Picture by Luis Rodrigues, https://www.facebook.com/luisrphoto
Winter is coming to an end, I am so grateful for that! Although I love snow, eating home-made soup and snuggling under blankets, my health always suffers at this time of the year. :(
My original plans for winter 2019 were to work on creating more music for my next album: "Blackout." As expected, various viruses and complications got in the way. I've managed to get a few new songs under my belt but I definitely need more time to complete the album. Besides the health issues, there were grim days. My beloved label ant-zen closed its physical shop. And the farce that Brexit has become carried on hurting me deeply. And so was the rise of hatred, division, selfishness in the world created a climate of angst inside me. I know I get affected as much as I can get enthused. I can't help it, I feel deeply. It is a burden as well as a gift. There were days where I even questioned whether I should carry on making music. The commitment that goes into it, the work, the dedication can all take their toll on one's mind and frustration can occur when things don't turn out as you'd like.
However, out of the blue, amazing news also occurred. I was asked very interesting questions about my musical background, my political stances, the depth of my art as well as my writing. Huge thanks to Dimi Brands of Dark Entries magazine for this interview. It enabled me to think more and put some words on a lot that was happening inside that little brain of mine. Check it out here:
https://darkentriesenglish.blogspot.com/2019/02/trouwfest-3-riotmiloo.html?fbclid=IwAR0f-wyGvCMj6c31t_O7WnDQSynZKFbZmSHwPI93w9zZ2vTm9tbx9gfM644
My original plans for winter 2019 were to work on creating more music for my next album: "Blackout." As expected, various viruses and complications got in the way. I've managed to get a few new songs under my belt but I definitely need more time to complete the album. Besides the health issues, there were grim days. My beloved label ant-zen closed its physical shop. And the farce that Brexit has become carried on hurting me deeply. And so was the rise of hatred, division, selfishness in the world created a climate of angst inside me. I know I get affected as much as I can get enthused. I can't help it, I feel deeply. It is a burden as well as a gift. There were days where I even questioned whether I should carry on making music. The commitment that goes into it, the work, the dedication can all take their toll on one's mind and frustration can occur when things don't turn out as you'd like.
However, out of the blue, amazing news also occurred. I was asked very interesting questions about my musical background, my political stances, the depth of my art as well as my writing. Huge thanks to Dimi Brands of Dark Entries magazine for this interview. It enabled me to think more and put some words on a lot that was happening inside that little brain of mine. Check it out here:
https://darkentriesenglish.blogspot.com/2019/02/trouwfest-3-riotmiloo.html?fbclid=IwAR0f-wyGvCMj6c31t_O7WnDQSynZKFbZmSHwPI93w9zZ2vTm9tbx9gfM644
Picture by Sev Denis, www.sevdenis-photo.com
Later on, when I received a message from Electronic Substance Abuse, I nearly fell off my chair: a track we recorded together many years ago, "Themes of Carnal Empowerment", would be featured on Netflix, on the first episode of the second series of "The OA", 20 minutes into the episode. I still can't believe it!
And something grand also happened last week. I supported Lingua Ignota and Author & Punisher in London. And the gig was sold out on a Tuesday night! This, for a start, nearly made me cry. But something out of this world took place that night. It was powerful and intense from the beginning to the end. Each artist tackled their perception of violence from a different angle and with a different approach and message. The audience was attentive and receptive. Huge thanks to Chaos Theory for organising such an event!
Live pictures and multi screen montage by Blauerosen, live visual photography by Jessica Hosman and live snippet video by Kunal Singhal.
Live pictures and multi screen montage by Blauerosen, live visual photography by Jessica Hosman and live snippet video by Kunal Singhal.
You would expect today's entry to end but there is a bit left to share with you. A review that followed this gig lifted my spirits even more. Much attention was given to details, to words, to visuals , to the whole concept of each performance. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you, Blauerosen. The depth of how you experienced the night is a vision to behold. ?
"Disfigured, Ignored, Vilified, Immolated, Isolated, Rejected […] These powerfully negative adjectives, together with lyrics from the rest of the songs in the setlist, appeared in two screens at the back of the stage and on the side of the space and provided more context to her strong performance. During the set, the meaning of these words was challenged as they were accompanied by movement filled with concepts of empowerment, of control of one’s destiny and the right to determine one’s life." Click on the picture below to read it all...
"Disfigured, Ignored, Vilified, Immolated, Isolated, Rejected […] These powerfully negative adjectives, together with lyrics from the rest of the songs in the setlist, appeared in two screens at the back of the stage and on the side of the space and provided more context to her strong performance. During the set, the meaning of these words was challenged as they were accompanied by movement filled with concepts of empowerment, of control of one’s destiny and the right to determine one’s life." Click on the picture below to read it all...
Artists seldom share the downs, more the ups so I wanted to recreate a balance of different states of mind and of feelings. I hope you've enjoyed reading it all (or at least parts of it.) ?
And just because I want to share a last video with you, here is Lingua Ignota in action, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:
And just because I want to share a last video with you, here is Lingua Ignota in action, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:
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