Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Daniel de Boer
THE RELEASE
Dutch bassist and singer Daniel de Boer takes listeners on a captivating musical adventure with his unique world pop sound. Having worked as a freelance musician and composer for renowned ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra and Holland Opera, de Boer's desire for creative independence led him to Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. Now, he presents his debut album, "Out of Shadows," a testament to cultural diversity and musical fusion. Accompanied by musicians from thirteen different countries, de Boer's eclectic sound comes alive in his latest release, "Fly Away."
"Fly Away" defies the conventions of traditional breakup songs, offering a refreshing perspective on personal growth and transformation. With its empowering message, the track resonates with those seeking freedom and fulfillment after a relationship ends. To complement this powerful anthem, de Boer enlisted Spanish filmmaker Jep Jorba, known for his work with notable artists like Snarky Puppy, Michael League, and Becca Stevens, to direct the music video. Jorba's artistic vision shines through as the video takes viewers on a visually stunning journey, capturing the essence of change and self-discovery. Seamlessly aligning with the uplifting tone of the song, the "Fly Away" music video creates a multi-sensory experience that beautifully enhances de Boer's release, leaving a lasting impact on audiences.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
That version of Mount Rushmore would feature the following gentlemen: Avishai Cohen, Sting, Gary Willis and Thom Yorke.
Israeli bassist and composer Avishai Cohen has inspired me since the moment I started playing upright bass when I was eighteen years old. His virtuosity on the instrument and unique and tasteful way of approaching the bass keep on resonating with me. And his compositions are such a beautiful blend of Eastern en western influences; quite complex at times, but always presented within a simple and accessible frame.
Sting’s songwriting is classy and clever and he seems like a great collaborator. For different projects he finds different musicians to work with; people that will elevate the particular project and suit it best. I think that’s a great skill to have, to know who to work with.
Gary Willis is a real bass legend and I had the pleasure and honour to study with him for a year during my masters of Contemporary Performance at Berklee Valencia in Spain. He obviously taught me a lot about bass playing, but he also helped me with the production aspect of the ‘Out of Shadows’ album.
Vocally I am inspired a lot by Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead. I love the way he can put emotion in his singing and how you often don’t exactly understand what words he is singing, but somehow you still get the message.
If you could sum up the essence or overarching message of the music video in a few words or phrases, what would they be, and why are those concepts significant to you?
The song is about letting go of a lover and the inspiration for it comes from personal experience. The video was shot in Cabanyal, a beautiful and colourful neighbourhood near the beach in Valencia, Spain, which is where I rented my first apartment when I arrived in the city. It was right after the breakup, actually, so that place represents moving on and the start of a new chapter for me.
If you could sum up the essence or overarching message of the music video in a few words or phrases, what would they be, and why are those concepts significant to you?
To me the song and the video are about not forcing things. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason and it depends on us how we react to the things that happen. Seemingly negative experiences, like breaking up with a lover, can be turned into a motivator for positive change if you decide it to be so. You can accept what happened, learn some things from it and move on.
Can you discuss any unique or unconventional techniques or choices you or the producer made during the song's creation process that helped to shape its distinctive sound?
Fly Away is the most ‘pop’ sounding song on the heavily world music influenced Out of Shadows album, but it has a few unconventional elements to it. Palestinian violinist Shaden Nahra added a touch of the orient with his string parts, which adds some spice to the song. The drums for Fly Away consist of a mix of recorded drum parts and percussion parts and electronic beats. Producer Shakthi Prasad and I used percussion instruments like frame drum, riq and cajon to enhance the groove.
When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?
That we are the creators of our own lives and that we can do or be anything, no matter what our past is or our background. I guess that would be the overarching message of the album, although I am not necessarily focused on getting a message across to listeners when it comes to songwriting. My goal is to write pure and honest songs about things that move me. If I am touched by the music that I make, I think other people might be touched by it as well. The message that people will find in the songs can be different from person to person.
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