Food For Thought

High five to inspiration!
Creating that appetizing magazine, searching for the right song to fit within a certain mood on a page.
Sometimes I'm really surprised about how instances like this food platform have found my music. They've used my song for their flashy magazine, supporting twitter: Tweet 
It has been featured twice in 2012.

Example (MUZIEK CREDITS
Food Inspiration Magazine – editie 60 jaargang 4

edition 60

1Daft Punk
Technologic
4Goldmund
In a notebook
5Boy
Little numbers
6Jack Johnson
You and your heart
7Goldmund
In a notebook
8JoosTVD
Tweet
9Avant la lettre
Magic
10Goldmund
In a notebook
11Jamie Lidell
Multiply
12Red Hot Chili Peppers
Snow
13Jason Mraz
Make it mine
15The Kooks
Shine o

edition 61

 On soundcloud:

Blame It On The Fun

Yes, 2016 is already on my mind, as is my new album, which will problably, predictably come out that spring. Who knows? I can't help myself. It's the time of the year. What really blows my mind now is that I'm not even aware of the looseness of the whole writing and production process. Nothing seems to get in my way. If my mind doesn't open up, nobody is trying to force me into writing songs. When it's open, it's wide open, like a parachute. It works most of the time.

Blame it on the cats....?

Not the frontcover of a JoosTVD album, or....?

Well, don't underestimate the presence of a pet. I've got those two gangsters pictured since they were very small. Great. playfull companions of mine. They make, a sometimes moody guy like me, laugh a many more times a day than without them. Aah yes the little things in life. Blame it on the fun. CU!

2 Thousand + 5teen

The last blog, before I go.
So what did I do to make my life a little more bearable and more complete in 2015? I've listened. My ears seem to filter out the junk more quicker than before and that's a lot! That saved me a lot of time to focus on the writings, recording and releasing of a bunch of new songs. Thanks world.

As with 2014, the death celebrities of our time, become more frequent as age always proves to be the ultimate killer. Here are a "few" that have more or less influenced my state of being (source http://goo.gl/8871CK):

P.F.Sloan (Eve Of Destruction), Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor (Moterhead's drummer of Ace Of Spades), Andy White (Beatles "Love Me Do" drummer), Daevid Allen (Gong frontman, The Magick Brother), Chris Rainbow (Vocalist, Alan Parsons), Allen Toussaint (composer, producer, arranger, pianist, talentscout, inspirator, what a loss of talent!), Joost Zwagerman (schrijver), Drs P. (dutch singer, poet of humoristic absurdism), Gunnar Hansen (remember the original Leatherface?), Maureen O'Hara (John Wayne's favorite company on screen), Phil Woods (played alto sax on so many of my favorite albums of the seventies, like Billy Joel and Paul Simon), Oliver Sacks (the one who really used his brains), Rico Rodriquez (ska trombonist of the Specials), Wes Craven (horror director), Bob Johnston (sixties producer of Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel), Cilla Black (her rendition of bacharach's "Alfie" especially), Omar Sharif (screen legend), Patrick Macnee (remember when tv was " John Steed" cool), Chris Squire (Yes bassist-extraordinaire), Ornette Coleman (free jazz sax blower), Ron Moody (Oliver's Fagin), Christopher Lee (the best Dracula actor next to Bela Lugosi), BB King (subtle "Lucille" bluesplayer), Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate's "Every1's a Winner"), Andy Fraser (Free bassist, composer of Robert Palmer's "Every Kinda People"), Percy Sledge (voice of "When a Man Loves a Woman"), Ben E King (voice of "Stand By Me"), Günter Grass ("The Tin Drum" writer), Clark Terry (Fluegelhorn/ Trompet player), Lew Soloff (trumpet player of Blood, Sweat & Tears, loved those horn arrangements), Leonard Nimoy (logical Spock versus emotional Kirk), John Renbourn (british folk finger-picking guitarist), Rod McKuen (composer, poet), Anita Ekberg (Fellini's "La Dolce Vita"), Rod Taylor (actor of "The Time Machine"), Armand (60s protestsinger), Thé Lau (singer/songwriter), Hirth Martinez (singer/songwriter).

What did I work on in 2015? I've been having my own fun, writing, playing, recording and releasing two albums:  
                                                                  Lightning Dutchman

A few song hit the radio waves, like: Unscrew yourself, Don't Do It Again, Paranoiac With A Gun, Guru In A Lovetown, Limo, Rock'n Roll Me In Or Out

                                 
                                                and an instrumental For Your Pleasure vol.2

(more and more people seem to be interested in using my music for their viseo projects)

So what about the music of 2015?
The word "emo" fits the description. But is it emotion?
Only a few new albums made it, because as I grow older and greyer (bored? Nope!), the more I seem to dwell back to the sounds I used to listen when I was this green innocent seventies lad. Except for the much younger generations like Mercury Rev, Tame Impala and Steven Wilson maybe, but nothing else seem to linger.....  aaah, I'm such a romantic fool. It's just that a lot of the old guys keep coming back with a more fresher sound... Well not all the "older" ones though. I was very dissapointed by the releases of Prince (I mean HITnRUN Phase One, P. how do you sleep? but...his Phase 2 is just classic P.!). Ben Folds (pretentious, but vague chamber noodlings), Jeff Lynne's ELO (=Jeff Lynne...) or Seal (Trevor Horn is back, but...without any surprises).  All too predictable and safe.
It's the fault of these retro times. Now, every "new" production can reproduce qualities from the thirties up to the sixties, uuuhm, seventies and ....mmm...the eighties to my bemefit, because my mind seems to wander off easily to what I've already heard. It's just like these newbies are saying "Joost, I know you've got that somewhere on vinyl, but who really cares?". It says a lot of these smug, arrogant, narcistic times. Who will rise to the occasion to do the unexpected?

In the meantime, here are my faves of 2015:
                                                              
                                                                              J.D.Souther - Tenderness

Veteran songwriter surprises with less is more. Subtle arrangements, production, subtle songwriting, title says it all.


                                                                    Steve Martin & Edie Brickell - So Familiar

Bluegrass? BanJoost? No, this is just a very comforting listen, very Up, very welcome in these times.


                                                                                       Boz Scaggs - A Fool To Care

The only Boss for me, age can do good. Eclectic and very soulful. That voice never bores me. Less is so much more...


                                                                                     Joe Jackson - Fast Forward

Welcome back Joe the composer, arranger of wide, colourful canvases. Musicians from Berlin, New York, Amsterdam and New Orleans keep this album fresh.

                                                                         David Gilmour- Rattle That Lock

I just love his tone in voice and guitar. The surpringly jazzy "The Girl In The Yellow Dress (Orchestral Version)". The instrumentals don't add anything specific, but overall there's still a comfortable Floyd in the air.

                                                                         Tom Robinson - Only The Now

 
Welcome back Tom! You're still angry and I feel it. Wild, edgy, actual and in your face, the subtle arrangements in quieter moments (title song) though especially, draw me in.

                                                                     James Taylor - Before This World

A new JT album? I've kept playing it a few times more than I'd expect. Songcrafting they call it. Just James Taylor. Nothing less.

                                                                         Prince - HITnRUN Phase Two

I have a love/hate relation with the purple one. But I think this is his most matured collection (with a few exceptions like Screwdriver) since.......fill me in! A more colourful production, especially the organic feel in the arrangements do the trick, if you like horns and slapping basses.

Books.
What usually happens when I read a biography, is the documenting part of it. I obsessively dig up everything I have in my possession (music to listen to, I listen to it again or movies I've watched, I watch again) or try to find it on www.
For example, The Grateful Dead, all the albums I once  indifferently listened to, I can appreciate and understand them better now, especially after reading a biography. The same happened with Alex Harvey, quite a lad! Another band that I've admired since 1977, Talking heads, I appreciate even more now (Remain In Light is my personal fave) than ever. So I read!

Quoting former post 2014:"And for the sensational background information, here's a few books I've read this year. As usual, mostly sleezy (auto)biographies. Recommended:"

Bobby Whitlock - A Rock'n Roll Biography (a lot of misfortunes, Eric Clapton, Derek & The Dominoes singer/keyboardsman)

David Byrne - How Music Works (this works a lot)

Dennis Mcnally - A Long Strange Trip Grateful Dead (the music man, LSD anyone?)

Donald L Barlett - Howard Hughes, his life & madness (exentric guy, strange times)

Gene Wilder - Kiss Me Like A Stranger My Search for Love and Art (talented guy)

John Neil Munro - The Sensational Alex Harvey (what a life!)

Jonathan Lethem - Talking Heads' Fear of Music (the first album I bought of TH in 1979 that made me an obsessive fan)

Martin Kielty - SAHB Story (the versatile band behind Alex Harvey)

Pamela De Barres - I'm With The Band (narcistic tale of obsessive groupie)

Rod Stewart - The Autobio (Rod does Rod)

David Bowman- Talking Heads This Must Be The Place (one of the best bands in the period 1977-1983 that made the eighties bearable)







 

Yes, use my song!

Once in a while I come across "JoosTVD" songs supporting videos on youtube that really take me by surprise. Some of these songs are 10 years old! I've got nothing to do with these promo videos, but it's nice to see what other people add to to what once was an idea popping out of your head and pooring out of your fingers...so a few here to illustrate that.

 Another one on a spanish documentary site: WALK BY THE EXHIBITION 'EXCRETA. AN EXPOSITION

Songs used in the video's are: Bomber Drone, Shark In The Disco, Circus Monkey, Sow Motion Dream, Stupid Song(s), Tweet.

Ps. (alert! commercial intermisssssssion) Need some of my music? I've got two instrumental albums "For Your Pleasure 1 & 2" on Jamendo readymade, waiting to inspire you!

In The Works

Hai there, Joost has an update. Nothing shocking or to scare you or embarrass myself of I hope... I'm working on it...work to make it work. Ideas pile up every day. It says so on my Twitteraccount. Excitement occures ocassionally. Which ones will end up on the new album? I've already got 9 songs in the pipeline, but far more sketchy ideas, all helping me to focus I guess. As I want this to be a compact one, there'll be no more than 12 of them. More quality, less quantity then? Well if you chew out a full album (say double album) of say about 18 songs, that's a lot to process. It worked more or less with the last one. But especially in the finishing stage, you have to have fresh ears. Less is more! The most fun part for me is to write, record and arrange the songs, but the finishing part (mixing and mastering) is easier to do with less. I'm in the middle of  this mixing process with 9 songs, working more and more on the details than before. Let them breath in an experimental journey.
Is this all neccessairy? Well, I've been around the block writing songs a few times now and I just want to get better you know. Yes I know and you know. Get ready!
In the meantime if you just can't wait, did you know I've come up with another instrumental album on Jamendo? 

Cats don't like to hear about details......

Complete List Of His Works

Yes, I've updated the "Complete List Of His Works" section. My o my, look at those arty albumtitles! Just to make things look complete, I've compiled anything  I've been recording since 1987, when I started my own band with some friends, way back. All played and recorded on those hip, vintage cassettes. In 1998 the digital age started creeping in, so I burned my own cd's (Now On CD) and in 2005 digital distribution became the motto. It's been an intensive journey so far, but I hope it will never stop.....

 just to proof that I really made those cassettes/cd's, for non-believers, I've added a few pictures..

 

1998 A Beautiful Boy And His Dreamsister

2002 He's Your Buddy

• Digital:
• 2015 For Your Pleasure Vol.2
• 2015 Lightning Dutchman
• 2014 For Your Pleasure Vol.1
• 2014 I Mimic Me
• 2013 The Ballooning Brouhaha
• 2012 Art Decoy The Bluebeard Boy
• 2011 Orson Nietes
• 2010 The Vanished Dutchman
• 2009 When The Left Foot Fits The Right Shoe
• 2009 You Know Your Dad
• 2008 Hé José
• 2007 Volumed 10
• 2005 Gift Shot
•  Burned cd's:
• 2004 That's Me With The Ball
• 2002 He's Your Buddy
• 2001 Colour Me Black Or White
• 2000 Thanks For Stopping By
• 2000 Big Shoes To Fill
• 1999 Rub Your Face In It
• 1999 Tarts
• 1998 Now On Cd
• Cassettes 90 min.:
• 1998 A Beautiful Boy And His Dreamsister
• 1998 Shadowworld
• 1998 Every Damn Thing
• 1998 Finest Hour
• 1998 Within The Sphere Of Rhapsodies
• 1998 What Do You Call A Beautiful Day?
• 1997 Zenith Or Zerohour
• 1997 What's Your Next Triumph?
• 1997 Dreamboat With An Edge
• 1997 Expression Of My Own Desire
• 1996 In A Nutshell
• 1996 To Absent Friends And New Acquaintances
• 1996 Long Enough For Ya?
• 1996 Moodswing
• 1996 Vs The Patronizing People
• 1996 Life As A Transparent Movie
• 1995 Ode To A Player
• 1995 Greatest Nix
• 1995 True Blue Kind Of A Guy
• 1995 Starstruck
• 1994 The Trick Of A Kick
• 1994 Samsongs
• 1994 Goodness Knows
• 1994 22th Episode Of Side Effects
• 1993 Dixieland On A Flat hand
• 1993 Non Stop Riot
• 1993 What's The Name Of This Baby?
• 1993 C'est Therdin
• 1993 Step Into My Office
• 1992 Hope I'll Live After I'll die
• 1992 Now She Is
• 1992 You Don't Get It Do You?
• 1992 Quiet Monster
• 1992 On Top Of That Feeling
• 1991 The Zoo In You
• 1991 Hoopla
• 1991 People On Bridges
• 1990 Mr.Thisman's Blue Avenue
• 1990 How Would You Like Your Picnic?
• 1990 Man Enough The June Final
• 1989 Room Of Joy
• 1989 When
• 1988 One Example
• 1987 Valentine Suite

For Your Pleasure...Vol.2!

Just arrived! 22 instrumental songs, only available on Jamendo for now. Especially for video-projects and the like. And easy on the ears, heart, knees, mind and feet. So take them, they are yours.
Sort of an inbetweenie (refreshing for me to work on too!), For Your Pleasure Vol.2 is an ongoing series. Enough material for more pleasure.
My next "straight" album will arrive somewhere... in 2016.

During the process I noticed- by the flow and mostly beachy, summer mood- a little story was evolving while sequeing the songs. A concept? A Hitchcock/ Orson Welles mystery perhaps? Well, let's imagine....
Here's a little storyline I came up with (while listening) for a yet to be made or not to be made movie:

this reckless spy, once a successful operator, has to escape into his silhouette. Now older, washed up, stranded somewhere on a desolate beach, meeting the good (romance), the bad (no cash) & the ugly (fake romance) and getting away with it (with that "Moon Elevator") and finally steps out of his shadow.

Rock'n Roll Me In...Or Out!

Hai folks of the flat earth, what's happening?
I'm in the middle of learning more about the mixing and mastering process while recording new songs, trying to get on a higher level studiowise. Homerecording is tricky, when you're not a pro, but I'm getting better at it- at least what I think- with each new album. I'm learning.
So far I've got 9 songs, some already finished, except for the experimental mastering process. That's the last tweak on the mix.

Here's a one last thing I've done for my last album. Didn't hear it yet? Here you are Spotify
Got this little flashy, funny video for ya, sort of a collage of different versions of me playing  the same song "Rock'n Roll Me In Or Out". Hey it's my holidays by the way! I'm off....

 

 "You keep rolling in rolling out of my life

                                                  You've packed your bags, won't say farewell
                                                  Ain't got no tissues up there in Heartbreak Hotel

                                                 You keep rolling in rock'n roll me out of your life!

                                                 You keep walking in you keep walking out of my life
                                                 I knock at your door you won't open up
                                                 Keep pounding even louder I won't give it up

                                                 You keep ruling me in ruling me out of my life"

Hey, I know that song!

Hi folks, it's hot in da lowlands, but I still keep going!
Yes I am curious and as I stumbled upon those funny, glossy-styled video's I immediately recognized that voice (aargh) and the sound. Most of the songs are licensed by Jamendo. So far I've found 160 (there could be more of course) of them with a lot old, funky dutchman stuff and some do not fit at all:

Dance Till Your Drunk [2005], I Want It Back, Overdone [2005], Desertfly [2007], Making Faces [2008], Mumbo Jumbo Heebie Jeebies [2008], Wonder [2008], Violent Boy [2008], The Root of My Belly [2009], The Greek Way Garden [2010], Back To The Race [2011], Bigger Things [2011], Sugar tune [2011], Stupid Song(s) [2013], Sin Pan Alleyman [2014], Intermission Of Love [2014], Buy (Bye Bye) [2014], Slow Motion Dream [2014], Bomber Drone [2014]Have a great summer everyone!

You Tube advertising

My Personal Vinyl

How ironic: just when you think we'll all go digital, we're going analog. Needle, turntable, grooves, black, sleeves, analog...As a vinyl lover I've always dreamt about having my music on black plastic, until now... just received my own! It's a 10 inch one (25,4 cm), 3 songs on each side, so that way it fits in the post box. I listen while writing this and immediately I recognise those deep, warm nostalgic 70ties sounds, haha. Of course I had to choose which songs would make it. Six favourites from the last three albums are on it. Good fun!

Front

Back

Tube Channel

Just to add another way to find the obvious. Yes, I have one ( JoosTVD's vids) where I upload my own promo videos, but these days YouTube collects all the songtitles associated with the artist. Quite a varied bunch I may say....

                                           Made by online distributioner iMusician Digital

Praise the auteur!

100 pages long! Wow, that's a lot of words. Of course there are these great pictures of intense looking blues artists too to satisfy the view of tired readers. What an honor to be part of the review section (page 59!) of this german online blues-magazine, Wasser-Prawda, standing next to the latest of Boz Scaggs and Van Morrison. I already showed you this great review of my latest album in one of my last blogposts, but there is so much more. I think what this magazine adds to the current "scene" is the balance between the old and the new, the already known and the upcoming unknown. Some forgotten heroes like Andy Fairweather-Low or Leadbelly get large overviews. All written with the love for (blues) music.
Anyway, read the stuff, it's good for the soul!
WP-Magazine pdf

T.B.E.

Someone took notice of a certain soundcloud playlist I was on with "Unscrew Yourself". It read TBE. To Be Edited? No, it's a playlist of personal "To Be Evaluated" choices by Tom Robinson. You know that guy that sang "Glad To Be Gay" and a personal hero of mine songwriterwise. Comes to mind "War Baby", "Listen To The Radio" and "Still Loving You". What he will do with the songs only Joost may know...TBE.

Clever Review In Wasser-Prawda

Now with his sixth review since The Vanished dutchman [2010], Nathan still knows how to impress me with his couraging words. Well, it is his work, he's a journalist, always busy writing in a generous way. Thanks again, I'm very grateful!

It's in german, but I've put an free, loose english translation underneath it.
Here's the original Link

JoosTVD - Lightning Dutchman

German:


Manche Musiker sind einfach zu clever und gleichzeitig zu humorvoll, um in dieser ach so ernsten - und so erfolgsgierigen Welt - erfolgreich zu sein. Bin ich froh, dass jemand wie JoosTVD davon nicht entmutigen lässt und in jedem Jahr dennoch ein Album voller musikalisch großartiger Lieder zu veröffentlichen.
Es geht um Verschwörungen im Whirlpool, Paranoiker mit Knarren, den Narzissmus der Mediengesellschaft oder arme Schuhputzerjungen. Dabei trifft Rock auf Funk, Jazz, Latin und schamlos poppige Melodien. Und zuweilen holt Joost van Dinter sogar einen Slide heraus, um seine Gitarren zu spielen.
Klar gibt es in den Songs jede Menge Humor – wer aber JoosTVD wie ich über Jahre hinweg mit seiner Musik verfolgt, der lernt ihn darüber hinaus lieben als einen unwahrscheinlich reflektierten und feinfühligen Musiker, der einfach lieber drauflos lacht, als über all das Elend zu heulen.

English:
Some musicians are easy too clever and at the same time too amusing to be successful in these oh so serious - and thus successful-greedy world. If I am glad that not everyone allows to discourage the likes of JoosTVD of it who can publish every year an album more fully musically of great songs.

 It is about conspiracy in the jacuzzi, paranoic with rattles, the narcissism of the media society or poor shoeshine boy's boys. Besides, rock on radio, jazz, Latin and shamelessly poppige melodies hits. And now and again Joost van Dinter gets out even a Slide to play his guitars.

Clear there is in the songs a lot of humor – who pursues, however, JoosTVD like me for years away with his music, that learns him, in addition love as an incredibly reflected and sensitive musician who laughs simply rather, than to howl about all misery.

The story behind "Lighting Dutchman"

Songlist & Credits

It's been a year since I delivered "I Mimic Me". And now after an endless and addictive noodling situation in my homestudio, I'm going to tell the story behind them songs. It's always difficult to stop that creative process and give those babies away, but I'm also curious and excited- in a "what will happen with them?" mood. Not that I'm expecting too much...
This time I've chosen more songs than I had in mind, but I think they all fit the complete puzzle as It was meant to be.

Now JoosTVD,  what about touring? Mmmmmm...

Back to the homestudio: how did I do it?

1.Unscrew Yourself
The last song I wrote for this album. Unexpected. After strumming a lot of different D chords, I caught myself singing a simple melody to cheer me and you up! The build-up arrangements were a challenge, breaks and all, but then lightning struck. Now unscrew yourself.

2.Paranoiac With A Gun
Tense, nervous song, a bit like David Byrne's Psycho killer maybe. I wanted a more menacing, crazed voice. so a moment of rage I put down quickly and I think that's why it works. Notice the contrast with the more melodic and softer bridge (where I sing "but it's high....bullet in the sky"). Danceable.

3.Conspiracy In My Jacuzzi 
Hitchcock fantasy. A dangerous story! So I had to switch to narrator. the pitches in my voice were done deliberately. That paranoiac (pt.2) is everywhere, even in your own private bathroom.

4.Don't Do It Again
This song started out with a funky groove looping around and a few guitarchords, but it really caught fire when I wrote the melody on piano. I've noticed that I can create motives and melodies easier on piano than on guitar. Groovy.

5.Lost In The Underground
Pure Songwriting: knocked out guitar and melody parts all at once. Got this upand fast tempo! Which Arrangement? That latin touch was not difficult to choose. Melodies in the instrumental parts were found on piano. Joyful.

6.Rock'n Roll Me In Or Out
Fun fast write. This mirrors the paranoia of song 2 & 3. Blues turnaround outfit with country boots underneath it. I had lots of fun creating melodies. It always puts a broad smile on my face when I hear the first tones. Obvious video will follow...

7.Guru In A Lovetown
Satire on the narcistic way we use the media. One of the first songs I wrote that paved the way for some of punchier directions of this album. Dangerous guru charm!

8.Merenque Me Inside Out
Some ideas reveal their identity a couple years later. This is one of those ditties, where my voice didn't fit with the melody (not what I'd like to hear in my head), not until I found those latinesque melodies on the piano. Simply sung the title  which finished it. Seduction.


9.Limo
I think the first song I wrote for this album. More a vibe. I had a motive on electric piano. I used a fat wurlitzersound to get in the mood. Smooth.

Excited Dutchman

10.But Do I Miss You
Love, o my, what a serious topic... still I can't resist an old fashioned pop ballad about some lost love and I came up with one. Tried to sing with sincere vulnerability. So hard...

11.Never Get Tired
An older idea, first meant to be sung. That didn't satisfy, so I tried it the instrumental way which gave me a chance to experiment with instruments and melodies. Tireless energy.

12.Put Me To The Test
Mood: a little R&B and a smooth funky groove got me this far. A little Innercity Marvin Blues...


13.When The Chili Hits The Fan
Purpose of the song: hot (chili) humor counterbalances the heavy stuff. Just for the fun. After diner.


14.Your Hard-To-Get Got Up And Went
James Brown spoof? That chant ("hard to get"), the slow down effect on horns and funny noises did the trick. Funk me.

15.Shoeshine Boy
Rockish (classic?) ballad. And yes it's personal. Took a looooong time to get that final touch. Even played the solo slide guitar (haha). Even that is personal and not technical. Strength.

16.On A Good Day
Both relaxing and groovy song. Melodies written on the piano.

17.Live It Up For Me
My spanish guitar always brings out a certain latin charm that was the basis for this song. I found some melodic twists and turns (bridge), satisfying enough to be chosen for this abum.

18.For A Lifetime In A Daydream
Dreamy, melancholic popballad written and played in one take on piano.

Well, if you have made it this far, you can relax/ scream/ laugh/ cry/ take a leak. Fill me in!
Thanks for listening. Spread 'em folks!

Happy Dutchman

Your Tube!

As you all know, Youtube is a very populair streamservice, so I've taken the liberty of putting some audio- consisting 5 songs for now- up there. Audio to watch on Your Tube!

German Blues radio

I really liked radio as a kid. I don't listen often now, but this evening at 8 o'clock I'll be listening. Here is Radio Eins Not only I'll be on the playlist (he started the program with Unscrew Yourself), but some of my favourite great bluesplayers and singers are there too.

It's that german journalist Nathan that has added me on the playlist. He has already written some great reviews in his online Art/ Music magazine Wasser Prawda on my albums (like I Mimic Me [2014], The Ballooning Brouhaha [2013], Art Decoy The Bluebeard Boy [2012], Orson Nietes [2011], The Vanished Dutchman [2010] in the past. His review on my new album will come later this week. Wow, looking forward to this! Tune in, drop out!

Inside story! Questionaire

Sometimes you meet the most couraging people without seeing them face to face. Modern times I guess. Had a lovely "encounter" yesterday with a music writer (and other nice music enthusiasts, like Wim Oudijk!), who asked for an interview, well sort of..more like a questionaire. Thanks again for the nice puttings! His blog is HERE


POP'N'ROLL THE FUSION IF YOU DARE 

Thunder and lightning... A fusion you just can't ignore... He's back with a full length album... JOOSTVD is bound to get you smiling whatever style you're in... Welcome...

Sometimes it takes an orchestra,
sometimes a band,
sometimes a duo, every time it's the love for music
and this time it's just one man...

JOOST VAN DINTHER

The disappearing and reappearing
Vanished Dutchman is back with a full length album
and he made a really enjoyable music fusion

that can be tasted HERE
but you should take five to read what the man himself
had to say in his defence:

A short story about who you are and what you do...
I’m now an old(er)looking guy with a kid’s attitude.
Growing up in the seventies (listening to Roxy Music, Can and David Bowie e.a.), I followed in the footsteps of my father, whose collection of history, art books and music inspired me to make music. Now I‘m living the dream of creating songs, recording and spreading them.
I’m collecting myself too of course.

A new album every spring... What's the trick?
I love the album concept. Regular life. Breathing in and out.
Being a family man, trying to enjoy the little things. Boring maybe, not the obvious too much sex/drugs/rock’n'roll lifestyle I guess. I like the working pattern I have developed. It’s like a cycle: ideas pop up, I bring them to life and then hopefully this very intense process starts over. I’m already busy with new songs now this new album is out. Guess you have to be (and I am) kinda disciplined. Work to make it work!

Doing all this work by yourself... You must be a little crazy :) 
Why are you crazy about music?
Yes you have to be crazy! I’m addicted to sound and the “what will happen if I push this button or play that chord the whole time” method. I’m also a fervent listener and a fan of lots of great artists, like Todd Rundgren and Frank Zappa, whose individuality have educated and inspired me to do this
DIY thing.

You can take only one instrument with you. Which one? Why?
To an island? Drums (that’s maybe too heavy to carry with me, but still).
I started out as a drummer. That was the first  reall kick and my direct connection with playing an instrument. Around 1979 Stewart Copeland (Police) provided the stimulation. O my god, I can’t write songs on a cowbell! Maybe an acoustic guitar will do then.

 Admit something that makes (made) you blush?
A lot of people watching at the same time…. at the introverted me.

It's a sunny day, you feel good but real hungry, walk into a restaurant... 
What's your order?
First I’ll take a cold Belgian beer (Palm) to cool off.
If I’m really hungry I’ll order pizza… Hawaii.

How do you perform a live show?
I don’t anymore. I did with a few bands in the Netherlands from 1980 till 1995. First as a drummer, later as a frontman performing my own songs. Acting like a clown on stage. I do like performing, though I don’t see myself as a “good” performer. Not by technical standards I’d like it to be.

 Message for our viewers?
I’m always grateful to new and loyal listeners and as a musician it’s even more rewarding to get feedback on your stuff. It all helps to get better and to keep this “cycle” going. It’s an acting- reaction thing I guess. Just like this interview. Thanks for asking me!

***

Promo video of the new album
starts with a small provocation
but hey... if life gets too complicated...
and you feel screwed up... well... unscrew yourself!

Remember that!

Thank you for visiting!

Lightning Dutchman released and where?

Wow! Fast delivery by Routenote! (will updated when new links arrive) Stream, buy...have fun!
And....why not leave a note? Have a nice weekend. I'm proud.

Delirious Dutchman

Online music stores:

Spotify
iTunes 
Googleplay
Amazon
Emusic
RoutenoteDirect
Deezer
Rdio 
Bandcamp 
SensCritique
Noisetrade
Juno 
7Digital
Qubuz 

Online blogs & platforms

SouthernBluesRock
Common People's Music Bar
Avaxhome 
Musicbay 
World Pop Music Blog
Jamendo 

Unscrew Yourself, video promo "Lightning Dutchman"

Yes! As I write this, the new album is in the distribution process and when approved it will arrive in a few (2 to 4) weeks. Spotify, Deezer and iTunes will be the first streamlinks, the rest will follow. Fingers & legs crossed.
Now get ready for the first promo video, especially if you've got the blues. I've got that sometimes. You'll see what I do in that case in the clip. Guess we all feel screwed up sometimes, so what if I add a "positive" Un on it so we say: Unscrew Yourself? That's it, Say it! Get involved. It's the first song you'll hear when you put on that Lightning Dutchman [2015] album. So enjoy, hope you like...

Next: The story behind "Lighting Dutchman"

Live session......

....but only in pictures. For now. A lot of work has been done there in his homestudio. Wonder which song he's singing....must be one of the new songs! Notice all the albums in the background. No, those can't be his...

Climaxing Dutchman

Jolly Singing Dutchman

"Oe" Dutchman

Percussive Dutchman

Next: Promo video!

Title & Covers for the new 2015 album

Beware, especially the impatient listeners, it's a longplayer (like a double album on vinyl), but relax... it consist mostly of short songs. 18 of them.  I could even choose from about thirty/forty songs. Lucky son of a ...Yes, it's been a very productive ride in my homestudio. But I'm aware...quantity is not quality.
Excited? Me?

I've been in a very electric- no, not in the heavy guitar metal way-state of mind the last year. All that bursts of inspiration, energy coming out, so I came up with this flashy title:

                                                Lightning Dutchman

sure, there are always references......a bluesname like Lighnin' Hopkins? Well, although I'm not a bluesman, I have a few blues chops in my throat, so indirectly it is) To me it sounds cool and nifty.

                                                                            

Frontcover

                                                                                                         The concept: 
Pictures have been taken by my camera-spying spouse Yola on a weekend trip, while climbing an endless dutch tower. I've dealt with the design (the black & white, lightning electricity effect) and what I especially liked about it, was the delusive perspective (upside down) of the staircase. It reminded me of the work of dutch artist Escher. The mystery of that Vanished Dutchguy. Fascinated by gravity and relativity? Take a walk into the illusion of the Penrose stairs
Now look at the covers (two frontcovers!) and tell me where the stairs are:
 

alt.Frontcover 2/innersleeve & Backcover & songlist

Excited! Me? 

Next: live session, New song, video promo "Lightning Dutchman"

2015: what am I here for and what can you do?

Hey, it's 2015 and here we are again: I'm in the last stages of a new TVD album. Slowly, but with the unavoidable bursts of energy (electricity!) and all the practising experiences I've endured, it is all working out smoothly.

Electric Dutchman

One thing I can't do, is to force this music and...the words.. Got one lyric about a past lovestory I can't finish. Yes, she broke my heart. Damn. But I got over it or did I(?), so the obvious, but paradoxal title "But Do I Miss You" came up. The answer? Two ways: I don't miss you at all, I miss you so bad. Dilemma. Well, that became the refrain. But for the rest it's... guess It's all about the right combination of words that have to gel together and for now they are just too cheesy! In the past I used my personal experiences as lyrics, but I try to make them less navelstaring and more "universal". That's where my goal lays here. Love and cheese, aaargh. Bold love then?
What can you do? (Throw money!) Maybe you can send me some alternative words that can give this story a litle more edge.
Really love to experiment with the homestudio though. It's just an addition to the finishing touch, like a simple palette, but with a wide range of colours to choose from if you mix them.

In the following months you can expect a few more posts, updates, so stand by me. BTW, what time is it?
Have a nice day, night or evening folks!