The new album '17' is out now on all streaming services. Listen now!

The story behind 17

Singer Tessel van Bueren and guitarist Paul Scheepmaker had known each other for several years when, in 2019, they decided to record one of Paul's existing tracks. It became the start of a special project.

Tessel and Paul met through the guitar lessons she took with Paul. It soon became clear that they had a musical connection. Tessel was 17 at the time and sang, with Paul on guitar, a song he had written when he was 17 himself. That first recording called for more, so the duo decided to head into the studio. Paul had enough older songs on the shelf to fill a complete album, but they ultimately selected seven existing songs he wrote between the ages of 17 and 19. They then wrote seven new songs tailored to Tessel's age and perspective.

The result is a varied and intimate album, with only acoustic guitar to complement and strengthen the vocals. This was an explicit wish from Tessel. The fluid, understated guitar playing stays alive until the end, with exactly the right notes at the right moments. Tessel's warm, engaging voice gives the album a beautifully fragile atmosphere. She brings the lyrics, about what can unfold inside a teenage mind, vividly to life and is occasionally joined by Paul's vocals. A strong match.

At the time of release, performing live is not possible due to vocal issues. The intention is to make up for this at a later date.

At the time of release, Tessel is 20 and studying at the University of Amsterdam. Paul Scheepmaker is continuing work on a longer-running GUES project: an old-school rock/rap album. This album follows in the line of GUES's heavy 2003 CD ONE.