The novelty of summer has fizzled out Now we just sit With a Swiss cigarette And an iced Coca Cola On Sundays I walk into town My town And go where the tourists go I follow the Americans to their budget hotel and share their longing for a quick nap under the AC And then a curated Instagram post I like to catch a couple bickering Worn out from waiting Hungry and expecting a first child Or rain I miss the fish The thundering of the waterfall The family all together in June
Boy oh boy oh boy. I blinked and suddenly it’s August. The last time I checked in here was yonks ago so I felt the time was ripe for an update. I’m spending this beautiful summer day holed up inside with a half-swollen face and a numb bottom lip. I was supposed to get one wisdom tooth pulled but there must have been some kind of deal on because I walked out with two bad boys in my back pocket. I can’t feel my tongue, I’m hopped up on a cocktail of paracetamol and ibuprofen and I feel a strong urge to update you on what I’ve been up to these last two months.
I released a song with the queen of tender indie pop, Marta Arpini. It’s called Stranger and we wrote it last summer. You can listen to it here (or find it on your local streaming platform). We also did a goofy dance to it, for the algo.
I recently joined my favorite Dutch band, Personal Trainer. We’ve been rehearsing a lot in preparation for a big show at Carré on the 18th of september, which you absolutely do not want to miss. You can get a ticket here. It will make you cry, laugh, question your morals, think of long lost friends, feel a renewed sense of hope for humanity and give you that deep sense of satisfaction you can only get from money well spent. Here’s a video of us to wet your appetite.
I spent a week in the studio with my dear friends of Tim Knol and the Wandering Hearts. We recorded an album of 13 songs in about 8 days and it’s going to be - dare I say - Tim’s best record yet. We found a studio in a little Belgian village located in the Ardennes but it may as well have been Zaandam because we never set foot in any forest once. I did see two foxes and one doe. The only walking we did was to the bakery in the morning and to the local pub in the evening. We experienced numerous culinary highlights, including this festive cheese platter.
In the moments inbetween, I’ve been continuing to work on my second album, which I’m hoping to finish by the end of the year. I’m also preparing the release of a song I did with Steve French and have been sifting through some old cassette demos that I’d like to share in the fall.
Saw the eclipse. After thorough deliberation with my brothers we decided it was a 4/10. We will not be attending the next one in protest.
I think I’m starting to regain sensation in my cheek and it’s almost time for a fresh batch of painkillers, so I’m going to sign off now. I hope to see you in Carré next month, or somewhere else before that.
Plenty news, good news! Thnx Sam The Man, dividing his time now between three different bands. Good for you, for the bands AND the audiences. You thought it was not "my kind of music" when you premiered with Personal Trainer in Ekko, Utrecht. How wrong! It was a splashing show, with lots of energy (and sweat - you know what I refer to). I will go for a second helping in Carré on 18/9, not yet sure whether to sit (rang 1 or 2) or to stand (near the stage. I'll guess it will be the last one. Much love, dL.