Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Danique Regterschot
Dutch singer-songwriter Qunity’s is entering an exciting new chapter with her single “Stuck,” inspired by the whirlwind of her first run of shows in Canada and the uncertainty of navigating unexpected career momentum. Written shortly after returning to the Netherlands, the song captures the vulnerability of a slow-burning connection and the fear of rushing something that could become meaningful. Co-written with Winnipeg-based producer Murray Pulver, “Stuck” blends heartfelt storytelling with a relatable message about patience, embracing the unknown, and trusting the process.
I had the opportunity to chat with Quinty’s about her new single, her evolution as an artist and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your single “Stuck”?
Quinty’s: I wrote the idea for “Stuck” right after I returned from my first run of shows in Canada. It had been three weeks of absolute chaos in the best way. I took every opportunity I could get and was constantly on the go. Once I got back to the Netherlands, everything started to sink in, and I realized something had significantly changed in my life and career. The hardest part was not knowing what would happen next.
Never had I expected my Canadian experiment to go this well this quickly, so suddenly I had to adapt while also reminding myself not to rush or force whatever was unfolding. Then one night in my apartment, the line “I’m too afraid of losing you by rushing this” came to me, and that became the beginning of “Stuck.”
The song captures that feeling of being somewhere in the middle of a slow burn. When something could become incredibly meaningful, but you don’t know how the story ends yet. I later brought it into the studio with Murray Pulver in Winnipeg, where we finished writing it together and built it into the record it is now.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from it?
Quinty’s: I hope people take away that the best things in life are usually a slow burn, and it’s okay to be frustrated by that. I may be the least patient person on earth, and my level of enthusiasm definitely doesn’t help with that, but I’ve learned that being in the middle of a path is where so much of the experience actually happens.
Whether it’s building a career, applying to schools, a friendship that keeps growing or a relationship that doesn’t stand still, things take time and often for the better.
The longing, anticipation and curiosity are sometimes the moments when I feel most alive, even more than when the resolution finally arrives. I hope people hear “Stuck” and recognize their own slow burns in it, because nine times out of ten, they’re so worth the wait.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Quinty’s: Feeling stuck! (Pun intended.) No, I’m serious. The most challenging part is when an idea comes to you, you’re completely inspired, and then halfway through the second verse… it’s just gone. And it happens way more often than you’d think.
Songwriting and storytelling are such fluid processes. Some songs come together in an hour, while others have been sitting unfinished in my notebook for over two years. I’ve learned not to force them. Again, a slow burn haha! Sometimes a song just needs you to live a little more before you know how to finish it.
Kat: How does it feel to start a new life and move to Winnipeg?
Quinty’s: Oh, where do I even start? I’m so thrilled to base myself in Winnipeg. It’s where we’ll continue working on more music. I already have a few gigs lined up for October, and there’s something about that city that just grounds me.
I got to scratch the surface of what living there could be like when I spent a month in Winnipeg last May, and it amazed me how quickly I found a local rhythm. The people are so warm and friendly, and it feels like the perfect place to settle while there’s momentum happening around my music.
Besides, it keeps me pretty central to everything, and I’m a big winter girl! I’ve never experienced -30 before; we definitely don’t get that in the Netherlands, so we’ll see how well I hold up. But my skates are packed and ready to go!
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Quinty’s: This whole adventure has been one big highlight. It’s such a privilege to work in this industry and share my stories with people who can somehow relate to the exact same emotions.
Aside from that, last December I got to play my first headlining theatre show, which was a night I’ll never forget. Then came the whirlwind that is Canada: playing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, singing a few songs at Times Changed High & Lonesome Club in Winnipeg, getting my first Canadian radio support and now somehow preparing to move across the Atlantic. There have been so many moments lately where I’ve stopped and thought, “Wait, this is actually my life?”
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned along the way is that you don’t have to know exactly where something is going before you take the first step. So much of my career has happened because I was willing to try something, send the email, book the flight or walk into a room without knowing what would come from it. Not everything works, and a lot of things take much longer than you want them to, but every step gives you something to build on.
Moments that look like highlights from the outside are usually built on hundreds of very unglamorous ones behind the scenes. That actually makes me appreciate them even more. I’m learning to celebrate what’s happening while still being excited about where it could go next.
Kat: You will be performing at the CCMA Country Crawl. What are you most looking forward to during CCMA Week?
Quinty’s: That’s easy: meeting all the people! It’ll be my first time in Saskatoon and my first Country Music Week, so to already have the opportunity to perform at the CCMA Country Crawl is such an honour.
One of my favourite things about country music is the community around it. The artists, the people behind the scenes, but especially the people who show up, support live music and genuinely care about the songs. I’ve felt so welcomed by that community since I first came to Canada, and I’m really excited to experience it on a bigger scale during CCMA Week.
I can’t wait to discover new artists, have conversations with people I would’ve never met otherwise, play my own set and meet some of the people who come out to watch us. And because it’s my first time in Saskatoon, I’m excited to experience the city too. Basically just want to take it all in!
Connect With Quinty’s:
https://www.instagram.com/quintyofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/QuintyOfficial
https://www.tiktok.com/@quintysofficial