News

we’ve said already how excited we are about having a Singer of Songs onboard the Underused Records wagon. his album, “Old Happiness” is released on 5 January 2010, in association with HiFive4LoFi Records.

We thought it’d be nice to introduce him to you, so asked him a few questions…

1) What edge has life in Barcelona given to your songwriting?
the edge of living in a busy and buzzing city, especially coming from quiet and silent and dark belgium. Things go and change a bit faster here. Thousands of people and lives and situations crossing your path every day. Even more here, where the sun makes it so tempting to be outside all day. Though in the end it’s just you, just like when you live in the middle of nowhere.
The stories I live and tell have changed a lot though. And the city has always been very present in all of them. The empty streets I walk at night, the buzz of the day, the sun and shadows all year through. On the first album it was literally present: in nearly all the tracks you could hear the neighbor’s bird whistling in the back, the construction workers in the street… I have always had big problems in shutting the world out completely whilst recording. So there is some traffic and other background noise on these recordings as well… but don’t tell. :)

2) Who do you write songs for?
Hmm, that’s a good one. I think Singer of Songs is the first time I really started writing for myself. I was going through a tough period in life when I started doing this, and I needed a way to let my emotions out. Blow off steam someway. It’s been a bit therapeutic to be honest, and still is. That’s why most of the lyrics are pretty straighforward as well. Because I don’t give myself much time to ponder them, think them over and correct and change. It’s all kind of raw and basic the way it comes out and immediately into the mic.

3) What kind of music moves you?
There’s a lot that gets to me. I tend to be attracted most by simple things though. Words that make sense and a good melody always do the trick. Storytellers. I have always been a sucker for stories. Telling them and hearing them. Music-wise I have always found great comfort in the work of people like J. Cash, Elliott Smith, Will Oldham, Jackson C. Frank, Tom Waits… people who can pull you through a tough day just by singing to you and telling their stories.
It doesn’t always imply words. It never stops to amaze me how a couple of notes at the right place and time can bring a man to tears or smiles. Music is just a powerful and basic essence.

4) how did your collabarations come about?
I found everyone on the internet. And it never stops to amaze me how much anonymous talent there is out there. People doing their thing day in, day out. With love and passion and skill. Surrounded by worthless noise being upgraded to art every day, but that doesn’t stop them. Hollie, Ana, Aubben, Henry, Benjamin… I truly think they make music worth being listened to. That the world would be a bit of a better place to be in if people would hear them more.
The working together is all internet as well. Sending files all over the world harmonies and banjo parts and such. Except with Ana, who lives in Madrid and stops by my home studio every time she has a gig here in the city.