DoFlame’s latest journey with OFFLEASH through Europe was less of a tour and more of a test, an adventure, and a revelation all at once. For DoFlame, every city held something distinct, but Europe as a whole brought a level of energy that’s rare to find. “The passion and energy Europeans bring to the shows is unmatched,” he says. There’s a pull in these cities, something that feels like it could become home. “Me and my guitar player were looking at citizenship guidelines for the Netherlands on the way back,” he laughs. But it’s clear that the connection runs deeper than just a passing fascination.
Rotterdam stands out as one of those unforgettable stops, the kind of high OFFLEASH will be chasing on every tour from here on out. In Rotterdam, DoFlame found an audience ready to return everything they put into their music with even greater intensity. “Just having an experience of such awesome people giving us love and showing us a great time in their city—we haven’t really experienced that anywhere else.”
Jacket: Supreme x Jim Krantz 'Cowboys' (SS 2017)
T-Shirt: Jean Paul Gaultier (FW 2001)
Being on the road with his band felt less like work and more like a series of road trips with best friends, where every night brought out something new in each of them. “We hang out outside of music, so this is just something fun for us to do together. I genuinely love those guys,” DoFlame shares. That love is evident in the way OFFLEASH brings their collective energy together, each member contributing something unique to the sound and atmosphere of their performances.
The tour wasn’t just about performing, though—it was a time for self-reflection and connecting with new creative circles. DoFlame found himself inspired by the energy of underground scenes, especially in smaller, lesser-known cities in the Netherlands where he witnessed raw and genuine expressions of music. The scenes buzzing with underground culture opened up ideas he hadn’t considered before, sparking a drive to be present “everywhere, all the time, all at once.”
Jacket: Martin Margiela (SS 2002)
Touring also brought DoFlame back to his love for documenting life on the road. As he captured moments on camera, he began to see that the photographs and videos weren’t just souvenirs—they were cementing the legacy and energy of OFFLEASH. “Going on tour, bringing my camera, it just builds me a little bit closer to both music and OFFLEASH,” he says. “Once we add the camera into the mix and come home to make a great edit, everyone picks up on the energy of OFFLEASH. It’s like the capturing of these moments becomes the glue.”
DoFlame’s LP Bent reflects his journey as an artist, bringing together a mix of hard-hitting riffs and experimental sounds that came to life during and after the tour. A breakthrough track, Fastlanes, was one that DoFlame initially didn’t connect with but ultimately transformed into his favorite. “Making the version on the record was really special,” he says. “It allowed me to want to make more types of music I’d been thinking about, pushing me to experiment.” This openness to change and experimentation shines throughout Bent, a record that speaks to both the grit and beauty of DoFlame’s path.
Listening back to Bent is a mixed experience for him. Each track carries memories, some good and some difficult, but they’ve all shaped him and brought him to where he is now. Some tracks even sample family recordings, bringing personal memories into a project that feels both intimate and expansive. “Listening to some of my grandparents’ and family’s music that I sampled on the record always brings a tear to my eye,” he admits, a testament to his desire to keep emotion alive in everything he does.
For DoFlame, this journey is about learning, connecting, and capturing moments that matter. His vision for OFFLEASH is not just about playing music but about cultivating a movement that’s felt both on and off the stage, in the city streets and through every beat of Bent. Europe may have sparked a new wave for the crew, but for DoFlame, it’s only the beginning of a long road, with OFFLEASH at the wheel and every city as a potential new story waiting to be told.
Words: Soukita Morgan (@bysoukita)
