Ruud Voesten - Clickbait Merchants
The new single by Ruud Voesten, 'Clickbait Merchants' is a breath of fresh air for the jazz world. Drawing inspiration from progressive music, the song incorporates elements that redefine traditional jazz music, making it an absolute delight to listen to. As the track progresses, the mix of the song feels reminiscent of vinyl records, providing a unique listening experience that transports the listener back to the days of classic jazz. In conversation with Ruud Voesten Your latest release Clickbait Merchants is dark, intense, and exhilarating. What was your vision behind this track? Clickbait Merchants is part of my upcoming record 'Ambrosia', which I composed to Dante Alighieri's poem Inferno. In this Italian literary work from the Medieval era, Dante describes how he descends through hell and encounters the capital sins, sinners and punishments. Clickbait Merchants in particular deals with the sin of fraud. Connecting this theme to our current times, reminded me of the strategy media use to grab our attention. By using headlines consisting of bold claims, inflammatory words or flat-out lies they try to capture our attention for clicks. The music reflects this by having a constant brewing tension and big but short melodic gestures.Funny side note: The title idea came from a short clip of Connor McGregor where he rants against journalists. An intro on 11/4. At the same time, counting 23 on every turnaround. That’s a rather complex time signature. What inspired you to come up with such a groove? I never really thought about it in that sense, as an 11/4 or 23/4 bar. My starting point for the song was this small bass line of three descending quarter notes, which I sometimes extended with two extra notes to keep it fresh and quirky. This became the intro, but when composing the melody I ended up with more material over the 3/4 part. So in a sense, I'm feeling the music in 3/4 all the time, until I don't for one bar, which could basically come at any given moment. Redefining progressive jazz songwriting One of the standout features of 'Clickbait Merchants' is the way the song shifts through various moods but always maintains a sombre tonality. This allows the listener to truly appreciate the beautifully written horn sections that complement the sonic palette. The horns add a layer of depth, adding an emotional intensity that perfectly fits the song. The song redefines jazz by often venturing into the realms of progressive music. Could you walk us through the process of composition? The composition process started by reflecting on what my associations were with 'fraud'. I searched for what it meant to me in this day and age. Inspired by the Conor McGregor quote I started to move into the direction of media harvesting our attention. I wanted the song to be boastful, loud and demanding attention, but never fully deliver on the initial promise.The bassline formed the starting point of the composition, combined with the general energy and feel. I wanted the melody to reflect the empty promise of the clickbait titles, so while putting the bassline on repeat I improvised melodic gestures with some medium intervals. I ended up picking the ones that suggested there was something bigger going on / about to happen, but in the end, didn't really deliver.For the B part, I put the focus on the horns rhythmically alternating and weaving together. At this point, I was experimenting with writing lower parts for the alto than the tenor saxophone and I really like the way this sounded. The solo seemed to need a shift in energy, so we ended up with this open feel followed by an extended B part to develop the composition a bit more. What is next for the drummer? Ruud Voesten's history as a drummer and composer is impressive, and it's clear that he brings his years of experience to this latest release. The artist is currently living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and has been making music for many years. Furthermore, his new single is part of a full album set to be released in 2023. Inloopmuziek has garnered your outfit a global niche audience and a place in reputed indie playlists. What may fans expect next? 'Ambrosia', the full record with music composed to Dante Alighieri's Inferno, will be out in September on the ZenneZ Records label. We'll be touring during the fall and I might start working on the second part of the Divine Comedy: Purgatory. Wietse Voermans and I are working on a new project called 'Genius Loci' which is about making the room/venue where we perform part of the improvisation and composition process. It's going to be a combination of free improvisation and composed music which we'll create while doing a week-long residency. In July we'll spend a full week at the venue Brebl in Nijmegen (NL). Brebl is one of the newer jazz venues in the Netherlands but has always been operating on borrowed time. The local authority offered them a location destined to be torn down for a couple of years. Unable to find a new place they got a little extension in another building, but they're looking for a new place. This sense of a fleeting home and the urgency of being out of time is something we hope to put into music. We'll experiment with using the reflections of the room as part of the music and by using the story as inspiration. An instrumental fit for mystery cinema 'Clickbait Merchants' is an instrumental piece that would fit well into the soundtracks of classic detective movies. The track's progressive sound and experimental outlook would make it an excellent fit for detective movies and whodunnits like The Pink Panther (2006) or Chinatown (1974). The song's unique blend of jazz and progressive music makes it an ideal choice for indie music lovers who are looking for something fresh and exciting. Overall, 'Clickbait Merchants' is a stunning piece of music that showcases the talent and creativity of Ruud Voesten. The artist's ability to seamlessly blend jazz and progressive music is truly remarkable, and the result is a song that is both unique and beautiful. Fans of indie music and jazz lovers alike will undoubtedly appreciate this masterpiece from Ruud Voesten.
Ruud Voesten-Goesting
Ruud Voesten brings the best of jazz and world music together with his impressive knowledge. His range, style and compassion towards the genres is not only commendable, but a lot has to be said about how he arranges music. Instrumental tales weave their way through invisible characters. Maybe you’ll never know who it’s about. Maybe sometimes it's about you. This is his latest single, Goesting. What are some themes you like to obsess about with your work while composing? For 'Ambrosia' it's all been about Dante's Inferno and my associations with the sins, the sinners and their punishment. This story gave me clear input and brought me a lot of ideas to communicate through the music, but I'll probably take different subjects the next time i'm composing a repertoire.When writing I was able to connect elements to the story, which became key features of the songs. Sometimes this was a groove or meter, other times it was the melody, harmony or orchestration. This starts off as a sombre track, a tale of dire circumstances. Ruud Voesten makes sure his composition prepares you for the sorrow, heartbreak and pain of this protagonist. The strings start off slow, melting into the background while they tantalise you, moment by moment. The 7 and a half minute epic takes you chapter by chapter, while the bass enters and plays with a groove. Stories unfold quicker, creating complicated webs to follow. Are there any artists you idolise on the kind of connection they have with translating emotions with clarity? David Bowie's 'Black Star' had a huge impact on me in that sense. Just the mere fact someone was able to use his own terminal illness as inspiration for his art was unfathomable to me at the time. Adrianne Lenker also comes to mind. Ruud Voesten and the essence behind Goesting In Goesting, you layer instruments to flow between genres as per the theme. What is the overarching theme that this song is inspired by? Goesting is based on the ring and sin of 'lust'. In this ring you find mostly adulterers who are being buffeted back and forth by a terrible storm. This symbolizes the power of lust to blow needlessly and aimlessly: "as the lovers drifted into self-indulgence and were carried away by their passions, so now they drift for ever. The bright, voluptuous sin is now seen as it is – a howling darkness of helpless discomfort."Most musical elements are loose associations to this part of the story. I choose the rhumba-esque drums for their associations with romantic music. The melody which is being played by the double bass and later the horns were built on a strong romantic but longing characteristic. And the interplay between the horns in the middle symbolizes the 'dancing' lovers in the storm. The saxophone and brass section make for a compelling case. Ruud Voesten switches scales to make something in the pondering realm. Interactions feel like rendezvous between lovers, like Ruud explains. It is very interesting to hear and observe, especially given the level of detail with the piano. You feel like you’re part of the rhythmic interaction, though you might just be an observer. When lacking lyrics in songs, where do you think the most effective part of narrating lies in making instrumental music? It's hard to name just one element, because harmony, melody and rhythm feel so connected. But for me harmony probably ties all three together. The shifts in music Since Inloopmuziek, what do you think has been your biggest leap forward in creating and composing? Starting a new project with a clear storyline in mind helped me tremendously with composing all the music. It gave me a clear frame of reference to relate to while writing and making decisions. So making a plan before starting the record has been very important. As the song ends with a melancholy string section, you’re left a little broken. It is the hallmark of a great musician and storyteller, pulling you into a story without words. His single Clickbait Merchants is something you need to absorb for every second. I would want to hear this in Guy and Madeleine on a Park Bench (2009), a brilliant movie by Damien Chazelle. Follow him for more music like this! What can we expect next from Ruud Voesten? Any album with an interesting theme in mind? Second half of this year will be the official release of the full record 'Ambrosia'. We'll be touring the Netherlands and we're working on some shorts stints abroad. Early stages of a new record will probably happen in beginning of 2024. Another cool record i've been a part of that's coming out is 'Die Traumdeutung' by RHEIN. The lead singer Reinier van den Haak started writing down his dreams during the last few years and used this as inspiration for his songs. The first single 'Open Dak' was recently released and new releases will follow the next months.
Ruud Voesten - The Crypto Shuffle
Ruud Voesten, the visionary drummer and composer hailing from Rotterdam, Netherlands, has once again pushed the boundaries of musical exploration with his latest release, "The Crypto Shuffle." This experimental prog jazz composition is a mesmerizing tapestry of sonic storytelling that transports listeners into an enigmatic world where classical motifs seamlessly intertwine with contemporary soundscapes. The song opens with a hauntingly beautiful dark sax solo. Like a detective peeling back layers of mystery, the song gradually builds momentum, each instrument weaving its own thread into the intricate narrative. Voesten's careful arrangement effortlessly merges the past and present, as if Dante's spirit himself was guiding the composition. The production quality of "The Crypto Shuffle" is impeccable – a crystal-clear mix that showcases a symphony of acoustic instruments. The frequency spectrum is finely tuned, allowing each element to breathe harmoniously within the arrangement. Panning techniques create a vivid sense of movement, an auditory dance mirroring the progression through Dante's infernal rings. Title: Ethereal Enigma: "The Crypto Shuffle" Unveils a Noir Jazz Odyssey A special nod goes to the meticulous drumming by Ruud Voesten that anchors the composition, setting the rhythm for the journey through the sonic labyrinth. Every instrument, from the saxophone's mournful wails to the piano's introspective musings, boasts a vibrant dynamic range that adds an ethereal dimension to the piece. As the song unfurls its enigmatic tale, one envisions it fitting seamlessly into the shadowy world of noir mystery movies. Its evocative atmosphere would find a home among the dark and intriguing narratives of films like "Chinatown" and "Double Indemnity," or even within the intricate twists of a classic detective TV series like "True Detective." In its entirety, "The Crypto Shuffle" isn't just a song – it's a journey. A progression from darkness to revelation, mirroring Dante's descent into his personal inferno. Ruud Voesten's musical craftsmanship shines through in every note, making this composition a true masterpiece of progressive indie jazz.