Jam sessions

During a session you can get started with the devices as shown below. Anyone can do it, if you dare.

Inspiration

I'm inspired by the early '90 rave culture and dance music. Techno icons like Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox and Jeff Mills are still playing today at festivals and they still bring an unmatched vibe to the crowd. But I'm also inspired by Amelie Lens, Reinier Zonneveld, Paul Kalkbrenner, Charlotte de Witte, Anfisa Letyago, Vince Watson and Gregor Tresher. Some of these creators play live on stage. This means they don't play a record or song. They create music on the spot from samples and bringing it all together live with drum computers, synths and groove boxes. This is how that looks from behind the stage:

In 2022 during Amsterdam Dance Event I went to Awesome Soundwave by Carl Cox & Friends in the Ziggo dome. That's where Reinier Zonneveld was the closing act and he played "Music is the Answer" in a hard techno remix, live on stage. It was a goosebump all over event. 

Festivals like Awakenings, Love Land, DGTL, Mystery Land and the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) are a great way to be in the now and forget about the past and future for a short while and just enjoy the music and dance.

Techno Magic

Techno music is in some sense repetitive, the variance doesn't come from the notes as in many other genres, it comes from the rhythm, beat and filters. This makes it very predictable and danceable, you can let the variations take you on a journey, almost in a trance. So you need to learn how to listen to it. Once it catches you, it can do amazing things to your mental wellbeing.

If you haven't watched Berlin Calling yet, it's an amazing movie about a DJ going through tough times with a great love for techno, featuring Paul Kalkbrenner.

Releases

To learn, I ask people around me to give me a theme to work on. That is quite difficult because you are then pushed into a corner that you had not thought of. And that is exactly the intention because that is how you learn the fastest. And when the song is ready I will also make a video.

I made Feel the Power for someone who started working at the Dutch Bank and who likes heavy music.

This one is personal. For me, music is medicine and the DJ is the doctor who administers the medicine.

Green Choice is a super calm song for someone with green fingers.

I made Post Apocalyptic for my partner who, when we choose a movie on Netflix, always chooses a movie that starts with "In a post-apocalyptic world..."

I created Flying over Water for someone who loves sailing and the feeling of flying over water. This song contains symbolism of calm water and storm.

Algorithm is heavier and inspired by the rise of AI, which I also use in my daily work.

Deep Space Journey emerged from a jam session. It lasts almost 15 minutes. Turn knobs to distort the sound. So even though the melody remains the same, something keeps changing.

Bring Back Your Fantasy is the result of a jam session.

Bridges to Beaches is a song made for someone who moved from Amsterdam to Spain and started a Bed & Breakfast there. Quite a leap into the deep.

You will find my music on various networks