City Of The Mirrorballs [Promo 2022]

I was not planning to make another promo as I'm a musician first. but then... I stumbled on some instagram effects to enhance your selfies! Well that did the trick and as you can see, it's all over this video. I know, I'm aware that I'm getting old and ugly, so in the future I will not overdo this anymore. 

I've just had a lot of fun writing, playing and recording this upbeat track "City Of The Mirrorballs" that I could not resist producing a promo around it. I even went so far as to use a frame for the front and back cover for the new album, Sand In My Shoes.

Hope you like it, don't get lost in the trance of the mirrorball!

Next: Released, where can I find it?

Sent Away, the digital way: Q&A

So here we are, in the middle of a worldwide crisis. And I am too spreading a new virus.... but I am glad to hear that:

Q: That does ring some bell, doesn't it, JoosTVD doesn't ring a bell?

A: I may have done the same thing every year, yes. But I not often ring a bell though.

Q: Is this virus contagious?

A: I've been under the weather by making making music a whole year, so yes I know. I guess you'll find out. In about 4 weeks Spotify will ring a bell. As will the other online services of course.

Q: Can we have a preview now, soon?

A: Yep! That video you mean? First I'll show you the artwork. 

Q: Yep!?

Next: The Artwork

Those Little Urgent Things

The Toy Garden

Hai there folks, hope you're all healthy and keeping your safe distances! It's all relative of course, the flat world, the world wide network called the internet gives and takes. I guess, as we all have to adjust to this new behaviour, we all get to our senses together, maybe for once! All of a sudden the health of common people is at stake. How fragile we are. Maybe in my own humble way I've done that since I started writing, playing, recording like a hermit on that desert island. Totally the opposite from my (nightly) work environment though! It's in my toy garden, this kitchensink of sounds, I've been concentrating on the last finishing touches of a brand new baby album. Yes, it's finished I say! So what now? Is it important to let you all know? Yes and no.... it's the music that mostly survives through all the sickness, bad feelings, wrong doings, like a constant healer in the background, just to keep the much needed hopes up. To comfort us. The little things, like that old fat sun on your face. Songs for the shut-ins.

So I will do as "little" promotion as I can: I will let the music speak for itself. I will let you know when of course (spoiler alert! Unashamed promo: somewhere in May 2020), along with a nifty, comfortable video. I'm happy to share these songs, as I did my best.

CU and keep well!

The little things that give comfort...

Next: will this album be accepted and released?

Keep In Touch!

Right....but the distance is needed I guess. Just when I'm about to throw my new music around the globe, this virus stops me in my tracks. It's not the time, not that important as the fear to get corona is surely more important. A lockdown in the Netherlands is not on the charts yet, but a decision to do so is not far away.
Finally we can really appreciate all of those people working the health sector, priority nr.1!

So I've decided to wait a while, even though I know that music can be a healing factor. There are a few musicians who play live from their homes to distract people from their fears, so that's one way... It's just that I think now, it's not the right moment to promote a "new product". Or is there? Tell me.
Keep healthy everyone!

The Way Things Are

No, this not the new album cover! Just a quote I use very much these days... (update : almost finished with mixing, I really can't wait to let you in on a listening sesion, but I have to, over my dead like, ha ha!

Me Against....

2020

Selfreflected Dutchman

Hai Folks, have yourself a happy 2020! Time surely flies.
A little update about the music, I've got:
12 songs, one song needs some lyrics and then I'll mix them until I'm satisfied. I'm really surprised by the quality of the songs and arrangements, can't wait to let you inside my.....!
At the same time I've been busy choosing the right pictures for the covers. All designed and ready! I guess I couldn't help myself, but there are 3 videos in the can. All lyric based videos with a lot of colourful effects to stir the juices.
So, hum, I'm excited.

Mirror, mirror

Sent Away, the digital way: Q&A

Ok, here's a Q&A with me and myself.

Gimme proof!

 
As you can see, you'll be able to stream my new album officially 30 April 2019. Check Spotify regularly, it takes often only three weeks over there.
AMAdea, who again handles the distribution, notes:
"It takes from 3 weeks minimum, to 7 weeks maximum to get it up and selling, once you've given us ALL the info we need. (Usually 4 weeks) Once we send it to them, it's out of our hands and they do what they can to get it imported and active in their service. We push them to get it added as soon as possible, and they always do it as soon as they can."

I was wondering, how many years...?
Ah yes! This is my 40th (!) year in the, ahum, "business" as songwriter, I guess you'd be expecting a "Greatest Hits" or another sort of a celebration box by now, do ya? Well, all of my works have been the "Greatest Kicks" I've had in my life anyway, so I don't need to be that nostalgic. I'm just glad to release more new stuff. Prolific guy!

1998: my first self burned cd!

What can we expect?
Tunes. 12 songs (two instrumental) with my stamp of typical energetic flavor of melodic pop songs with grooves, influenced by jazz, funk, R&B, latin, cabaret and humour.


When will you be famous?
When I'm dead and done of course. Legend in my own time. I'm happy with that, haha.

How do you write?
Mostly with a pen; everything that widens my eyes and opens my mouth I'll write down. I often start with the music, mostly late in the afternoon/ evening. The best songs come, when I've got a positive energy. Explosive jamming. I play around on acoustic guitar or bang on the piano. Combine a few funny or heartfellt sentences, words that fit the vowels. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, sometimes 2 years to get to the end result.

Tell us about the recording process
Guts, sweat and beers. And a monk's patience.

When can we see that promo?
Ah, I've got two promo's for ya, they'll be up on Youtube in no time. All to watch before bedtime, before the official release, 30th april.

What are the covers and title? 
I'll show them all in my next blog.

Well, anything else to declare?
Um, well, yeah, no, um....CU.

 Next: Show Us The New Stuff!

I.Am.Working.On.It!

Short. Update:

Shoot or Vanish!

I. Am. Almost. Satisfied. Then. Will. Sent. Tunes. Away. For distribution. Worldwide. Working. On two video's also. Great. Fine. I. Am okay. Doing it. So. Coming up. 12 songs. Titles. Sleeve design. Pictures, covers. Promo's. One. Man. TVD.  Pop grooves. Jazz. R&B. Funk. Latin. Cabaret. Slapstick. Melodies. It will be fun. Smooth. I. Am. Cool. Right. On.

The shape I'm in...

The energy flow

The title refers to a lyric of one of my new songs: how to express oneself freely these days with all the social media that crawls around ya. The daily routine. Questions. Does it make me feel good or bad? I don't follow easy, you know, don't conform to the hype of the day. I kinda keep up with the news, without taking topics or VIPs even for one second serious. It's still fascinating to know what's the new hype though. I always think about  the words Frank Zappa used to say: "there's a song in this", after watching another stupid, motherf..king asshole making a fool of him/herself on TV. There you have it! Enough topics to write about without pointing the dirty finger directly. Swearing is easy, writing with wit and selfreflecting spirit will get you much further in the end, I dare say. Imagination. I'm not a storyteller though, like a, say Ray Davies. I too observe almost obsessively, but the words that I write on paper are mostly fragmentic stuff. Ironic one-liners. I just need to touch some keys or strings to get the energy flow going. What's the shape I am in? There's a sudden burst of absurd energy that makes me wanna run through the jungle strip-naked, do a John Bonham drumsolo on piano and get away with it. Or scream without making a sound. Or keep silent with an all well-known nod on my face. People gotta move. That's my kind of music man. I want to join the circus...in my mind. Shape it up!

Putting Dots On The I

Staring Dutchman

Hai folks, glad you're here... A new year brings new possibilities. See the grey hair? Well, I've been working my ass off and I guess the labour on my music has taken the original colours away, but... I always feel like a mountain though, rocking fiercely at these times.
Ok, for me it's mostly the music that gives me the ultimate satisfaction. What's up then? I am deep into the final stages of mixing my new songs. Excitement in the air. A few brushes here and there. It takes time to smooth the rough edges out of my way though. So far, I'm very happy with these tunes: they funk me right in the gut. I'm getting better bit by bit. That's the road I'm traveling on... I have to do this alone. Am I arrogant, narcistic, ego-centric? Yes, just like anybody else, haha! Whatever you do, how important you think you are for any community, you do it for yourself first. I'm just more aware of what I can do and that gives me the confidence that I've never ever had before. I also need some distance from the predictable sound, so I distract myself with housekeeping, family get togethers (mostly my own children, wife and my mother by phone), reading, watching TV series and the lot. Inspiration. Just live my life, stay healthy. keeping it up, just we all try to do. CU TVD

2018?!

What? Music?!

So this must be my last blog of 2018! A few last words then on what I've been doing those 12 months.
Guess you have witnessed the silence on this blog lately ("Vanished" remember?), but that will change once again in 2019 with the release of my new album, that's now "almost" finished. All the music has been recorded. I have just a few lyrics to complete that will take it to the final mixing and mastering stage. Excited times ahead......

Back to 2018 then.

I've enjoyed the weather. Both hot and cold....

What did I come up with?

My song libary is expanding constantly, I mean, I've got a lot of ideas and although sometimes they do not fit on the regular albums, they deserve a destination home too. So I decided to fill another 2 instrumental albums: For Your Pleasure Vol.4 and Vol.5, especially made for the public to use. These licenses, only available on Jamendo and Bandcamp, you can use for your video projects!

Of course, I've released that regular album too. My main thing to complete the year's cycle, it's another part of man's growing lifework.. Learnt a lot again. Still, I am a musicain, not a sound engineer. I try to do my best. Very proud of the work and the feedback it has got. I received more radioplays and reviews than ever!
                                                                    
                                                                     Just Say KNOW....

Back & Front

              
Grateful for the words:

       Bluesmagazine
                                          Muziekwereld
                                                                            Timpaanmuziek
                                                                                                                 KeysAndChords 
                                                                                                                                                    Drooble


My favourite albums of 2018

Close contenders: Chris Bowden - Unlikely Being, Kamasi Washington - Heaven & Earth, David Byrne - American Utopia, Paul Weller -True Meanings, Mark Knopfler - Down The Road Wherever, Thomas Dybdah -  All These Things, David Crosby - Here If You Listen.

Yes, I've been listening and these ones stayed longer on my playlist, in random order, check:


Chris Stills - Don't Be Afraid

The son of Stephen. You can hear it in his voice and intimacy of the songs. His typical seventies production and his songwriting skills caught my ears.


Curtis Harding- Face Your Fear

Retro isn't always that bad. Beautiful, deep (retro soul/ R&B) arrangements, soulful, brooding and intense atmosphere (hence the title "Face Your Fear" I guess).


Michael Franks - The Music In My Head

One of my songwriter heroes (74 years old!) still delivers unexpected subtility


Joan Armatrading - Not Too Far Away

I've got a weak spot for Joan for years (her seventies period especially). An example for all the upcoming (lady) singer-songwriters. She always lifts me up with her upbeat (optimistic) songs.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Look Now

Elvis is back. With the most colourful crafted songs in years. Eclectic to the core. What a surprise. Wow!

Field Music - Open Here

Tight-fit, fresh, genius artpop! Something that's been missing these days...

Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 1 

Out of this world harmonies, music as it suppose to be in 2018 (the young can deliver!) and this is only vol.1....!


In between, I have read these books in 2018:

John Einarson - Forever Changes Arthur Lee Story
Marc Eliot - Charlton Heston
Andy Summers - One Train Later A Memoir
Paul Woods - The Curious Life & Work Of Scott Walker
Eric Clapton - Clapton The Autobiography 2007
Fred Schruers - Billy Joel
Andy Partridge Todd Bernhardt - Complicated Game Inside the Songs of XTC
Stephen Davis - Stevie Nicks Gold Dust Woman
John Densmore - The Doors: Unhinged
Marcus Baram - Gil Scott-Heron Pieces Of A Man

The last lyrics

Guess you can see the labour of love in this. Struggling a bit with words. Hence "f-word". Yes, sometimes it flipps right out of my mouth.
Just a few lyrics and vocal recording to finish and I've got a new album for ya! 2019, here I come again.

Writing Dutchman

Sent away to the shops!

Yep! As you can see, officially 9 may 2018. AMAdea, who handles the distribution, notes:
"It takes from 3 weeks minimum, to 7 weeks maximum to get it up and selling, once you've given us ALL the info we need. (Usually 4 weeks) Once we send it to them, it's out of our hands and they do what they can to get it imported and active in their service. We push them to get it added as soon as possible, and they always do it as soon as they can."

Proof. Can I get a witness?

I'm glad. At first I was worried that something wasn't right. OMG western problems.

Done it again. Worked like a dog. I've finally decided to send my fresh babies away. Why? Because I like them too much!
Yes, I've got a good, strong feeling about these songs. More than ever I took special care to every aspect of the production process (inspiration, songwriting, playing, recording, mixing, mastering).
I think these tunes are a upbeat, sinister, melancholic, desperate but overall fun and groovy bunch, just like me. Ok, sometimes.

After a long, long ping-pong process (the details) of mixing and mastering that is. That was a very intense 3 months period, but I'm glad I didn't overrush things. These songs needed some breathing and I needed some distance from them once in a while. But now it's time I let you enjoy my new grooves.

Well on the distribution side, that will be taken care of by AMAdea (after approval) and it will take about 3 or 4 weeks to hear the album on Spotify and the like. There are so many streaming sites today, so take your pick.

I'll send a few free download links (Bandcamp) to a few of my supporters too, so maybe a few reviews will come up before the official release in may.
Watch this site for more details, news about the design, covers, promo and tell me..what about a title and.... Soon, stay stuned. Promo coming at ya!

TBA3

Focused monk

Hai there folks!
Today, as usual, I'm gonna work on my latest stuff again. Listening attentively like a lonely, but dedicated and focused monk minus the bald crown of course. Keep it cool, will ya?
I'd like to share some of that stuff which has helped me through years of struggling in my homestudio. For those who are looking desperately for those educational video's about mixing and mastering and of course there's absolutely much more. Give me those links and I'll add them.
Mostly presented by the professional audio nut and mostly done in Pro Tools with the basic stock plugins to enhance your audio a "little" to make it more "audible".

Vanished Monk

Pro Tools mixing/ mastering video playlist

Mastering it yourself

Mixed Up

So...I'm in the middle of these final mixes. Thoughts are racing all the time: "don't mess with a good thing!" The choices I've made are more or less definite. I mean, the intensity and the emotions (FEEL) of the "first take" makes it mostly the best one to go for. Both the organic energy and the freshness of a new song motivates that. Sure there are the unavoidable overdubs and edits to be done later (only in case if there are disruptive mistakes, all in the name of smoothing it all out).
I've got a lot of ideas while arranging and recording a song. Those filling intervals, melodies come from the piano mostly. Some even counterpoint perfectly with eachother. And sometimes you have to choose, wipe away what's getting in the way.
Every song has got its own personal handling of course. After a few weeks of self-imposed distance I've listened again with "new" ears. Aha. Yes, that distance helps to be more objective about the sound, especially if you work alone (!). Watched a few youtube tutorials of generous sound engineers again to learn more about their professional mixing methods. Let's get it on.

My method? The "meth" method.

 Ok, I need some more distance perhaps haha....CU!

When it goes viral

Quick update: I'm ready for another distribution of my new album. ExciteD! Let you know when and you'll let me know when it goes viral...
Here's an old fave to get in the mood: What Bomb? Story of a failed terrorist.
Featured on Tom Robinson's Saturday Show, his BBC6 mixtape and featured as a Fresh fave goo.gl/EC45PS

Bomb Won't Go Off 

Something's cooking!

Hey folks of the good earth! While the snow has covered most of the lowlands here, I've got a few snowballs to throw at ya.
The songs are continiously reviewed by yours truly. Listening sessions on every device I can get my hands on. From crappy monitors of my daughter's pc, the car stereo while trying to drive slowly (failing) or listening to my own comfortable studio sound, it's quite a difficult task to tweak the most- and best sound- out of the ordinary. Warning! I have to keep my ears fresh to notice all the tiny details as I have watched a few audio professionals at work in their own playrooms. Learned so much from these guys, great to have their support. I'm a musician first, just willing to go all the way...by himself..

The Vanished Dutchman 2017

As I've said before, there will be 12 songs. I'm really excited now as I've seen them grow and evolve everyday. All the changes in arrangements that have been coming up....! Typical JoosTVD: groovy popsongs all spiced up with a latinesque, jazzy, rhythm & bluesy sauce.

I guess I'm more at peace and pleased with myself  as before (I know better what to do and what not to now!) as I'm much more confident in my playing and singing and that is saying much.
And then... there are the leftovers. Well they will certainly have a place on the next albums.

Next to the technical side, there's always something needed to stir the curious eyes, like a promo video, artwork. Well those are in the pipeline too. I've been working my ass off.
I also know the title of the album (it's spanish for...) which I will tell in the near future when I'll show you the finished front and backcover cover. These and the promo have their origins in a homevideo shot with my mobile phone. This is the low-budget way as usual.

I'm aiming for a release for april 2017. Soon, soon.

Next: show us the covers and what is it called?

Can't decide

... O yes we can!

Well, it's that time of the year. It's getting colder and colder and I'm getting older and bolder, haha.
I've got 12 songs getting in great shape. I'm having fun. Detailed mixing is now in process. Progressing bit by bit. Great! It's not my most favourite part of the whole cycle of writing, recording songs, but hey:

Let's see....

I've started it, so I've got to finish it.                             

What's the problem then, lowland dude?

It's just that new songs keep crawling out of my brains and fingers and that's ok, but I also want the best songs on this album. It's not a question of more or less songs. Those 12 have to fit together as a whole and now I feel that something is not really gelling. Some variety in style and themes are needed towards the end of the album maybe, which songs are more serious lyrically and harder/ darker in tone. Maybe that's more like it...well let's see. Is it the sequence then?
There's already a lot of energy and dynamics throughout, so now I've got this new tune, very smooth and relaxed, but still funkish jazz without the cheese. Just before my uptight eyes it's soothing me like a mushroom. Maybe that's the one.

Aha, there it is...

Of course, as an experienced listener, I know and you know, that the first songs often can make or break an album. How many times have you stopped listening after 3 or 4 songs already? Well I have. Skipping. Otherwise it also has happened that I could not stop listening to the same album over and over, peeling off layers of sound and ideas.
So the flow of the songs is very important to make a lasting impression to the listener. That's why I still like the challenge of the album concept as one continuous stimulans of surprises.

What do you think?

I'll keep you (you keep me) updated.

News about what?

Caught!

Hai folks! 15 december already...?! Just to let you know: everything is fine. I've got to take care, just like everyone. Some back problems have kept me from writing this update, but here we are.
The new songs (12) are in their finishing stages. I'm very excited, because I've learned so much more about mixing and recording the last year, it makes the overall workflow so much easier. It's gonna be a groove you have to move by, a lot of upbeat songs that will not make you cry. It will be released around spring if the world let me.

There will one last post, my overview of 2016. CU there!