Over My Dead Like

 

Like it or not

Hey shut-ins, let's shout...! Don't stand so close to me.
To keep your "distance", well that's not easy for anyone, who likes to socialize.
In my twenties, I was like that more or less. Having too much fun, chasing women, making music with the guys. 24/7. No distance needed then. Especially on stage, hiding behind a microphone was no option, I had to interact with the crowd. Shouting out, chanting, daring them to join in. Going too far? Nope, that was never the plan. Just to get high on energy was enough.
Strange as it seems, in these unpredictable times we live in with a new virus, I'm not having a single problem with "distance". Sure, we all know the protocol, so if you want to end up like a walking dead, go ahead. Over my dead like. I'm not anyone's friend anyway.
Since I have children of my own, I've kept the social world further and further away from me. Safe in a shell?
I have been focusing myself on my creativity for a long time now, always too preoccupied on writing songs, my family and work, it has become a habit, a selfdiscipline, a regime that has kept me going and consequentely distancing myself.

Suddenly you're old....

I'm not complaining. Just wondering what will happen between us.

The Heavy Donut Discount Blues (watch 1)

"The Heavy Donut Discount Blues" is the first song that starts off the new album "Doesn't Ring A Bell" release 02-05-2020.

Spoiler alert!
This is a distraction video. To seduct you. Something to make you feel good. To have fun with. Candy. Yes, a donut is cheap, but dangerous! Admittedly a discount is included, but with a very, very HEAVY bluesy aftertaste....with a Faustian price to pay!

Spotify check

Now think nice... twice...three times....ready? Sing along now with this lyric video:

Show Us The New Stuff!

Ok I've done the songs and new music need new covers. And a title. What did I come up with?

Inspiration

At first I had this trendy phrase: "Over My Dead Like", which I often say these days among friends and family ("Like" as in facebook likes of course), if they go too far. A picture from a holiday in Sicily, Italy fitted right in, with a rebel guy (like me) throwing stones into the sea:

Throwing stones, dare me!

Just to keep an open mind, I tried a different approach. I took some items outside in my backgarden
floorboard, like a mirror, a classical Perez guitar (my latest), and a vinyl album with a picture of
...me.                

I photographed away. All very brownish, autumn, rootsy, so I took that further, when I put a few of   these into some online photo editors and let my creativity have its way:                                              
                                                                                                                                                                       

Mirror effect 2 

Mirror effect 1

Mirror effect 3

Floorboard backgarden

Frontcover: the first brownish ones

Front and back cover examples

 About the title:

                            "Doesn't Ring A Bell"

There's a lot I want to be, but not "famous" in the "media personality" way. A status. 
I'm a musician, not an artist, I always say. 
So JoosTVD doesn't ring a bell and if he does, you won't hear it.....coming!

Design with effect

Best effect in my opinion.

Just happened to hit upon the title while writing a lyric. Maybe I read it somewhere or heard someone's remarks. I always love the double sided meaning of these sentences, in this case "JoosTVD doesn't ring a bell" .....really? Sometimes I knock. Who is this guy? Is he someone famous?    

The end results:
                                  

Front cover with nickname

Front cover for online distribution

Back cover

Inside cover

Next: let me hear a new song, wait... you say you've got a video?

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!

U want Spotify playlists!?

Promotion. Fame. Money. Not my thing. Just want to create. I have this urge that's developed into a steady workflow. I'm a lucky guy! I've got the most advanced tools to bring a song alive, working eight days a week in my studio, happy to bring the vibe. My toy garden.

But if you want someone to hear your precious songs, it's unavoidable. The music market is saturated with the daily trends and bored listeners, so it's not easy to get discovered.
How to spread these all over the place these days....? I don't do concerts. I like the intensity of playing together. It has been fun for a while, but I don't miss the stage, no. Well if you do and you do it with conviction, people would love to buy a signed cd afterwards (! )
I guess everyone streams these days. It's the most comfortable and fastest way to experience  a new vibe. Mostly I get in touch with curators of playlists. Let them hear some tunes. On twitter. Of course twitzkrieg is around the corner. I spread those links on facebook groups too. A lot of fakers (promoters) over there though..... You can get a lot of listeners and followers if you want...to pay for it. All I offer them are a few cents.
I think it's all about reaching your own audience and I sort of got the hang of it. I'm patient.
Quality over quantity.

Here are a few playlists with JoosTVD on it, mostly smooth vibes, some uptempo, upbeat, never dissonant. Yeah, easy on the ears, but hitting deep into the gut. So let's find out and share them!

Songs I usely offer are:
Fly Talk, Don't Do It Again, Not Now, Chameleon Girlfriend, Crest Of A Wave, Cosmopolitan Circus.

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

2019 Selfie Flashback

Bye Bye 2019!
 

Hey, how are you brother (echo: brother, rother, other, ther, er)?

Screw 2020

Man, I'm getting older, but I feel younger, more greyer, but better (between the ears and behind the eyes) than ever. Living the life.

What's up next? I guess....

Musically? 12 motherf...ing (GREAT!?) new songs to unscrew yourself in every way. Almost in the final stages, I'm still mixing, finishing lyrics/ vocals. I guess a fresh 2020 spring release will be on the menu. Excited!?

What did you do in 2019?

Breathe in and out....once in a while I hit a passing cowbell in a dissonant way. Aw sucks!
Musically, I did it again. Self-Kicker!
                                               
                                                          1.Another instrumental album, (only on Jamendo, especially for video makers/ promo video):

                                                                         For Your Pleasure Vol.6 [2019]

                                                           2.And my fifteenth digital album, released may 2019:


                                                                           The Fly On The Wall Routine [2019]

                                                                  Thanks for the reviews, listening and support!

          Reviews: Bluesmagazine    Keys And Chords   Timpaan Muziek   Heaven Popmagazine


              My Favourite albums of 2019 (a curious year, full of sweet surprises, both young and old):

                                                                               Supersister - Retsis Repus

Dutch multi talent RJStips pays moving tribute to his unique band

                                                                      Philip Bailey - Love Will Find A Way

Wowwww, soul with a capital S.

                                                                                              Joe Jackson - Fool

Biting and in in your face Joe

                                                                                 Norah Jones - Begin Again

Subtle and lovely

                                                                              Bruce Hornsby - Absolute Zero

Urging arrangements, restless grooves

                                                                                  Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 2

Unbelievable acrobat vocally stretches out in folklore eclectic

                                                               

                                                                               Robbie Robertson - Sinematic

Cinematic, mysterious darkness

                                  
                                      David Byrne - American Utopia On Broadway (Original Cast Recording)

Innovative on stage as always, Byrne looks ahead and back

 

                                                                                       

                           The books (mostly autobio/ bio) I've read:

Burt Bacharach - Anyone Who Had a Heart My Life and Music
David Roberts - Stephen Stills Change Partners
Steve Lukather Paul Rees - The Gospel According To Luke
Simon Callow - [Orson Welles 03] - Orson Welles- One-Man Band
Peter Biskind - How Warren Beatty Seduced America
Michael Feeney Callan - Robert Redford The Biography
Marc Eliot - Jack Nicholson
Emily Herbert - Robin Williams When The Laughter Stops
Trevor Dann - Darker Than The Deepest Dea Nick Drake
Dave Thompson - 10cc The Cost Of Living In Dreams

                           My eyes have been touched by

Film:
Us
Parasite

TV series: 
Castle Rock
Goliath
La Casa De Papel
The Affair
The Haunting Of The Hill House
The Terror