Yeah, Billy Preston the legendary. One of the 5th Beatles. Check him out.

And I’ve got some feathers and rhodes for you. Nothing new, just sharing. Ciao!

Enjoy.

In the meanwhile I’m enjoying mostly old music, made by others. For example this one:

And in the other meanwhiles I’m trying to make some new songs and I’m trying to finish my seemingly secret shameless solo project. I’ll do my best to finish some funky lyrics when I’m in Paris this summer. Salut!

So yes, I bought a piano. And MJ said it is a good one. I’ll just say it’s a real nice one, characteristic, small and cosy. Makes me happy. Tried to make some tunes on it already but didn’t come very far. I think I’m a little too sensitive for these influences at the moment:

Some more news.

Next week I’m playing with Joast again, we’re supporting the great band Gomez at the Melkweg, june 29th. If you have time, please drop by. Joast is also playing in Groningen and Utrecht that week, I just don’t play along then.

How I’m spending my time.

Since you all like to know. I played with Roos Jonker (please check out her amazing debut) at Radio 6, as you can see here:

I’ve been writing songs. And yeah, it’s true, I’m in my experimental phase.

I’ve been making music with others too, with my dear friend Arriën Molema, with the great Joost Oskamp, with the artfunkateer Steye. And soon with the infamous Dean Tippet and Omar Rey. Just for fun and without any pressure. Hope I didn’t jinx the magic by telling you.

Let’s not forget..

I have this nice band Knobsticker, that is playing live around the corner. Come and make a dance real soon please. We’re making new songs too, thinking of testing them on you from august. Is that OK?

– my sharing of cool music is a bit down lately. there’s just too much. — Ciao!

I’m a fan. I like her ‘new’ sound, style, looks, songs, attitude. Live vids seem better to me than the album though. Check this one for example.

And, did I tell you yet, I’m being a substitute for Jelte Heringa for one gig with Joast. This is Joost Oskamp who made an album with some of the best session musicians in L.A., including Joey Waronker, the drummer that played on the last Norah Jones album. And the gig we’ll be doing is a special one too, we’re supporting Sia in Vredenburg. Yes, the concert that I already had tickets for, so thanks Jelte. Just a pity that I’ll be missing Gonzales and Mocky in Paradiso that same night.

My other activities at the moment can be described as writing songs for a very shameless soloproject. Making fun with Knobsticker. Writing an interesting application. And being a part-time helping hand for Dox-related artists, such as Roos Jonker (teaching Ableton – watch out for her album!!), Charlene (teaching piano), Steye (writing songs) and I’m helping Dean Tippet in living his life through interesting books. I find myself very useful.

Well. A sad day for hiphop: Gang Starr MC Guru passed away yesterday after a hard struggle with cancer. May he rest in peace of course.

Gang Starr has been a great inspiration for me, the combination of Premier’s beats and Guru’s messages was one of the first real hiphop things that really got to me.. I remember buying a Lowlands ticket in ’99 just to see them live.. Let’s take good care of the heritage.

I was in hiphopmode already this week, so let me share this one for those who never saw it. 20SYL (from Hocus Pocus) making a nice MPC-beat. I love his style, this is inspiring to see I think..

It starts to be annoying. The good music coming from France. I just came back from 2 days in Paris and discovered a few great artists again. First of all, I saw Mathieu Boogaerts ‘en live’ with the bassplayer Zaf Zapha. This was a great, very intimate and cosy concert. With jokes and good music. A wonderful combination.

This bassplayer, Zaf (Jean-Rene) Zapha, also played (and produced?) on Mathieu’s album 2000 and that made me look up his other bandmembers. By doing that, I found the ‘keyboardplayer’ Albin de la Simone. Well, it appeared he does a lot more then just playing keyboards. Here you go:

Or see this HERE.

I just makes me happy that there is a place for small music. And people listening to it. And not talking etc.  Tonight I’m going to see Kaki King. Let’s hope this could be such a place too.

Yes, of course my blog content is once again fed by shares from Dean Tippet.. so I share it with you, since he doesn’t do that.

I found this an inspiring video about two L.A. artists working together. Using lovely synths and a taperecorder. I must say that I’m not really über-enthusiastic about the outcome, but the process is nice to see. And Nite Jewel is one to check out.

Another thing to check out: I saw the movie ‘Gainsbourg (vie héroique)‘. Check it. I realised that in France people grow up with these kind of songs. SONGS, you know. A little different from the Bløf-stuff we grow up with. Luckily I’m heading to Paris this week and hopefully being able to see another great French songwriter, Mathieu Boogaerts, in concert. And I hope to get some new fine albums there, have some in mind already.

Ohyeah, one more thing: Let’s kill the mediocracy.

There’s this nice website ‘La Blogotheque‘: it has a videofeature called ‘Concerts à emporter’. Très très génial.

I just saw an episode featuring Fleet Foxes. There’s one with Wilco. There’s one with Múm, Sigur Ros, Patrick Watson. Did you not click yet??

An oldie but this is a little too beautiful. One of my favourite songs on the Voodoo album, but this version makes completely clear why. Mr. D’Angelo on the piano I presume.

Just as the last link (prodigy remake) I got this through Emiel van Rijthoven. Thank u.

Did you see and hear the new Erykah Badu video/single yet? I’m usually sensitive to messages in music, but not in a positive way. It annoys me very quickly. But this one comes across I think.

Some things are just unbelievable when you see them. This is one.

A guy recreating Prodigy’s ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ with only Ableton Live and the original samples! Very well done. I think this would be the best Ableton commercial so far..

Then, THIS LINK should be giving you the opportunity to download the audio from a Phoenix live concert in Sydney.. At the moment the link is not working, but keep on trying, it might work again. If it doesn’t work: luckily I’m going to see them live in Paradiso tomorrow. And you?