Ships & Hartships
Ships & Hardships is a collaborative music project by producers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Meik de Swaan and Adam Bar-Pereg, working between Los Angeles and Amsterdam. Built around a shared love of diverse musical styles, the duo brings together elements of soul, R&B, hip-hop, funk, disco, jazz and alternative pop. Rather than confining themselves to one genre, Ships & Hardships offers a creative space where different influences can meet, resulting in music that feels playful, sophisticated and full of character. Their releases for Vokall Records showcase this eclectic approach, combining distinctive songwriting with richly layered, groove-driven production.
The story behind Ships & Hardships began with a long-standing friendship and a shared musical background. Meik de Swaan and Adam Bar-Pereg have known each other since their school years and found themselves drawn to an unusually wide range of musical influences. Adam is also known for his work as a songwriter and keyboard player with Benny Sings, while Meik has developed his own career as a producer and musician. Through Ships & Hardships, the two created a project that allows them to explore all the styles they love, from vintage soul and French pop to hip-hop, yacht rock and electronic music. Their productions are characterised by warm instrumentation, inventive arrangements, playful melodies and an effortless sense of groove.
Their first major project, the five-track EP “BELMONDO”, arrived in May 2024. Featuring French-language vocals by Yael Watchman, the release draws inspiration from the atmosphere of European cinema and music of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Tracks such as “Vers La Lune”, “Flou” and “Lendemain” reveal the duo’s ability to combine jazz-influenced harmonies, hip-hop rhythms and melodic pop songwriting. Recorded across Amsterdam and Los Angeles, “BELMONDO” established the project's distinctive identity and introduced listeners to its cinematic, cross-cultural sound.
Ships & Hardships began its relationship with Vokall Records in February 2025 with “Loving Excuse”, featuring Benny Sings. Built around a playful jazz-inspired opening, colourful synthesizers and a funky bassline, the track brings Benny Sings’ unmistakable vocal style into the duo’s world of soulful, vintage-inspired production. In May 2025, they followed it with “Strawberry”, featuring Grammy-winning singer and rapper Rae Khalil. Blending hip-hop production, atmospheric synths and Rae Khalil’s expressive vocals, the single demonstrates the duo’s ability to create a musical setting that gives each collaborator room to shine. Both releases highlight the international and collaborative spirit at the heart of Ships & Hardships.
The Vokall partnership continued in July 2026 with “Kissing in the Check Out Line”, another release that reflects the duo’s interest in melodic songwriting and unexpected musical combinations. Alongside their work for Vokall, Ships & Hardships have continued to explore new creative directions through collaborations including “Dejarte Ir” featuring Sofía Peters and “Rocket Science” with ZYHH. Each project adds another dimension to their evolving sound, while maintaining the attention to detail and musical curiosity that define their work.
With Ships & Hardships, Meik de Swaan and Adam Bar-Pereg have created more than a conventional production partnership: it is an ongoing musical exploration without strict genre boundaries. Their ability to bring together international vocalists, diverse influences and carefully crafted arrangements makes the project a natural fit for Vokall Records. From the cinematic feel of “BELMONDO“to the soulful collaborations with Benny Sings and Rae Khalil, Ships & Hardships continues to build a catalogue defined by creativity, musical freedom and an unmistakable sense of groove.