ABOUT:
Koen Vael, 23 years old is a country artist from Steenbergen. He grew up listening to The Eagles, Willie Nelson and George Strait, picking up his first instruments at just four years old. His sound bridges traditional and modern country, built on honest lyrics, raw emotion and above all, a deep love for the genre.
Things have been picking up quickly. From joining Drake Milligan on his European tour to sharing the stage with Douwe Bob for three shows, Koen has been taking some big steps as an artist. His sold-out Boots on the Boulevard event welcomed 2,500 people, and his headline show at TivoliVredenburg in January 2027 sold out well in advance. Along the way, his energetic live performances have brought him to stages across the Netherlands and beyond, including festivals such as Zwarte Cross, C2C, Paaspop, Indian Summer Festival and Western Experience.
With new music on the way and Nashville firmly in his sights, Koen is working towards making his mark on the international country scene. His music is deeply rooted in American country, and the dream of building a career there has been driving him from the start. For now, that journey begins in his hometown of Steenbergen, but his eyes are set on much bigger things.
STEADY ON THE GUN
Walking a path fueled by ambition toward an unknown destination is something every dream‑chaser knows well. You don’t always know where you’re headed—but something in you insists you’re on the right road. Through setbacks and breakthroughs, through the highest highs and the deepest lows, you learn there’s no middle ground. You either keep going, or you let the dream die. And for some people, quitting simply isn’t an option.
That’s the heart of the song written by Grammy‑nominated songwriter Keith Hatrick, Buma Award‑winning songwriter Marcel Fisser, and country artist Koen Vael at Lady Luck Studios in Nashville.
No matter the circumstances, you keep fighting for the thing that refuses to let you quit. In other words: Stay Steady On The Gun.
This story hits home for Koen. A Dutch‑born country artist carving his way toward Nashville, he knows exactly how hard, lonely, and relentless the climb can be when your dream is bigger than your surroundings. But that doesn’t hold him back.
The message comes wrapped in an uplifting beat, raw and honest vocals, twangy guitars, a crying pedal steel, melodic fiddles, and a steady bass line—all that a country song really needs.
GOOD AS GONE
You get in the car, leaving your toxic (ex-)partner behind after everything they put you through, and you drive off.
Afraid of the loneliness and uncertain about what the future might bring, you cover mile after mile.
But you never hit rock bottom - in fact, it turns out you’re better off this way.
Slowly, it becomes clear that you made the right choice.
Every mile you drive brings you closer to happiness - you were done with it.
That’s what Good As Gone is really about.
The song, as it is now, came together after a rewrite with Marcel Fisser and Maurice Van Hoek.
The inspiration came from an Italian newspaper article about a man who decided to walk 350 kilometers to cool off after an arguement with his wife.
We built on that story, and the uptempo instrumental quickly gave us the idea to take it in a slightly different direction - not coming back at all.
