Since 2006, she has performed under the name Mir, short for Mirjam, but also the Russian word for "Peace".

[2] Timmer is from the Frisian village of Wergea, where she was exposed to music and songwriting as a child.

Together with Johan van der Veen she performed in a talent show under the name Twarres.

[3] This led to the duo's success, and in 2000 they scored a hit in the Netherlands and Flanders with the song "Wêr Bisto" recorded in their native West Frisian.

Timmer and van der Veen decided later that year to break up Twarres.