Here at Rock the Joint Magazine we recently reviewed the new single from Dutch hard rockers Queen of Spades. Having covered the band a couple of times already, we reached out for a chat with frontwoman Peggy Smits — and we’re glad we did. First, a little background on the band before we dive into the interview.
Queen of Spades are a Dutch female-fronted hard rock band who blur the lines between multiple rock and metal subgenres while challenging ideas around femininity within the hard rock scene. Queen of Spades set out on a mission to change the scene surrounding the genre and target a wider and more inclusive audience. The Breda (NL) based band earned their marks in support shows for Mark Tremonti, Woyote and also the Dirty Denims. They have rocked the stage in venues like The Little Devil, The Mezz, Stage Music Café, Breda Barst and the Mainstage in Poppodium 013. QoS greatly values their growing following and devote their performance to give that dynamic, enthusiastic and spirited energy back.
In 2021 Queen of Spades released their first album “Devil In Disguise.” Since then, the band has been continuously modifying to develop their distinctive sound; as heard in their newest single “Chasm” that introduces a bit of goth-rock into the sound and is built around a deep, heavy riff to paint a world full of sorrow as we said in our review.
The Interview with Peggy Smits:
Looking at the reviews we have done on your music the comment is often that there is a cinematic quality to some of the music you do (kind of sci-fi action). Do you see your songs visually when you write them, and do you feel there is that soundtrack quality to them?
Peggy: When we write our songs, it’s always our goal to connect with people on a deeper level. We want them to feel seen. I always write about my personal struggles in life. We’re usually thinking about how the song would sit under a moment and what it’s amplifying emotionally.
How collaborative is the songwriting process inside the band?
Peggy: Emilio, the guitarist, usually writes some instrumentals first. He then sends it over to me and I ask him how he feels when he wrote the song and when he listens to it. Then I start thinking about my own experiences with those emotions and start writing poems. Then they eventually become lyrics. We all have our own creative process in every song!
The Netherlands scene seems vibrant at the moment, at least we seem to be connected to a few Netherlands bands. Is there a renewed interest in hard rock there currently, how is the scene?
Peggy: I think the scene is starting to grow, but still the bigger radio/tv stations are not interested in our genre. It’s bigger in Germany and Belgium probably. It’s also hard to get shows in the Netherlands.
I did like the imagery for the cover of “Committed”- the blends of leather, red tones, chains – a statement picture I thought. Do you have input into the image side for the single art work or is it in the hands of someone else?
Peggy: The picture was actually made a while before working on ‘Committed.’ But while we were working on the release plan for it, I thought to myself that that picture would actually be a good fit. Because the song represents chains in life and being held back by people while achieving your dreams. I asked my photographer of that picture to edit the song name into it and that’s how it ended up!
The album Devil in Disguise came out in 2021 – I guess that was a while ago now. Is the music we are hearing now a close relation to that album or are things developing and growing away from it?
Peggy: Yes, our first album was drenched in hard rock and classic rock influences and sound. We had a lot of difficulties from that moment on: band members coming in and out, producers who didn’t listen to us and not really mixed out songs the right way. So after releasing those stand alone singles we finally gathered the right people and started to work on our sound and image as a band. We’re now moving towards a more heavier metal style instrumentals wise. We still want to work with clean vocals, but maybe we will throw in a little scream or something in the future.
Is there one song in the set that always changes the room when you play it live? And do you blend covers in with your material or not?
Peggy: We did play covers in the past and that worked to get the crowd going. And gets you noticed too. We get a lot of energy from playing our new songs and will always make the crowd headbang with us! But we also like ‘Fire’ that asks the crowd to sing along with us, that’s always a magic moment.
What can you share with us for the remainder of 2026?
Peggy: We are working hard in the studio right now and we will release new music from time to time. And after releasing a few, we will release our album in 2027 probably! And do a little tour around that release.
Fun Question -It is a hard winter’s night. The tour van/bus has broken down and a harsh wind blows through the night. Nearby you see a small house, it seems abandoned, yet there is a fire burning, food on the table and working electricity. While you wait for morning – what book and what film will get you through the night?
Peggy: I really love everything about Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings!
And that brings our interview with Peggy Smits to a close. Big thanks to Peggy for taking the time to speak with Rock the Joint Magazine.
If you’re new to Queen of Spades, start with recent singles “Committed” and “Chasm” for a taste of where the band are heading now — heavier, darker, and increasingly confident. Then dive back to “Impact,” which blends raw intensity with sharp musical twists. And if you want their most commercial radio friendly sound then have a listen to my personal favourite “I’m a Devil in Disguise.” That last one sits in my playlist, great driving music, pounding beats and a really catchy lyric and hook. So definitely head off and play that one!
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Queen of Spades website here
Stream music from Queen of Spades here
By Tracy Nash
&
Mark C. Chambers
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