Dana Fuchs on Music, Motherhood and a Possible Move to the Netherlands
April 5, 2026 – Dorint Hotel lobby, Dortmund, Germany
At the end of March and beginning of April, American singer-songwriter and actress Dana Fuchs finally returned to Germany for an eight-date tour, including one stop in Switzerland. Roughly two hours after her show in Dortmund, Blues Magazine sat down with Dana in the hotel lobby for an open and heartfelt conversation about music, family, loss, and her future plans.
Interview by: Harry Pater
Photos by: Louise van Uum
Looking Back at the Pandemic Years
Your last full European tour before the pandemic was in 2018, with dates in Germany and the Netherlands, followed by France in early 2019. Then Europe went quiet for years. How did you experience that period?
“When the pandemic started, live performances came to a complete stop — not just in Europe, but in the United States as well. That lasted nearly three years. Toward the end, venues reopened under strict distancing rules and mask mandates, but financially it was almost impossible. Whether you play for a full room or a half-empty one, your expenses stay almost the same, but the income drops significantly. For venue owners and promoters, it simply didn’t add up, so many shows were canceled. That left us with little to no income.”
“That’s when I decided to go back to school and train as a teacher, which I successfully completed. I’m now a certified teacher and have been working with children, mainly from underprivileged neighborhoods. In America, education can be incredibly expensive, especially for families with multiple children. Beyond regular lessons, I also try to introduce them to things like theater, zoos, the circus, sports, and creative activities.”
“I also teach my two sons. The inspiration for that came from a Dutch friend who invited me to visit a project she had started in Rotterdam for young people facing personal challenges. It was an incredible experience. Later, I saw many of those kids again at a free show in Enschede in 2015, and afterward they gave me handmade gifts. That stayed with me.”
“During the pandemic, we also did several livestream performances from home on Facebook, which we later shared on YouTube. That was a lot of fun, especially because of all the positive reactions we got online. We also managed to play a few festivals in Norway and twice at the Brezoi Festival in Romania. That was special too — there were Dutch fans there, and I got to perform with Kaz Hawkins.”
The German Tour
How did this German tour feel for you?
“Really good. The audiences were incredibly warm and enthusiastic, even though we played a lot of songs that were probably unfamiliar to them. We deliberately changed the setlist because we wanted to show that we haven’t stood still since 2018. Most of the material came from Borrowed Time, and we left out songs from my earlier albums.”
“Some people may have missed the older songs, but honestly, the response to the newer material has been fantastic. I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback. And yes, I know you probably wanted to hear Moment Away tonight,” she laughs.
That’s true, but after hearing it so many times before, I can live without it. Besides, the setlist was packed with beautiful songs.
“Good! And hopefully we’ll be back in both the Netherlands and Germany many more times.”
Dutch fans specifically asked me to ask you about that.
“You know, the Netherlands was the first country outside the U.S. where I really gained a foothold. A big part of that was thanks to Ed Leunisse from Bepop Agency. He took care of me and the band in those early years and helped connect us with incredible Dutch musicians, including my dear friend Walter Latupeirissa, who played bass with me from 2008 until 2019.”
Walter Latupeirissa and Kevin Mackall
Walter told me he completely understands why Kevin is now playing bass and said it was the right decision — because it’s really about family.
“Walter is a wonderful man, an incredible bass player, and one of my closest friends. It means a lot to hear that he said that. And yes, Kevin brings more of a rock bass approach, which makes the band sound heavier now — especially because we’re touring without keyboards these days.”
Borrowed Time and the Pandemic Aftermath
Your latest studio album Borrowed Time came out in 2022, right at the end of the pandemic. Promoting it on the road must have been difficult.
“It was. We recorded the album in 2021, expecting to do what we always do: release it and spend the next year touring. But because of the pandemic, that just wasn’t possible.”
“When we started doing a few European shows again, we had to find a replacement drummer because Piero wasn’t vaccinated and couldn’t get a visa. Thankfully, our old friend Kjell from Sweden was vaccinated and available. But touring across Europe was still complicated because every country had different restrictions. Since 2020, we haven’t been able to tour Europe the way we were used to doing since 2010.”
“In the States, we’ve been playing again regularly since 2022, but mostly one-off shows, not full tours. Usually in venues near New York, where we live.”
I noticed the song Blue Mist Road has two additional songwriters listed alongside you, Jon and Kevin. Who are they?
“That’s Mark Narmore and Sandy Carroll. I worked with them on writing material for Borrowed Time. Kevin had some lyrical ideas, I expanded on them, and then Jon and I finished the song together before recording it.”
The Loss of Kjell Gustavsson
Your Swedish drummer Kjell Gustavsson, who toured with you in Norway and Sweden two years ago, recently passed away. Was that expected?
“We knew he was sick, which is why we asked our regular European drummer, Piero Perelli, to step in. He’s the drummer you hear on Live In Denmark. Kjell seemed to be doing better after several surgeries and treatments, and he remained incredibly positive through it all. So even though we knew about his illness, his passing still came as a shock.”
“We’re heartbroken. Not just because he was a fantastic drummer, but because he was such a kind, loving, and deeply caring person. We miss him every day, and we’ll never forget him.”
Live In Denmark
Why did you choose Denmark for the new live album?
“We wanted a real live recording — just the four of us, no extra musicians, no backing singers, no studio tricks. The idea came from my agent, Flemming Christensen. Kevin then discussed it with Thomas Ruf from Ruf Records, and he loved the idea immediately.”
“It didn’t take long before we agreed to record it at Godset in Kolding, Denmark, a venue we’ve played before. It’s our favorite place in Denmark.”
Touring as a Band and a Family
You’re touring with your two sons, Aidan (10) and August (6). How does that work?
“We’re touring as a band and as a family now, but only during school holidays, so it takes serious planning. At most shows, there’s a nanny to help out, which makes life much easier. Dortmund was the exception because it was Easter, so I spent part of the day taking the kids to playgrounds and keeping them busy.”
“They need time to play and just be kids, and thankfully that’s going well. Funny enough, they’re still living on New York time, so here in Europe they don’t go to bed until after midnight.”
Why Dana Fuchs Wants to Move to the Netherlands
You mentioned last year that you wanted to move to the Netherlands — and I heard you tell Dutch fans the same thing this week.
“That’s true. Honestly, I haven’t felt at home in the U.S. for years. First during Trump’s first presidency, and now even more so. Education in America is becoming something only the wealthy can afford. Social support systems are weak, and healthcare is a mess.”
“I want my children to grow up in a stable and healthy environment. I don’t feel America can offer that anymore, but I believe the Netherlands can. I’ve been coming there regularly since 2008, and I’ve seen how things can be done differently — and better.”
“And of course, it helps that people in the Netherlands speak excellent English. We don’t know exactly when we’ll make the move, but Kevin and I would like it to happen sooner rather than later.”
Will Dana Fuchs Return to the Netherlands?
Do you already know when fans in the Netherlands and Germany can expect to see you again?
“Not yet. The reality is that playing only in the Netherlands is simply too expensive. Five plane tickets, hotels, crew — it all adds up. That’s why we usually combine Dutch dates with German shows and sometimes other countries as well.”
“Our original Dutch booker stopped, and the one after that didn’t have enough strong connections with venues and festivals. But we’re working on a new tour, with support from Ruf Records. We haven’t forgotten our Dutch fans — and we hope to be back as soon as possible.”
This article was originally published in Dutch on Blues Magazine, covering blues, roots and Americana music.
Read the original Dutch version here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.thebluesmagazine.com ’
