Finding your sound: How Celine Martis turns her passion into a career

What was your journey leading up to BUas? 

Celine: ‘I initially wanted to be a scientist, specifically an astronomer, ever since pre-school. My mum always encouraged my curiosity, buying me science books to keep me engaged. However, I also had a deep passion for movies and music, though I never saw myself as creative enough to turn it into a career, so I kept it as a hobby.’ 

‘By the end of high school, I started doubting my path. I moved to Groningen to study astronomy, but once I started, I realised that while it was interesting, it wasn’t what I had expected. I felt demotivated, and my childhood dream didn’t feel right anymore. That’s when I decided to pursue my second passion—something creative that I could still make a living from. Not much later, I discovered the Creative Business programme at BUas.’ 

Can you describe a project you worked on? 

Celine: ‘One of my most exciting projects was my own podcast, Tunes with Tempest, which I started during my second year as part of the HUB campus entertainment network, specialising in radio. At the time, we had to create speciality shows, and I wanted something that was truly mine.’ 

‘I wanted the podcast to feel like a casual conversation between friends about music and artists. That is how Tunes with Tempest was born, which also happens to be my DJ name—I have been DJ-ing for almost three years now.’ 

‘For the format of the podcast, I took inspiration from music documentaries and interviews. For example, one episode focused on Detroit techno and how it was inspired by German electronic music. I combined my own commentary with clips from a documentary, artist interviews, and song snippets to make it engaging.’ 

Can you share some memorable experiences from your project? 

Celine: ‘One of the most fascinating things I discovered was how interconnected different music genres are, even when they seem completely different. For example, jungle is a music genre that's heavily influenced by Caribbean genres, incorporating samples from dancehall and reggae. While writing my podcast, I realised the importance of breaking down complex concepts so listeners could understand the connections between genres. This process deepened my own appreciation for music and inspired me to create my own.' 

What are your plans for the future? 

Celine: ‘I will be doing an internship at MassiveMusic, where I will be working with the brand team. The company specialises in music for advertising, creating compositions for films and commercials, audio logos for brands, and entire campaigns with music that aligns with a brand’s identity. I will be collaborating with different departments, which will give me a well-rounded experience.’ 

‘Alongside my internship, I will also be working on my Capstone project. Looking further ahead, I see myself working in a role similar to what MassiveMusic does—blending music with branding and advertising—while continuing to DJ and create music on the side. I am open to a lot of possibilities, as long as they revolve around music.’ 

What advice would you give to current students? 

Celine: ‘Follow what excites you. Choose something that makes you want to wake up in the morning, rather than focusing solely on money or status. It is easy to go for the most logical or safe choice, but true fulfilment comes from doing what makes you happy. If you love what you do, it will always make sense in the long run.’ 

Follow Celine’s Journey: 

• LinkedIn: Celine Martis 
• Instagram: Tempest 
• SoundCloud: Tunes with Tempest playlist