Biography
‘Unleash and let go of all your fantasies and future plans’.
Unleash is the first full length solo record by Rob Klerkx, drummer of Moke; the successful Amsterdam-based band who are busily making a name for themselves on both the national and international scenes. Klerkx, while gentle looking, is a mercilessly hard-hitting musician, who is also active in the bands Paulusma and KGB. A lesser known side of him is that of a passionate singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and aficionado of atmospheric pop music. That is about to change.
Unleash is the successor to the 2006 EP New Roads, which Klerkx recorded when he was starting out as a songwriter after having entered the Mooie Noten competition. This new album is more intense, more psychedelic, more experimental and more complete in terms of lyrics, themes and musical refinement. "On this record you will find an all encompassing creative approach with a solid foundation. Because of my band experience, I can write a complete musical picture. I'm not just a creator and lyricist, but a drummer a too. You can hear that on this record, more so than on the previous one. The songs all have a stong cadence and rhythm," Klerkx explains.
Not only did he write all the songs, Klerkx played all the acoustic guitars and drum parts himself, in addition to singing the vocals. The remaining guitar tracks were played by The Secret, a musical collective consisting of Jelle Paulusma, Jaromir Fernig and Theo Sieben on noise, slide and baritone guitar, respectively. The three of them, each in his own way, add experimental and unexpected dimensions to the songs. "They are virtuosos in their own right. You can clearly hear their individual approaches in the music. Theo is very good at rhythmic accompaniment. Jaromir plays the slide parts and adds the emotional arcs, while Jelle has a rawer approach; he provides the complementary color." Two songs feature female vocals; actress Gusta Geleijnse lends her warm voice to 'Seasons' whereas on 'Home', we can hear rock and roll star Sue Moreno. The 'secret' is that the collective stays the same, but the lineup during live shows may vary; a small lineup for an intimate acoustic set in the theater, and a complete rock outfit for the clubs and festivals.
Letting go, in the broadest sense of the word, is the main theme of the 12 atmospheric pop songs. "A lot of songs are about literally letting go of something that's on a leash. It could be a relationship, but it might also be a particular way of thinking or some routine one might have. In life, you continually learn to love things, and to let go of them again. I find this cycle very interesting." The title song 'Unleash' is a true ode to letting go of certain patterns, and 'City Burns' and 'New Roads' are also literally about letting go of things –'burning your ships behind you', as the Dutch like to say– and starting over. Related to that theme, Klerkx sings about leaving and later returning to his roots, and the bond between mother and child.
On Unleash, Klerkx explores the boundary between mainstream and experimental. The result is a record that literally won't let you go, once you've given in to the psychedelically tinged soundscapes and melancholy songs, drawing upon country, folk and rock influences.
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