No, I haven't forget you, I just kept myself busy with the works. I've got 8 completed songs in the can, all more or less ready for the mixdown. I've payed a lot of attention to my vocals, especially the nuances, the precise pronunciation of the vowels. And harmonising. Well, we've got autotune for that? I only use it for effect. Very little. Jacob Collier does a great thing with autotune harmonising, but in the end it's all just a trick. Keep it real boy, your voice is great on itself.
So many different choices to make with all different styles of music. And always the love for funky tracks with a latin vibe got me in an intense mood. As I know my capabilities more, I'm having a lot of fun with singing now. I sweat like a pig sometimes, but that's just a bold expression for the way I work. Intensity. Ok, it was a hot summer.
Ah, yes. Those magic words that fit the melody. Always a challenge to find them. Sometimes they just fall out from my mouth like easy snow. It's a hard and underestimated work though, just look at the picture:
My latest, yet unfinished lyric. Mark the crossed-out words
Where (?) do they (?) all come from?
I've read in one of Todd Rundgren's biographies, that he mostly come up with the words, sing all the harmonies and record them just.at the last moment. I guess a little self imposed pressure has helped me out a lot, but when your mindset is not there, better let the flow come back to you another fresh time.
I use a bit of Todd and David Byrne's method he first used at the "Remain In Light" sessions. He often sings nonsense vowels (oo, aa eee, oe, hiii) at first in a spontanious way and writes lyrics on those vowels.
Reminds me of the action painting of Pollock where you just let it all out, dripping paint from your hands. In blues, when one is singing, it's common to just let it out, even repeat the sentence just to understate or confirm an emotion. It's only natural. Bluespower.
The process of songwriting/ recording/ mixing/ mastering
May 2014 I began writing and recording the new stuff. Already had a flow of ideas in the bag, so no worries in that department. I've been spending a lot of time mixing and mastering the songs though. Youtube and other friendly sound engineers helped me out with the technical know how much more further. Yes, I try to learn about every aspect of the process. Next time I hope to do things much more efficient in the recording process.
Inspiration for the title
Every year I try to come up with another appropiate title that epitomise what these songs stand for.
Guess Zappa's quotes brought me the one that connects those 12 songs.
And...I already had a few songs with a "parachute" reference. Your mind only works if one opens it. With songwriting, that seems not that difficult for me. Just jump fearlessly into the free air...just dare.
That introvert face on the frontcover stands for my introvert side and my wife's selfie reflex has captured that right on the spot.
I sort of invite you all to open up my parachute and you'll see/hear...... the songs will jump out of my head.
(next: released a parachute and where did it land?)
You've listened already? Here's some information about the 12 parachutes. I think this is my most accessible and dancable record so far, so let's follow our restless feet, while reading. Hope you like.
It's all in the mind
01.Chalky
A burst of restless energy I tried to put down in a tight fit arranged funk. Started as one of the first new songs for this album, inspired by the dense grooves of 1980's Remain In Light era Talking Heads, but heading (totally?) elsewhere eventually. The working out of the tightness in accents and the finishing of various arrangements took me almost a year, before I was really satisfied. I am now.
02.Dancing Dutchman
A little nostalgic throwback to my numerous dance moves I left on the dancefloor hearing those seventies soul (Chic, Kool & The Gang, Rose Royce, KC & The Sunshine Band) in those after midnight discotheques. Proud of the melodic chorus and the groove, which convinced me to put on my dancing shoes again.
03.Everything Is A-Okay
Is it okay? Most of the time. With this song I think I've reached a very accessible side of the melodic and the rhythm of exotic coolness with a few instrumental adventures in the middle too.
04.Jump For Your Life
Searching for that parachute that brings joy and playfulness. Just jump and watch what happens. Old fashionated pop and bluesy funk.
05.The Riddle Room
One song idea from the last album sessions that needed more time to develop. Just a funny motive on piano started another riddle in my room.
06.It's A Struggle Honey
Two ideas (one melodic, another rhythm) put together in dreamlike fashion. An old trick: use that mod & pitchwheel on the keyboard. I freaked a lot throughout the album.
07.Hipster Mind
Hipster was the word of 2015 (but it's so old), but the hipness is gone. A piano & guitar motive accent on a pulsing groove pushed this into a song. Starts off like an voice-over intro to a hip chatty radioshow, but that slow, threatening groove gets in the way.
08.Issues?
The question mark says it all. I connected this funky bassline with a accenting guitarpattern and voila. Just dance the seventies (Gap band, Ohio Players,...) to it.
09.Parachute
A song for superman! Slapstick enters. Silent movies. Finally flying! Goofing off.
10.Cosmopolitan Circus
Instrumental stuff to rest my voice. I liked working on this a lot. It's different. A bit Kurt Weilish. European vaudeville? I recorded piano parts in a few takes. I put a few "hymnlike voicing" plugins on the melodies for the angelic atmosphere. Proud of this.
11.The Slippery Slope
Inspired by the 1965 movie "Mirage" featuring Gregory Peck. I like mystery, so a song developed from there. It begins and it ends more or less the same.
12.Ha Veda Va
Latinesque. That chant doesn't mean a thing, just a few fitting spanish words put together for us to sing: Ha= it has. Veda= farewell. Va= will. Cryptic? Yes maybe, but what does "trolololololo" mean? Hope I don't offend anyone.
Solo on keyboard at the last part, that's me pitching the sound, combining horns, organ and guitar.
That's it folks, my story. Maybe you listen to these songs with other ears now.
Ok, ok. Not only you can hear it, there's something to watch by.
When everything goes as planned, the new album "Open Up My Parachute" will arrive globally around 4 april on the usual streaming services, like Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, Amazon. Links will follow ASAP. Fingers crossed, legs necked!
So no better way than to start off with THE promo:
Inspiration for it aka who is this "Chalky"?
What you hear is the song that opens the album: Chalky. The supporting promo video shows all the pictures that have been involved with the artwork. You can see the changes in design, colour, fonts. Yes, it's all in a lowbudget DIY way that keeps it personal and what drives me to do it like this.
My rhythmic side pushed forward and I seem to use each frame as a rhythm response to any accent in the music. Well, it's a funky track so I had to.
Who is this... "Chalky"? It's inspired by that afro-american guy, who played this cool, smooth survivor in the thrilling TV series Boardwalk Empire. Chalky (White), a ironic nickname. I liked the sound of it and it fit perfectly with this "dangerous" groove I've been working on.
Enjoy!
Just heard from the disribution company AMAdea that the album is approved: ready to take off. Expect to hear it around 4 april 2016 on almost any online service (see picture for proof)! Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, Amazon, Google music, to name a few.
Fingers crossed, legs necked.
Lot of services!
The artwork.
So sure, I'll show you my new work! Here are the Covers, title & the songlist for the new 2016 album. Which pictures did I choose?
The following steps will make it clear:
1.The original which I boosted a bit in colour?
2.The sober variation?
Yeah, that's me "full" in the face. The narcistic pose. Growing grey,
but not bald yet, haha. At first not really in the mood for a selfie
from the wife sitting next to me, after an endless bicycle tour.But what the heck, we were on holidays and I was looking for a bit of deserved peace and happiness.....
3.Mr. sepia with brown coloured accents?
The original picture was in colour I kinda liked, though I wanted to put my own stamp on it. I tried B&W first, which I also liked, but eventually I chose the old fashionated sepia, which I really liked! Colour? A little accent in the lettertype.
Who cares about a title?
Me of course. Identity! As for the title, the word "parachute"- also featured in two songs- gave me positive vibes. I never ever did jump literally, but I often opened up to a few things, both positive and negative. Dare.
So with this album, I just seem to say: "let's jump, hear/ see what happens..."
Don't pull my hair please...
Open Up My Parachute
The original frontcover
Unfortunately, as I uploaded the picture to the distribution department, I
had to remove the familiar "The Vanished Dutchman" name as most online
stores only allow the artistname. Yeah, vanished!
Frontcover without "The Vanished Dutchman" name
Remember?
For the backcover I chose another picture- made by the wife during our holidays- that I liked. It contrasts with the cover of my previous album, where I ascend the stairs. This time I descend the stairs, walking into the unknown.Well, sort of.
1.The original boosted colour
2.B&W: more mystery
3.Sepia coloured with black framework
Back Cover (notice "The Vanished Dutchman" name present)
Well, curiousity killed the cat. Went out for a lunch after mixing and mastering the latest tracks. Someone (me), sneaked into my studio, sniffed around and touched my jewels! All captured (me) on tape. (me) Hit some forbidden bar and some song (from me) starts playing...at the wrong speed. Better not watch. Yet. Don't-do-it. Don't! Wait for the real one.
I've warned you, didn't I? It's gonna be allright. Soon...soon!
Hey folks, let's begin with some fresh eye-openers. My musical parachute will open up in the near future, if my mind will let it. Guess Frank's wise words have triggered me and inspired me. 2016 will open up a few more sensible parachutes I hope.
The new album will have 12 songs on it. Just finished the artwork, but I'm still busy working on the mixes. Just let those songs breath a little more. It's gonna be great!
Have a nice (2016) everyone.
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!
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?
....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...
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:
Although I'm in the middle of recording and writing some fresh tunes, there's always other things I have to take care off, like experimenting with the artwork for the new album. By the way, the above rainbow gif pic will not be used as a frontcover. It's just a example of what an amateur can do these days with a modest picture. Just a simple google search (photo-editor) is enough to find some great ones like Lunapic with gif animation. Back to the colourful acid area circa 1967!
As I said earlier, I'm in the middle of recording new songs (these are mostly the most obvious studio happenings, like writing melodies & lyrics, mixing, arranging, playing and goofing off) and there's a lot to choose from, worthly of as least two albums(!) What comes quick, will last, that's my motto. Sometimes I've got a-wow brilliant-idea (on piano or guitar or a lyric) so guickly played, arranged and recorded, that I often stand amazed afterwards. Two days work. For me, that's the most organic and satisfying way to do it. Ok, it's not like the mind blowing fast Pollock method, but hey, I would if I could play all the instruments simultaneously. I just try to put the ideas on tape in the moment you're one with the song. Wow, I must have got an acid brain! I hear you think: "why not put out the songs ASAP then?" Well, that's because I still believe in the concept of making an album as a whole, not just spreading a few songs as loose ends. Fleshing out the finishing touches takes the most time. The quantity helps for the learning process. Maybe I will put up some rough mixes here on the blog. I guess it's just the kick of hearing the perfect fitting sounds, melodies and the exploring, experimenting and finishing of your creations, that makes you work faster. And as I'm getting older, the more flexible I've got. I've read somewhere that Prince- guess any prolific songwriter- works all through the night to finish a song, just to get it done. So I better move on..... In the meantime I'll need a title for the new album, suggestions anyone?
Ok, now it's out of the bag...
As usual (am I boring, predictable?), once a year I invite the listeners to read about the "inside" story of a new album. How I vanish into my reclusive hole and come back with some new, fresh & above all: haha, brilliant music. But hey, there's no hidden message here!. For me, music has to be fun, joy, melodic, funky, over the top, ironic, colourful and full of character. I Mimic Me.
After my last album "The Ballooning Brouhaha" floated through digital spaces, I immediately sat down to the work. Ideas "always" come quick, emotions keep pouring out of my fingertips. But how to shape them in attractive little ditties?
I always start recording with a basic track (rhythm pattern) and the first instrument (piano, guitar) I've chosen to write on. I want to record as fast as possible to capture the energy and/or the emotion of that particular "high" moment of inspiration. Record as if in "performance". Forget "studio".
Choices, doubts, solutions, inspiration going back and forth. Well, mostly for me, I'm working around the more technical shortcommings I have as a recording-in the flesh- musician. So the last few years I've been watching some show-off sound engineer pros showing their flashy studio stuff on Youtube. There are a lot of choices you can make, details you can alter with your workstation (Pro Tools is mine), especially in the mixing process, which makes the whole process even more challenging to keep things as organic as possible.
As long as it helps me further. But it all starts with a tight rehearsed performance, so what you can't fix....
Listen carefully!
Now, press on your application of choice (sorry no vinyl), like Deezer, Spotify or iTunes or maybe your free download and let those little stories stir up your imagination.
01.Cowboy On The Moon
Build around a chord progression I luckely found on the piano almost a year ago(!). I wrote a few countermelodies (guitar and woodwinds) that brought more layered excitement arrangementwise that I wanted for the song. I had lot of fun with this one, never stopped developping ideas in that department. Took a long time to write about cowboys-no indians-but moons though...
O U T L A W
02.Velvet Shoes
This took 3 minutes to write, but the vision to work it out, took a lot longer....
You can guess this is about Lou Reed, my indirect connection with him, expressed in a an uplifting, I hope, tribute song. His death and his music got me closer again to the legend and his work (my fave is 1973's Berlin). Yes, I tried to use some of his typical pronounciation (but "I mimic me" right?) and a few of his familiar lines (wild side, white heat white light). Fun song!
Btw, great read: two biographies of Lou and the Velvet Underground by Victor Bockris.
N E W Y O R K
03.Buy (Bye Bye)
Topic: a pact with the devil/Faust: selling out in favor of becoming successful. Bye, buy...
I used this funkbeat for intensity, although I can never be that hypnotic like James Brown, but I can in a, uuh, funny JoosTVD kind of way.
F A U S T
04.Ballroom Blues
Overblown ballroom showstopper (took a lot of mindslapping working this out!) about windbags and other loudmouths. You know who you are. Now shut the f... up!
O V E R K I L L
05.Social Suicide
One of those fun songs that wrote itself and relatively quick both musically and lyrically. All 13 songs came quick, but mostly musically.The choice of intruments, how to colour the arrangements...they' re already there in my head when I wrote this song.
H A P P I N E S S
06.I Mimic Me
Here I go again! The same burst of creativity happened like song 5. Short and sweet. I really like that. Maybe the next time I can put out an album even quicker. Well.....these explosive moments are rare though. And I love what Jack Bruce did with Kip Hanrahan. (great album: Vertical Currency 1984)
M I R R O R
07.Different Kind Of Cool
Yeah, a fast, funpowerpop rocksong. Something (rock) I do not do often, but it gives the album a different- rockier- colour.
O U T C A S T
08.Intermission Of Love
Hey lunch hour! A little (one minute!) Tin Pan Alley love song. Yes, I really love the creativity of Irving berlin and Cole Porter. These chords say it all: melodic, romantic. Ahh, my soft side...
S I N P A N A L L E Y
09.Cats (Walk With A Swagger)
One of the first tunes I wrote for this album. It gave me purpose of direction. A lot of funny (real cat sounds) stuff happening, surprising breaks and stops in combination with melodies. (thanks to Arto Lindsay & the Ambitious Lovers)
D O G G Y C A T
10.Sin Pan Alleyman
Unexpectacly, former musical mate Wijnand Brant (WB) helped me out with his unstoppable fingers & guitars on this forgotten instrumental idea, one of many I've piled up on my harddisk.
(C O N) F U S I O N ? !
11.Lovesong For The Ghetto
Wrote this relatively quick on guitar, sang the title (and liked the melodic refrain a lot) and voila...it's a bit dark (ghetto), but eased, counterbalanced with some eerie female voices, which I found fitting with my own low male singing.
G H E T T O
12.Coffin Song
Also one of the first more uplifting (listen to the guitar chords, variations in D), funky song I wrote, musically that is. The theme is a little dark though: "put the sickness in the ground". No, no cofee needed. A coffin with a "n". Not a special message I have here, it's just dark humor, sardonic wordplay.
C O F F I N
13.I See You
To counterbalance the more energetic songs, there' s always some sort of melancholic ballad I come up with- developped on the piano- after much rehearsel, this was recorded live. I've tried to come up with something uplifting, melodic, not too self-important or dramatic.
P I A N O
14.Cowboy In Your Room
Reprising song nr.1 here, it has got a few nice breaks in it, so the idea for an instrumental promo (see video post) was born.
P R O M O
Hai there...I almost forgot this blog! No, I still follow everything....sometimes at a distance. Really had nothing to say for a while, I'm a musician, remember? Networking is just a little part of the "job". Holidays then?
Well, I do enjoy this endless summer we´re having up here in the Lowlands. Took a week off to one of the most beautiful islands in the north of the Netherlands, Terschelling.
To breath in some inspirational winds is comforting, trying to avoid the, mostly drunk, youthful & annoying tourists is another thing for a vanished dutchman. We cycled till land's end and enjoyed the white sandy dunes and the North Sea. I always take my notebook (an e-book & headphones are in the package too) with me to escape my day to day routine. That's what helps to get fresh ideas. Indeed, back home, it all got me in the right musical groove. O, I really feel some sort of happiness in the flow of the moment when inspiration strucks! Time doesn't excist for a creative dreamer. But it´s not like that everyday....
Yes, I'm back in the race. New stuff in the works. I just don´t want the patchy expanded album pattern anymore. If I have about 12, 13 GREAT different songs, that will be enough every year. It just takes too long to handle it on my own. Got a lot of ideas already on the harddisk, so I don´t worry.
My latest effort "The ballooning Brouhaha" does pretty well on the streaming front (streaming IS the future, that IS now, cd is out) and on the radio. Croydon Radio (London) spreads my stuff on a regular basis. I love feedback. More potential listeners for me. Aaaah, it's free anyway....CU!
By the way....on the front news, the list of favourite dead musians grows a lot faster now... (a lot of babyboomers from after WW II), fortunately you can still check them out, the music, the image stays forever:
Kevin Ayers (Soft Machine), Alvin Lee (guitar virtuoso, Woodstock), Peter Banks (ex-Yes), Hugh McCracken (Session guitar player), Phil Ramone (Producer, recording engineer), Andy Johns (sound engineer), Storm Thorgerson (graphic designer), Richie Havens (Woodstock), Alan O´Day (songwriter), Ray Manzarek (Doors), Trevor Bolder (bassplayer), Bobby Blue Bland (blues singer), George Duke (piano wizzard) and a big inspiration on my songwriting and playing, the great laid back man, we call him the breeze: J.J.Cale. All inspirational in some kind of way. RIP.
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