Inspiration

Good news....

I am vanished..... again!

Climbing dutchman

The new songs I'm into that

"Man I'm really into it...", well what? A sexmachine? Yes, I like the joy of funky hypnotism.
I can't escape from the sounds. It took a while before the floods of creation really went open. I'm in the middle of that now, so that will keep me warm through another autumn and winter. A lot of songs have been building up through the years and waiting eagerly for my my finishing touch. I choose the ones that come naturally and quick. I'm into that. I LOVE what I do. Can you count it off?
Nope...CU.

Vanished again.

Vanish

As you all (yes you too) see, I've vanished, but I'll come back. When and how?
I'm still piling up the usual: songs in a free floating way. It takes time. No pressure.
You'll see..
Have a great, great summer and play me.
Have fun JoosTVD

Songwriting in progress, it never stops

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.

Lyrics are little bastards

Hai there autumn people!

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 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

Now what?

Take a holiday?
Yes that would be nice, but what do you do when an album is finished?

Walking Dutchman

Well, all birds that can, fly away. Babies grow up and leave you ultimately.
Songs? They will float in digital space and I'm content with that. After a year of explosive and enthousiastic writing, playing, recording, singing, mixing and videomaking, there's always that difficult phase/ moment I'm going through of letting them go. When I'm fed up listening maybe...haha.

A lot has happened since my last album came out though, like more radio airplay, reviews and reaching a few new listeners. All because of the way the digital world works these days. Happy now?
Well yes, but it's like a beautiful feelgood movie that has ended and you just don't want it to end.

Work!
So what mostly works for me when I cannot touch the old songs anymore and at the same time to create a little distance with them, is the "go ahead, write some new tunes" attitude. And so the whole proces begins again. Don't know where it ends though, but do I really want to know? It only makes you uncertain of what will happen (writer's block!?) and it can spoil the surprise of finding fresh melodies. And they always come unexpectedly! I'm already busy with capturing the right words to 2 songs I've completely recorded and arranged instrumentally. One has got fast-paced latin feel and the other has got a funky groove with a jazzy, romantic melody. Just what I needed!

Lou?

Next to all this soulsearching and songcatching inspiration, I'll be working on a video that will support "Velvet Shoes", my tribute to the late Louie Reed.
Before I became this addicted musician, I already did something with my creativity, something my parents used to demonstrate to me when I was a greenish little kid. I became especially fascinated with the technique of drawing faces.
As you already can see, these are a few portrets that I will use in comic-style, but there are a lot details that I still have to work on. Although I'm just another Youtube amateur, I' m very excited about it, so that will also keep me busy for a while.

Now what? Just that!