What is the best thing that I love about my work? I love the freedom to create what I want to express myself, tell my stories, and reach people who resonate with my work.
What is my idea of happiness? Being free with yourself and open with others, sharing your passions and exploring new experiences throughout life.
What is my greatest fear? Loosing my freedom to create and work within the music industry, and losing connections with the people in my life who contribute to my confidence, creativity, and opportunities.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Self doubt. Self doubt is huge for me and sometimes very paralyzing, perfectionism also contributes to this and leads to the same outcome of holding back and hesitating to chase opportunities.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Dolly Parton, she’s super kind, humble, and has created an amazing career for herself. Lana Del Rey too, she’s very open and authentic with herself and her audience which I love and admire.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Procrastination. It can be really hard to find the motivation to work alone as an independent artist, particularly when you’re entirely responsible for writing, recording, producing, and releasing/ selling your music.
When and where was I the happiest in my work? Probably writing, I love writing music alone and with people as it’s very vulnerable and allows me to open up p to myself and to others. It gives me the chance to feel like I’m in tune with myself – no pun intended!
If I could, what would I change about myself? Probably that self doubt again, I’d kick it as best I could so I could crack on with pursuing cool opportunities and furthering my career in the music industry.
What is my greatest achievement in work? Releasing my debut album, Living In A Dream, which was recorded, produced, and released completely independently while I was studying and working full time – it was a busy year!
Where would I most like to live? I’d love to move to London, it’s got a cool vibe and is a great bustling city filled with loads of opportunities and fun people to network with!
What is my most treasured possession? My piano. It was the piano I wrote my first songs on and recorded the album with. It doesn’t work quite as well as it used to and the model is discontinued, but I love it and would be heartbroken to sell it!
What is my most marked characteristic? I whistle and sing constantly! Everyone I work with calls me “songbird” because I do it so unconsciously, especially when they most likely want some peace and quiet.
What is my most inspirational location in my city? The Joiners, Southampton. So many cool bands and musicians have played there, and I have many proud memories from my own performances as a solo act, in my band, and during my time at university there.
What is my favourite place to eat and drink in my city? Maritimo Lounge and London Road Brew House are fantastic, as are Overdraft and Nara.
What books influenced my life and how? To Kill a Mockingbird was a really powerful read for me, it was so intriguing to visualise such a brutal, adult world through the eyes of a child as I read the book.
You only die once. What music would I listen to on my last day? Ride by Lana Del Rey. No question.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Hero – definitely Samwise Gamgee. Heroine – someone like Aelin Galathynius or Elide Lochan from the Throne of Glass book series. It’s so hard to decide!
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? Easy – my parents. They’re super cool people and I’ve definitely learned a lot about resilience, pursuing your dreams, and kindness and respect from them.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? Forrest Gump. Oh my god, this movie kills me every time but it is such a beautiful depiction of life and all it’s funny little adventures!
What role play stories in my life and work? Stories are a huge part of my work, I tell my own through my music and find audiences who resonate with me and share theirs. Stories bring people together and create communities that last.
What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” mean to me? They remind me that we have the power to change our lives, and life is what you make it.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? Probably my mum, she has definitely been my Spotify super fan since my first release, and I really don’t think anyone’s gonna take that title from her ever!
What people or companies would I like to work with? I could definitely be interested in working with some major companies like Sony Music and Universal Music Group, as well as organisations like PRS and the Musician’s Union.
What project am I looking forward to work on? At the moment, I’m enjoying that my album has been recently released, and despite the fact that I’d like to give it some time to breathe, I’m very excited to continue releasing music and begin working towards my next album!
Where can you see me or my work? Any digital streaming platform like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, even Youtube! You can find me on Instagram at @abignellmusic to follow my socials.
What do the words “passion never retires” mean to me? These words mean that when you take work and income out of the equation, your true passions in life will stay with you and give you meaning and purpose. They will be difficult to leave behind, even if they no longer provide an income or stability for you.
Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story? Lorenza Marino, MONIQ, Oscar Meades, Mimi Rae. These are just a handful of some of the fantastic musicians in my area absolutely working their butts off making magic!
How can you contact me? You can contact me via email at abignellmusic@gmail.com for enquiries, or just a friendly chat!
Do you know creative professionals whose story deserves to be told? The Ambassador Program gives you a natural, meaningful way to reach them. [Download the Ambassador Program →]
Take a Testdrive in Your Dreamjob
An initiative by The Hero’s Journey & The Heroine’s Journey
You have just read one of the 5,000 stories published here over the past decade. Every single one proves the same thing: a creative, fulfilling life is not a fantasy. It is a choice — made by real people, in real circumstances, one honest decision at a time.
Reading their story is the first step. The next step is a conversation. With the person already living the life you are wondering about.
What Is a Testdrive?
A Testdrive is one hour — or more — with a professional who is already living the life you are curious about. Not a motivational speaker. Not a career coach. The actual sculptor, filmmaker, chef, architect, or entrepreneur you want to understand from the inside.
You ask the questions that matter: What does a day really look like? What does it pay? What did you sacrifice to get here? What do you wish someone had told you before you started?
Peter de Kuster finds the right professional in his global network, makes the introduction, and gives you the questionnaire that gets honest answers — the same questionnaire behind every story on this site.
What You Receive
Access to a professional in the exact field you want to enter. A structured, deep conversation guided by Peter’s questionnaire. The unfiltered truth about a life you have been wondering about.
Your name is published as the interviewer on every profile you create — an immediate, permanent footprint across the creative industries you are exploring.
What Your Mentor Receives
Your mentor gives their time not for money but for something more lasting: the chance to help someone find their path, and a published profile on one of the world’s largest archives of creative professional stories — read by thousands of people every week.
Choose Your Testdrive
EXPLORER · € 150
One profession. One mentor. One honest hour inside the life you are curious about.
Peter finds the right professional, makes the introduction, and gives you the questionnaire. You conduct the interview. The result is published on The Hero’s Journey with your name as the interviewer.
Ideal for someone with one clear profession they want to explore.
PIONEER · € 395
Up to three professions. Three mentors. Three published stories — each with your name as the interviewer.
Peter personally selects each mentor for fit — not just anyone in the field, but the right person for where you are in your journey. Three conversations across three different lives, giving you the depth and breadth to make your next move with complete confidence.
Ideal for someone standing at a genuine crossroads — curious about more than one path, and serious about finding the right one.
The Registration Fee
Every euro goes directly to sustaining The Hero’s Journey and The Heroine’s Journey as independent storytelling platforms — ten years of published stories, and counting.
Ready? Tell Peter which professions you want to explore and which plan suits you. He will find your mentors.