zaterdag 6 mei 2017

The story behind the songs

Every year, a new TVD album appears online. It makes me wonder how? It's like nature's cycle man. Groovy. It comes and it goes. The Vanished Dutchman comes back.

The title "Sagitario"
Well, it's a nice spanish word for the zodiac sign Sagittarius, which is used so many times already in the age of aquarius sixties. Just too pretentious to use.
SaGITARio...

Well and it is my sign. Let's find more about that:
(original source astrology-zodiac signs:)
"Strengths: Generous, idealistic, great sense of humor
Weaknesses: Promises more than can deliver, very impatient, will say anything no matter how undiplomatic
Sagittarius likes: Freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors
Sagittarius dislikes: Clingy people, being constrained, off-the-wall theories, details
Curious and energetic, Sagittarius is one of the biggest travelers among all zodiac signs. Their open mind and philosophical view motivates them to wander around the world in search of the meaning of life.
Sagittarius is extrovert, optimistic and enthusiastic, and likes changes. Sagittarius-born are able to transform their thoughts into concrete actions and they will do anything to achieve their goals.
Like the other fire signs, Sagittarius needs to be constantly in touch with the world to experience as much as possible. The ruling planet of Sagittarius is Jupiter, the largest planet of the zodiac. Their enthusiasm has no bounds, and therefore people born under the Sagittarius sign possess a great sense of humor and an intense curiosity.
Freedom is their greatest treasure, because only then they can freely travel and explore different cultures and philosophies. Because of their honesty, Sagittarius-born are often impatient and tactless when they need to say or do something, so it's important to learn to express themselves in a tolerant and socially acceptable way."

Do I believe in this concept? Well I don't think that it matters, it's still fascinating and colourful anyway as I do recognise a few sly streaks.

The process:
1979: I wrote my first lyrics during english classes, but I wanted more. Next to being active as a drummer, I wanted to write my own songs. My then- royal girlfriend sold me her cheap guitar. Cheap didn't matter: the songs dripped from my fingers. I "ate" all the chord progessions I could find (from the Beatles chordbook). I pressed record on any old taperecorder and played...and recorded. Up to often three cassettes a year. From 1998 on I burned cd's. And from 2005 I do it the digital way.
Since then I never looked back, only just a once.
Now I've got better equipment, more flexible tools to work with, better guitars and chops. About time I've grown up!
Still, it amazes me how I can keep it up (!?)

Are you ready for some upbeat songs? Turn them up! Feed me back!

Private Scene
The toilet is my only private scene. To have some real fun, why not start off with an upbeat song? This joyous song hit me, so I hit back. Five minutes of blood, sweat and cheers. While it took little time to write, but arrangment-wise it was an adventure in rhythm patterns and melodies. To my surprise , lyrically it's sort of a sequel to "Unscrew Yourself". Topic: privacy.
Promo video

Happy Pills
Dancable and uplifting ditty, a spontanious funky guitar motive seems to make "fastwriting" almost a sport. Recorded on the spot. F-U-N. Topic: no pills needed.
Promo video

Chameleon Girlfriend
This last, unexpected smooth one is my favourite. Almost did it in a minute. Topic: inspired by a story from the NY times and a few chameleons in my social environment. O, how they adapt.
Hey, there's a little J.J.Cale influence there in the voice.

Speed Turtle
Funny breaks, funny harmonies. Topic: Wake up call. True story. Policeman stopped my car at 4 a.m., because I was driving....too slow, like a turtle. I was listening out loud to the latest mastering of these songs and I guess I forgot to drive fast! Ouch!

Blink
Energentic burst on the piano stirred my blood. Topic: Silicon Valley; what does it to people in general... and are we really human anyway anymore? It brought up a lot of energetic stuff musically and irony. You see, everything can be an inspiration. Listen to that baseline intertwined with that piano motive. Groove.

Roll Into A Ball
Seventies soulful jazzfeel on the Fender Rhodes. I love a shuffle halftime, hanging into a slow groove. Topic: esapism. Artist wants to hide, rolls into a ball. Ken ditches Barbie.

Convenient
Grew up in seventies where black influenced white music a lot: Blue-eyed Soul it was called. Crossover it became. Here's my smooth version of it.

Surprise!
Older song I couldn't finish lyrically at first. Surprise! Is it a surprise that Donald became the Prez?. Topic: trumped. "Look in the mirror Donny!" his wife says. No, it's not meant to be a political song. That temperamental latin flavor certainly helps to keep things on the edge.

Blame Me For The Fun
Slapstick time. Topic: I guess you can spot a bit of the goofy Laurel & Hardy theme (I've watched all those movies and sketches again in recent times) in here. Big fan. Laughs. LOL. Tribute.

Now We Are Talking
One of the first songs I wrote for this album. Give me a spanish guitar and the exotixc sounds of Brazil flow through my fingers. Relaxed, but a challenge to sing (bossa-nova) melodically.

Itch
This took a long time to finish, while it started out simple. A lot of ideas (breaks) in one song is a challenge. As I liked all the melodic contrasts and dynamics, it made its way into this album.

Sagitario
An older idea, which has grown on me since. In case anyone has enough of my voice (I'm not surprised), the last one is an instrumental, a melancholic and melodic one in latin fashion. It started out as a vocal piece, which I think still has potential too, so who knows...

That's my story so far...what's yours?
Keep on rocking!

Well that's it, I'm gonna vanish again...

woensdag 26 april 2017

Wunderschön!

Hai folks, It's a cold spring so far, but that doesn't bother me at all. As long as the sun comes up......and if there's any music that will cure your spring fatigue...
The new stuff has been listened to and played on various radio and to round it off it has been reviewed. I hope more will follow, but there so much going on in musicland, so I have to be happy by whatever that's been giving me. Feedback.
Well here are some really nice words again (his eight review of my albums) from Nathan Norgel, placed in this german, cultural online magazine Wasser-Prawda 


In german:
Wenn der Frühling kommt, dann erscheinen nicht nur die Schwalben aus dem Süden. Auch neue Musik des Niederländers Joost van Dinther aka Joos TVD darf man erwarten. Sein neues Album Sagitario erfüllt die Erwartungen aufs Schönste.
Auf den Listen der Orte, die besungen werden, taucht einer eigentlich zu selten auf. In "Private Scene" singt JoosTVD das Lob der Toilette. Denn das ist einer der wenigen Plätze, wo man noch wirklich allein sein kann. Auch Psychopharmaka, hektische Freundinnen, das Leben der Reichen in Hollowood oder andere Themen der Gegenwart liefern dem Niederländer Stoff für äußerst humorvolle oder sarkastische Lieder.
Musikalisch bietet Sagitario wieder die komplette Bandbreite zwischen Jazz, Funk, Rock, Cabaret und Nonsense. Wer JoosTVD bislang noch nicht kennen sollte: man kann ihn wirklich nicht klassifizieren. Was der Songwriter und Multiinstrumentalist Jahr für Jahr allein in seinem Studio zusammenrührt, ist eine Kur gegen jegliche schlechte Laune oder Frühjahrsmüdigkeit.

In english (not great these translations):
When spring comes, not only the swallows appear from the south. Also new music from the Dutch Joost van Dinther aka Joos TVD can be expected. His new album Sagitario fulfills the expectations most beautifully. On the lists of the places, which are sung, one appears actually too rarely. In 'Private Scene' JoosTVD sings the praise of the toilet. Because this is one of the few places where you can be really alone. Even psychopharmaceuticals, hectic friends, the lives of the rich in Hollowood, or other contemporary subjects provide the Dutch fabric for extremely humorous or sarcastic songs.
Musically, Sagitario again offers the complete range of jazz, funk, rock, cabaret and nonsense. If you do not know JoosTVD yet you can not really classify it. The fact that the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, alone in his studio year after year, is a cure against any bad mood or spring fatigue.

maandag 24 april 2017

Ready for the download

Yes It's ready! For a few words I've got a few downloadcodes left for ya....from Bandcamp.



maandag 17 april 2017

Attention Pulease!

This post will be updated, constantly.

So I've this record out, thinking, how about some promotion? That's not me, I am just a bloody musician with an "eclectic' taste. So it's not gonna be easy, even though the possibilities are wider and deeper these days. A lot of those hipsters fold (radio stations, blogspots) or change their policies (soundcloud). Luckily a simple google search can help filter the old from the new. (Online) radio is still important. It's a flat digital earth now. You can always pay for a play, but that doesn't count in my opinion. And don't forget the writers. Reviews help spread the news even more!
I've had a few and more songs on Croydon radio in rotation, but they stopped playing "under the radar" artists. Well they stopped. And there are so many......talents. Where to go now...?

So I've sent my music to other online radios and online magazins, because there are so many more!
The list will be endless, I hope.


Timeline (source: mostly twitter, facebook and google):

Talentcast
"Happy Pills" on the local radio (Groningen) 07-04-2017 (listen/ download)

Lonel Oak Radio
The whole album has been played 2 times on the "Full Album show" at 7 p.m western time 17-04-2017. They've showed their appreciation with 4 stars for each song (tweets) and they will played in rotation for 250m days. Thanks! (Los Angeles, USA)

No Depression
Created a nice page for the album over there. It's waiting for a review. Be a journalist and go there.
Don't get depressed.

Scrub Radio
A few (old and new) songs on the air, in rotatio.

Radio 98eins
"Private Scene" on the german  radio. DJ and journalist Nathan Nörgel will review the album later on.

Wasser-Prawda
And there's that review

The Shift Radio Show
"Private Scene" on the air. (Burnley, Manchester UK)

Random Radio Podcast Show
30 april: "Happy Pills" on  the air  (Chicago USA)

BarbWiresRadio
"Happy Pills and "Private Scene" on the air (Chicago, USA)

Talentcast
"Chameleon Girlfriend" on the local radio (Groningen) 19-05-2017 (listen/ download)

woensdag 12 april 2017

I just came home from the dentist....(promo 2)

To celebrate the new release "Sagitario"
(13 april 2017!)
I've got another promo for ya
with lyrics:

 
                          

                   Private Scene (music & lyrics JoostVD)

I just came home from the dentist
He drilled so many holes in my teeth
I couldn't talk to anyone I couldn't stand the heat
So I went to the only room for some well deserved privacy

I go to the toilet that's my only scene
I go to the toilet you can keep me under lock and key
So if you have a problem don't come to me
Just go to the toilet for your selfreflecting needs

Despite bad weather important matters and public inquiries
In the end we all have to wipe our asses and clean up our filfthy deeds

Oehoe I've got a premonition
Coming up

So if you want a riot go to the toilet
You can be a pilot with a private seat

Tou can talk to anyone but there's no guarantee
The toilet is the only healer for your maladies

Oehoe I've got a premonition
Coming up

O my god....I forgot something
....mmm toilet paper

dinsdag 28 maart 2017

Link up!


Busy working out details on Bandcamp and here's a soundcloud link with a download option of

Happy Pills. Keep a close watch on the release of a another video and the whole album. CU!

zaterdag 25 maart 2017

Happy Pills....Promo

Not that happy? Play this "Happy Pill" and you're happy happy.

A new song for anyone who likes to share a new song with anyone.
From the new 2017 album "Sagitario"
12 arrows included, ready for a kill!



 Happy Pills

So you've finally found a corner
Where the funky moon is shining bright
The happy pill is inside
Sometimes you need the wrong thing to feel allright

Suddenly you feel a hand upon your shoulder
A voice said: "I need a fix my friend"
Here's a happy pill again

Sometimes it's allright to do the wrong thing
Put the nasty bits under the rug and sing
Nanananananah

We're all so very happy with a happy pill

Sometimes when you wake up in the morning
The mirror shows a beggar not a king
What happy pills can bring

Sometimes it takes all night to slipp them in
wowowowowowow
Put the nasty bits under the rug and sing
Nanananananah

We're all so very happy with a happy pill

(Lyrics and music JoostVD)

donderdag 16 maart 2017

Show us your new work!

Voila!
It has just been confirmed that the album is in the distribution process. It takes approximately 4 weeks to appear online, but keep a close watch, some online services are very quick. now i'm gonna take a breeeeeaaak.
 
Proof! Distribution date confirmed
No pressure. Fingers crossed, legs spread. In the meantime I'll keep you updated if there's any change and as I'm working on some visuals, that tasty promo is on its way too. So now you know.
Now let's see where you have to look at this year and the rest of your life.


The artwork.

The original "selfie" pictures have been chosen from some amateurish mobile phone footage, filmed in the bathroom by yours truly. No. 3 became my ultimate frontcover as I liked the welcome sign in my sort of "I invite you all" atitude and the mirrored spotlight above the "starstrucked" me.

1.Here
2.Here!

 3.Here....

Here's the original for the back cover with mirror reflection:

Spotlights!

On the net you can find all kind of photo design editors.
I especially liked the paint department from Lunapic. All kind of echoes of Van Gogh and Kadinsky art that fitted well. Here are a few choices, eyes open or eyes closed:

Close my eyes...
(Starry starry night......) Sagitario!

The title. 

I know it's a bit pretentious...to say Sagittarius, so it became

                                                       Sagitario

It's spanish- which sounds so cool- for  (english), boogschutter (dutch). It happens to be my sign. I guess you'll hear a few characteristics of those on the new album. Playful sounding and with the extra bonus of the word siguitario in it. I'll explain in a later blog all bout it.

The final result (or insult).

Well, we've got that title, the art, so here's the design. I was switching between black or white for the background, both choices eventually made it.

Final frontcover result

for disribution purposes only (only one name prohibited)

We've got the frontcover, for the backcover I've chosen the same design but as a whole in contrast.


A few choices





Kadinskish smile


A white background with all the information you need. Now, what does it sound like? Soon...
Final backcover result with songtitles and credits


Next: promo video/song

dinsdag 14 maart 2017

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