
🎤 Getting to Know Joni
“My name is Joni (‘Dzjoni’) de Groot. I graduated as an illustrator, I’ve lived in Den Bosch for years, and I’ve been making music for the past few years. This past year, I also took my first steps into cabaret.”
Music was always present — from piano lessons to experimenting with GarageBand — but the real foundation was laid in 2020, when Joni started bass guitar lessons and learned music theory. That knowledge unlocked everything: suddenly melodies, structures, and ideas clicked into place. Three of the songs she wrote during that period now appear on her EP Anarchie voor de hele familie. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0vFvqb4SN3v4mKr1nJ270P?si=C6SzEQbOTUaVVh991yjf7Q
🎹 From First Keyboard to a Personal Sound
It all started on her eighth birthday, with a small Casio keyboard. One finger, one melody: Alle Menschen werden Brüder. Still, for many years music took a back seat to drawing — Joni’s original plan was to become an illustrator.
Around age sixteen she discovered GarageBand and began creating music intuitively, inspired by artists like Lady Gaga, YELLE, and Robyn. She didn’t yet understand the theory behind what she was doing, but the creative spark was there. During the pandemic, with time to dive deeper, she finally learned how music works — and everything accelerated from there.
⚙️ The Creative Process
Over the past year, Joni participated in the Cabaret Playground program at Huis73 in Den Bosch. The trajectory helped her grow not only as a maker but also as a performer. Especially the focus on writing — text, story, voice — had a big impact on her music.
“The program helped me make my music more personal. I’d love to join another edition of the Playground this fall.”
Her writing and production process varies per song: sometimes a first version appears in a single evening, while arranging and recording can take months. She often lets songs rest until new ideas emerge. Working from text remains her most natural starting point.
🌈 Inspiration in the Everyday
Joni finds inspiration in small, often overlooked moments. One example: walking from work to her singing lesson, she saw two people at a crossing — one with purple hair and snakeskin leggings. In a city she describes as “well‑behaved” and “mainstream,” that image stood out. While waiting for her lesson, she scribbled the chorus for her song Punk on a piece of paper.
“She’s a diehardcore guitar junk.”
The rest came together later at home.
🚀 Ambitions
Joni’s ambition is simple and sincere: keep creating, keep learning, keep performing. Music and cabaret form her creative playground — and she wants to grow in both, exploring how they can strengthen each other.
🎢 Fun Fact
“I hope to collect many stories once I start performing more!”
The anecdotes are still ahead of her — but given her mix of music, observation, and humor, they’re bound to be good ones.
🔗 Follow Joni
Instagram: @jonidegroot_geluid