Loveliest is an instrumental piece, a small one. Written on my old Gibson and the OP-1, drifting between analogue tapes and woody guitars. Recorded fast, like a Polaroid — simple, quiet, and a little blurred around the edges.
Sad Tune is my first solo release — a calm, melancholic folk song built on fingerpicked guitar, unpolished vocals, and soft, layered textures. It explores memory, stillness, and those moments that drift through the day like quiet Polaroids.
When Esther van Hees and I lived next door to each other, we started swapping little songwriting challenges—lyrics, chords, and melodies flying back and forth. Before we knew it, we had a bunch of songs. I Wait, You Know is the first one we’re sharing with the world.
It captures the warmth of a classic folk duet with a fresh, modern twist, inspired by our love for artists like Don McLean, Dolly Parton, and Blake Mills.
We’re also super excited that I Wait, You Know has been featured in the Pop in Limburg playlist! Give it a listen and let us know what you think.
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity of traveling with a delegation from Muziekschool Amsterdam to Suriname. This journey wasn’t just about music; it was about building connections, sharing knowledge, and celebrating cultural exchange.
This trip also meant that after a year of teaching online, I finally had the chance to meet my students from the Conservatory of Suriname in person. Hearing their ideas and feeling their energy in real life was an unforgettable experience.
Our delegation was warmly welcomed by local music schools such as CCS, Bellas Artes, Alakondre, Mi Melodi, the Conservatory of Suriname, and the National Folk Music School (NVMS). We discussed the challenges and opportunities in music education and explored ways to strengthen our collaboration.
Throughout the week, we organized workshops and masterclasses on topics like technique, improvisation but also musical entrepreneurship. Together with my colleagues Willem Smit, Adriana Romijn, and Eddy Veldman, we were inspired by the enthusiasm and curiosity of the students and teachers alike.
We ended the week with a shared meeting with the music schools and the conservatory, not just as a conclusion to the trip but as the start of a lasting partnership. Suriname has left a profound impact on me, and I am excited about the future of our collaboration.
Around a year and a half ago, Esther van der Heijden and I stumbled upon our shared fascination for the music from Limburg’s hills. Our curiosity extended beyond our hometowns of Maastricht and Venlo to cover the entire province. While Limburg’s carnival music is widely known, we wondered what other music lies waiting to be discovered. Who are the voices behind these songs, and what stories do they tell? Are there tunes that all of us from the South recognize, or do they vary by region? What started as a simple “we should do something with this” has now grown into a full-fledged concert program we are incredibly proud of: ‘T Züden – Ode aan het Limburgs Lied.
After a successful try-out at Theater de Roode Bioscoop earlier this year, we continued with a performance at the Zomerparkfeest in Venlo and then a sold-out matinee at Theater Heerlen. Meanwhile, we captured a selection of these unique southern songs during the Roode Bioscoop Sessions. It’s a pleasure to share our first live recording!
Curious to hear more of our leedjes and the story behind this project? Join us live on Saturday morning, November 16th 2024, onL1 Cultuurcafé.
I am very excited to announce that I will be starting as Vocal Technique teacher at the Conservatory of Suriname this academic year. I can’t wait to start this inspiring journey!
Ipoh is a city in Malaysia close to the Cameron Highlands, famous for their fields filled with tea plants. The scent is amazing.
‘Ipoh’ is the second composition in a series of original photographs and original instrumental songs inspired by mobile recordings. All photos and compositions by Robbert Suilen.
‘Penang’ is the first in a series of original photographs and original instrumental songs inspired by mobile recordings. This is a short piece with a chant recording from Penang, a beautiful city in Malaysia.
All photos and compositions composed by Robbert Suilen.
I’m super proud and excited to share WANDER’s first album with you. ‘Songs from the Garden’ is a collection of songs written by Babs van Bree, Renée Steenvoorden and myself, recorded at Studio 150, De Bethlehemkerk, in Amsterdam. The songs reflect our vision on nature, dreaming, cities, playfulness and improvisation. It was such a joy to make. The dutch Jazz magazine ‘Jazzism’ wrote a lovely review on our album (excerpt):
“Three voices and guitar, that’s all WANDER needs to build an intriguing world of sounds… Sometimes scat where you don’t expect it, sometimes you’re dreaming away. WANDER surprises you constantly.”
– Marcel Haerkens (Jazzism #5 2021) –
You can listen to ‘Songs from the Garden’ here:
Check my agenda or click here for all the tour dates!
