"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition"

Last Friday "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", at the Ruïne van Brederode (Santpoort-Zuid), took place.
In advance the weather circumstances were rather uncertain, at least for the amount of rain that eventually could fall. Something we absolutely had to keep an eye on because it concerned an outdoor-event.
During the morning and afternoon we built up all equipment and organised the stage.
It was quite a challenge to get everything to the ruins (and even more to get things back to the cars in the dark) because of the long sandy pathway and the small bridges, across which our stuff had to be transported.

'Master of ceremonies' Bob Rusche.

18:30 the first audience entered the venue. Around 19:45 the evening was kicked off by 'master of ceremonies' Bob Rusche. As soon as he finished his announcement for Free Arts Lab - the first act of the evening - I touched the first keys. While I did, a buzzard flew across the audience twice (as planned). The bird left the scenery and the actual concert started.

Already very early during the set it became clear that there was something wrong with the drummer's sound. Unexpectedly, because during the sound-check everything was fine-tuned.
It took a while before the main issues had been solved, but after this the rest of the gig went fine (as far as I could judge from our stage position).

Free Arts Lab.

Due to this issue it took some effort to get our concentration and the required vibe.
With the third track the issues seemed to be over for the largest part, and we finally could focus on our performance. Which actually was the second gig we ever did so far within the 6 months since the band's establishment. During our first improvisation another bird (this time an eagle-owl) flew over the audience. And two tracks later a screetch owl.

Free Arts Lab tracklist (approx. 70 minutes):
1. Awakenings - part 3; 2. E-Live 2013 - part 3-2; 3. Improvisation; 4. Zeequence 2; 5. The Great Escape; 6. Zeequence 3; 7. Improvisation; 8. MMIX a.D.

Then a break and time for another bird show, which was initiated by my wife Paulien, to give some extra over-all atmosphere.

Wolfram Spyra.

After the break the master of ceremonies announced Wolfram Spyra. The audience was told that Spyra's new release "Staub" was delayed until September, because of technical artwork issues.
This evenening we 'had to do it' with the integral live performance (which was improvised for a large part) of the entire album.
With "Staub" Wolfram returned to his roots and exposed minimal but very strong compositions which were being strengthened even more when the sun appeared behind the horizon. Shortly after Wolfram kicked off his set, the dusk allowed the lights to do their work and create maximum atmosphere. Within a short time the real magic was about to begin.

Wolfram Spyra tracklist (approx. 65 minutes):
1. Dusk; 2. Staub; 3. Glacier; 4. Etude; 5. Ecce Homo; 6. Flur.

Planet of the Arps.

And then, contiguous: "Planet of the Arps".
An ambient piece I wrote more than 4 years ago, and since it had already been accomplished, I had the intention to let Spyra rework it.
Read my previous blog for details.
Due to both our busy schedules it took until last Friday that our first collaborational attempt on this project finally took place.
While we planned to prepare this piece a couple of days before the performance, it never came this far.
Last Friday our collaboration consisted of 100% improvisation around the basic tracks I provided Wolfram a while ago.
Finally these tracks were remixed in realtime live on stage by Spyra. On top of this we both added parts and solos. On the very last moment we decided that Roksana Vikaluk (Wolfram's girlfriend and half of 'Moon & Melody') should also participate with her sublime vocals on the 'grande finale'. It really was a great experience and a pleasure to create music together with Wolfram and Roksana in these circumstances.

The version of 'Planet of the Arps' which we performed consisted of a 22 minutes excerpt from the original one-hour piece.
"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" ended slightly past 23:00.

In the end the weather gods had all the best with us, and eventual showers that could have struck us, moved into some places which were a couple of kilometres away from us. So we were blessed with a wonderful summer evening, which we shared together with around 100 visitors.

Paulien with eagle owl Ruud.

Thanks a lot to all the present (international) audience and everyone who contributed and supported.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank some people in particular:
- In the first place: Dimitri Arpad for his co-operation and the opportunity to organise this evening at the wonderful and magic location of the Ruïne van Brederode.
- Marcel Sukel and Nathalie Nijman who arranged some very significant last-minute issues.
And not in the last place all other volunteers at the ruins.

Illuminated Ruïne van Brederode.

- The musicians: Jeroen Hagen, Martijn Scholte, Wolfram Spyra and Roksana Vikaluk.
- Sound, light and recording crew: Renato Cannavacciuolo, Rogier Gieske, Wouter Bessels, René Bussing and everyone at Showgroup.
- The birdshow: Mart Schrieken (assisted by Paulien Bouw).
- Paulien Bouw for her infinite support and assistance, as well as the initiative and cooperation for the birdshow.
- 'Master of ceremonies' Bob Rusche for announcing the individual concerts.
- Crew: Paulien Bouw, Ray Korsman.
- Film and photo crew: André Stooker, Selmar Koek, Mellanie Swart.
- Everyone who promoted and supported this event.
And indeed all of you who I forgot to mention!

Now it's time to work on other projects. Later this year we will look for the opportunities for an eventual continuation of "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", in 2015.

The above featured photos have been taken by Phil Booth (1-4), Anke Betzler (5) and André Stooker (6).

"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" - Planet of the Arps

Only 2 days to go to the concert evening I am organising at the Ruïne van Brederode, so recently I have written some blog items about this upcoming event and related activities.

Last time I already supplied all global details and information about the event, and last week I also wrote about the performing artists Free Arts Lab and Wolfram Spyra. Now it's time to light out the final act: Planet of the Arps.

The "Planet of the Arps" project actually started as an ambient music piece I composed and recorded back in 2010.
Because the music is slightly outside the REMY-tradition, I decided to use a pseudonym for this project.
As soon as the first version of the project was finished, I got in touch with Wolfram Spyra and asked him if he wanted to 'do something' with this 1-hour piece. Although the piece was actually finished, it missed something I couldn't add myself at that moment.
In 2012 I performed the new version of the original piece, during a solo-concert at the Zeiss Planetarium in Bochum (Germany).
Wolfram and I have both been too busy with our own activities and projects, so that it didn't come to work on this track together until date. After the four years that passed by, the first collaborational offend finally will be a fact in the form of a live rework of a large part of the latest version of "Planet of the Arps".

"Planet of the Arps" refers to the science fiction movie "Planet of the Apes", arps (galaxies) as collected by Dr. Halton C. Arp, synthesizer manufacturer Arp, and the musical term 'arpeggio'.
The concept artwork below, which is being used to represent "Planet of the Arps", is a digital creation which I also made in the period of the first version of the project.

From the "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" press information:

As the ‘grand finale’ of this evening at the ruin, Wolfram Spyra will join Remy Stroomer for a real-time rework of Remy’s one hour ambient piece “Planet of the Arps”.
This original composition dates from 2010 and has been performed live by Remy at the Zeiss Planetarium in Bochum (Germany) in September 2012.
From the time the musical piece was finished, Remy wanted Wolfram to rework this track.
Now, four years later, this project has finally brought both artists together and an excerpt of this piece will be created live at the ruin.

For all information about "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and ticket sales:
www.desertedislandmusic.nl/brederode

"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" - Wolfram Spyra

Only 5 days to go to the concert evening I am organising at the Ruïne van Brederode, so the coming
time I will write some blog items about this upcoming event and related activities.

Recently I already supplied all global details and information about the event, and last week I also wrote about the openings act: Free Arts Lab, so now it's time to light out Wolfram Spyra.

There are actually two main reasons that I chose for Spyra's appearance at "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition". The first is that it coincides perfectly with the project I have had already in mind for a couple of years: "Planet of the Arps". Details about this can be read in my next blog, somewhere later this week.
Secondly, I think Wolfram is a well-respected and one of the best and most innovating artists of electronic music around. By means of compositions as well as sound creation.
When I talked with him about the plans I had to organise this upcoming concert evening, he was very excited to perform at such a wonderful location.

I have already had the privilege to listen to the upcoming Spyra-album: "Staub" (which hopefully is available at "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition"). The result is a wonderful album where 6 rather minimalistic but powerful electronic music pieces are being exposed. Wolfram Spyra did a lot of raw sequencing and oscillating and went back in time and back to basic to re-invent himself.
This release might definitely appeal listeners of 'Berliner Schule', but is also in the likes of for example the music of Nils Frahm and Ölafur Arnalds.

From the "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" press information:

Wolfram Spyra (1964) is a composer of electronic music, sound artist born in Eschwege in Germany. Sound is his art form. He has worked for film, television, theatre, dance and as sound designer.
Spyra began his career in the early 1990s constructing soundscapes and installations around Germany. He has collaborated with a wide range of visual artists, musicians, producers and DJs and released several albums, starting in 1995 with “Homelistening Is Killing Clubs”.
Spyra’s focus is on electronic music. While sometimes experimental, most of his music has a certain acces-sibility in terms of the rhythmic and melodic components.
Spyra’s new album will be released in June 2014 and reveals the complexity and strangeness in analog synthesis. He calls his new found genre ‘post-electronic’. The record will have its world-wide live premiere at “Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition” at the Ruïns of Brederode on June 27th.

Within a couple of days the last blog will be dedicated to Planet of the Arps.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpyraMusic

For all information about "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and ticket sales:
www.desertedislandmusic.nl/brederode

"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" - Free Arts Lab

Only 9 days to go to the concert evening I am organising at the Ruïne van Brederode, so the coming days I will write some blog items about this upcoming event and related activities.
Last time I already supplied all global details and information about the event, so now it's time to light out the performing acts.

Starting with the opening act of "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition": Free Arts Lab.

Somewhere in 2013 I was being asked to do a concert in Theater De Wegwijzer in Zeeland (in the south-west of the Netherlands).
January 10th, 2014, this concert took place, and it opened new paths for future electronic music performances in this small theatre in near future.
When I constructed the show for this evening, I had various ideas about the performance.
In the first place the show should be more than just me playing synthesizers. Which might be rather boring to look at, especially at such a location.
So I decided to include visuals, which I compiled carefully to fit with the music to be performed.
Secondly the performance itself had to be dynamic, should sound more organic and must also be interesting to look at. To solve this issue, I invited two friends, who were capable of involving their musical skills and visions into my music.
Martijn Scholte (guitar/bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums/percussion) joined the line-up, and after the concert we all decided to continue our collaboration. "Free Arts Lab" (which refers to the famous Zodiak Free Arts Lab) was born.

During the Theater De Wegwijzer concert, we performed around 90 minutes. Containing existing and released tracks, as well as new - especially for this ocassion - recorded music.
For "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and for concerts later this year, we have been very busy rehearsing an adjusted setlist, which contains a selection from the Zeeland-concert, as well as some fresh new tracks and improvisations.

Here you can read the official press information for "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", which covers the complete story and background information so far:

The group Free Arts Lab is founded in 2014 in Haarlem by Remy Stroomer (keyboards/ synthesizers), Martijn Scholte (guitar/bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums/percussion). All three come from a different musical background.
With Remy’s electronic and ambient compositions, the name refers to the Zodiak Free Arts Lab or ‘Zodiak Club’. This club in Berlin once was a place where musicians were unlimited in developing their experimentation. From the same point of view and free state of mind of musical creativity, Free Arts Lab combines different art forms together in live performances and studio recordings.

Remy Stroomer (1979, keyboards/synthesizers/compositions) starts to take keyboard-lessons at the age of nine and around the same time, he creates his first compositions. At the end of 1999, Remy’s first album “Exhibition of Dreams” is released as a double-cdr on the independent AKH Records and that marks the start of a enduring career as an award winning solo-artist. Besides, Remy also collaborated with Ron Boots, Synth.nl (Michel van Osenbruggen), Gert Emmens and My Breath My Music. He has released thirteen solo-albums under his own name.

Martijn Scholte (1978, guitar/bowed guitar) has played and sang in various poprock and progressive rockbands, besides his singer-songwriting. His musical inspirations are mainly This will destroy you, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Helios, Sigur Rós, Hammock, Patrick Watson, Gravenhurst, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. By combining and experimenting with a variety of styles, Scholte aims at a wide sound. His choice for bowed guitar stems from his affection for Sigur Rós’ music and his love for the cello. This results in an extra dimension and a soundscape from his guitar.

Jeroen Hagen (1970, drums/percussion) has a broad interest for music and art. His musical foundation is influenced by bands from the sixties, the early seventies and the nineties. He has been part of several bands, covering symphonic rock, rock, grunge and folk, mainly from the Rotterdam-area. His most important influences are The Beatles, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Yes, Bob Dylan, The Who, Neil Young, Stone Temple Pilots, Norman Cook, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Johnny Cash and The Black Crowes.




Official website: www.freeartslab.nl

Audio:



Next blog items will be about Wolfram Spyra and Planet of the Arps.

For all information about "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and ticket sales:
www.desertedislandmusic.nl/brederode

New music pc in the studio

Last week I picked up a new music pc.
My previous computer had been in my studio since 2007 (after having worked for years with my precious Atari ST), and after having done the maximum cpu and memory upgrades and having installed Windows 7, last year, this 'oldie' seemed to have more and more problems to run stable.
Within the last years I got more demanding concerning sound quality and useage of VST's, so I was asking more of the computer's cpu and memory.

Since a couple of weeks I already got some harddisc error-messages, and the rebooting seemed to be a problem more and more.
Recently I didn't manage to get the pc turned on anymore. When switching on the computer, only the fan started to rotate.
Although I did already plan to buy a new system somewhere later this year, I was really hoping for a replacement after the upcoming "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", for which I still have to do some production work. So it would have been really great if my workstation could have served me at least for another month.

My previous music-pc was built by i4-Muzique in Eindhoven, and because I was very satisfied, I also bought the new one from them this time. They customize rather silent computers, built in 19" units, so it fits perfectly into my studio rack. One of the advantages was that my old housing could just be re-used for the new system.

Within the coming days I hope to reinstall all software, connect all equipment, and get the new pc running again, so I can continue working on the last bits for the Free Arts Lab performance and collaboration with Wolfram Spyra, on June 27th.
After this I am already really looking forward to work on more upcoming planned projects with Gert Emmens, Synth.nl, C-Jay and Free Arts Lab, as well as on the continuation of a very long-running exciting project for which I finally might have some more time again. Hope to reveal some details about this soon.

Pletterij Impro Sessies

Last Thursday I was part of an unprepared improvisation session at the Pletterij in Haarlem.
It was the fourth time the "Pletterij Improvisatie Sessies" were being held.

The edition that kicked off the concept in november 2013, in fact before the actual first edition of this series of improvisation sessions, was done by the improvisational formation "Lumière".
Two members of this band, Fedde ten Berge (self-made electronic devices) and Tjalling Schrik (drums and percussion), also joined last week's session.
The line-up was supplemented by me playing synthesizers, Just van Rossum (guitar) and Tristan "Lama Waaien" (bass guitar).

We did two sessions of approximately 45 minutes. Can't tell you exactly how long, because it felt like we played only 5 or 10 minutes. Which is a good thing, I think. Because I was rather focussed on my part and anticipating on the other contribution of the musicians, I wasn't totally aware of the final result we created together.
During the sessions I had an indication which direction the music was evolving into, but through the stage monitors it was hard to judge what the output really sounded like.
According to the many positive reactions from the audience, our sessions were well-received.
Now I am waiting with excitement for the recordings that have been made during the evening, to judge myself.

For now, there can already be seen an 18-minute excerpt from the second session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDqQFQ67-HY

Thanks to Arno Duivestein and Rob Brakel from De Pletterij and Joost Verhagen from the Haarlemse Popscene for making this series of unique collaborations possible.
I think it's a great initiative to organise these kind of events.
Where normally musicians with the same backgrounds are being put together for improvisation sessions, there has been carefully chosen to put together musicians with various backgrounds. Which might be a good starting point to create surprising music and discover unexplored musical areas.
Although there is a certin risk that a session might result into something disastrous, the organisation can be congratulated with the fact that (the chosen selection of musicians participating) recent sessions lead to very satisfying results.

Hopefully a lot of inspiring sessions will follow in future. And it would be great to be part of it again.
The next edition will be during the World Championship soccer-match Netherlands - Spain, June 13th. Where another selection of musicians improvise around the live broadcast of this match!

And for now, I have to focus on the preparations and rehearsals for the upcoming "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", which I am organising at the Ruïne van Brederode, on June 27th.

Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition

As you could have read in my previous blog post, I am organising an music evening at a very special location.
Here is all information:

On the evening of Friday June 27th, 2014, Deserted Island Music and Heerlijkheid Brederode present:

“CHILL AT THE CASTLE - ELECTRIC EDITION”

A magical evening at the historic location of the Ruïns of Brederode, situated in Santpoort-Zuid (just outside of Haarlem), featuring a wide range of live electronic music performed by the finest musicians in the electronic music scene around:

• Free Arts Lab (Remy Stroomer, Jeroen Hagen, Martijn Scholte)
• Wolfram Spyra
• Planet of the Arps (Remy Stroomer and Wolfram Spyra)

The Castle of Brederode was founded in the second half of the 13th century.
In between 1351 and 1573 the castle did undergo several attacks and pillages. And in the 19th century the remains were one of the first buildings to be restored by the government, and the became the first national monument of the Netherlands.

The concert site offers place for around 200 people, seated in front of the stage, which is situated in front of the large wall of what once was the kitchen.

Information and tickets: www.desertedislandmusic.nl/brederode

FREE ARTS LAB
The group Free Arts Lab is founded in 2014 in Haarlem by Remy Stroomer (keyboards/ synthesizers), Martijn Scholte (guitar/bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums/percussion). All three come from a different musical background. With Remy’s electronic and ambient compositions, the name refers to the Zodiak Free Arts Lab or ‘Zodiak Club’. This club in Berlin once was a place where musicians were unlimited in developing their experimentation. From the same point of view and free state of mind of musical creativity, Free Arts Lab combines different art forms together in live perform-ances and studio recordings.

Remy Stroomer (1979, keyboards/synthesizers/compositions) starts to take keyboard-lessons at the age of nine and around the same time, he creates his first com-positions. At the end of 1999, Remy’s first album “Exhibition of Dreams” is released as a double-cdr on the independent AKH Records and that marks the start of a enduring career as an award winning solo-artist. Besides, Remy also collaborated with Ron Boots, Synth.nl (Michel van Osenbruggen), Gert Emmens and My Breath My Music. He has released thirteen solo-albums under his own name.

Martijn Scholte (1978, guitar/bowed guitar) has played and sang in various poprock and progressive rockbands, besides his singer-songwriting. His musical inspirations are mainly This will destroy you, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Helios, Sigur Rós, Hammock, Patrick Watson, Gravenhurst, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. By combining and experimenting with a variety of styles, Scholte aims at a wide sound. His choice for bowed guitar stems from his affection for Sigur Rós’ music and his love for the cello. This results in an extra dimension and a soundscape from his guitar.

Jeroen Hagen (1970, drums/percussion) has a broad interest for music and art. His musical foundation is influenced by bands from the sixties, the early seventies and the nineties. He has been part of several bands, covering symphonic rock, rock, grunge and folk, mainly from the Rotterdam-area. His most important influences are The Beatles, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Yes, Bob Dylan, The Who, Neil Young, Stone Temple Pilots, Norman Cook, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Johnny Cash and The Black Crowes.

REMY discography
Exhibition of Dreams (1999), The Art of Imagination (2000), DisConnected (2003), Connected (2003), Different Shades of Dust (2004), Sense (2006), This is not the End (2008), EoD (2009), Exhibition of Dreams - 10th Anniversary (2010), i-Dentity (2011), The Great Church Trilogy (2011), PrimiTiveS (2013, met Synth.nl), Sessions 2012 (2013, with My Breath My Music).

WOLFRAM SPYRA
Wolfram Spyra (1964) is a composer of electronic music, sound artist born in Eschwege in Germany. Sound is his art form. He has worked for film, television, theatre, dance and as sound designer.
Spyra began his career in the early 1990s constructing soundscapes and installations around Germany. He has collaborated with a wide range of visual artists, musicians, producers and DJs and released several albums, starting in 1995 with “Homelistening Is Killing Clubs”.
Spyra’s focus is on electronic music. While sometimes experimental, most of his music has a certain acces-sibility in terms of the rhythmic and melodic components.
Spyra’s new album will be released in June 2014 and reveals the complexity and strangeness in analog synthesis. He calls his new found genre ‘post-electronic’. The record will have its world-wide live premiere at “Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition” at the Ruïns of Brederode on June 27th.

Spyra discography
Homelistening Is Killing Clubs (1995), Phonehead (1997), My Little Garden of Sounds (1997), Future of the Past (1997), Sferics (1998), Etherlands (1999), Elevator To Heaven (2001), Invisible Fields (2003), Meditationen (2005), Orphan Waves (2006), High Phidelity (2007), Gasoline - 91 Octane (2008), January in June (2009), No Beats For One Hour (2010), tba (2014).

PLANET OF THE ARPS
As the ‘grand finale’ of this evening at the ruin, Wolfram Spyra will join Remy Stroomer for a real-time rework of Remy’s one hour ambient piece “Planet of the Arps”.
This original composition dates from 2010 and has been performed live by Remy at the Zeiss Planetarium in Bochum (Germany) in September 2012.
From the time the musical piece was finished, Remy wanted Wolfram to rework this track.
Now, four years later, this project has finally brought both artists together and an excerpt of this piece will be created live at the ruin.