I’ve known Ruud Jolie since the short time I spent at the conservatory in Tilburg. I still clearly remember his graduation show, where he closed his exam by absolutely nailing Steve Vai’s Tender Surrender.

Years later we reconnected, and since then Ruud has released his book In Spotlight and Shadow, in which he openly shares his journey in the music industry as guitarist for @wtofficial. He also speaks candidly about living with a functional tremor — a constant challenge for any guitarist — and the mindset that helps him keep moving forward.

In this conversation, we catch up and dive into music, resilience, and turning obstacles into fuel.