Onder Invloed is a video project by journalist and filmmaker Matthijs van der Ven. The project title is Dutch for ‘under the influence’. Since June 16th 2008, Onder Invloed filmed numerous international musicians covering their favourite bands in sessions and at Onder Invloed live shows. Also, the first Onder Invloed book will be published in January 2012 by publisher L.J. Veen.
Idea
The idea for the project started in the summer of 2007, while reading Bob Dylan’s ‘Chronicles‘. Dylan writes about the musicians who’ve been an influence to him in his younger years. Reading this, the idea came up to ask musicians to cover their favourite bands or singers, on camera.
Onder Invloed lets readers and viewers discover new and old music, of both the musicians who’ve recorded a session and the musicians who’ve been covered. It’s a personal project, which shows in the selection of musicians who are invited to record a session or to play live.
Sessions
The sessions are mostly recorded in The Netherlands, with a couple of exceptions like a series of sessions in Glasgow, Scotland. Some are acoustic or even unplugged, others are fully amplified. All that matters, is that the musicians are sincere in their choices for songs they love. It’s as simple as that, passing on the message of their enthousiasm for certain musicians and songs to anyone willing to watch.
Live shows
Onder Invloed organises live shows in The Netherlands. Four times a year, musicians play unique live sets at the Onder Invloed nights at EKKO in Utrecht and Hedon in Zwolle, with a mixture of covers and their own work. Onder Invloed also hosts – or has hosted – nights and stages at several festivals, like Festival aan de Werf (Utrecht), Grasnapolsky and Bevrijdingsfestival Overijssel.
Book
Originally a writing journalist, Matthijs van der Ven is currently working on his first book, which will be titled ‘Onder Invloed’ with well-known Dutch publisher L.J. Veen. In the book, planned for release in January 2012, Van der Ven writes about a selection of Dutch musicians, describing their lifes and musical careers, and the experiences and people that influence their music.
Traditionals
Van der Ven likes to dig into the rich history of music, particularly the world of traditional songs. In 2009 he teamed up with In A Cabin With – a befriended Dutch recording project – to record the first Traditionals album (released: 18th April 2011), which features a lot of well know Dutch musicians. Recordings for a second album are planned in May 2011.
Mailmen Sessions
‘Onder Invloed presents The Mailmen Sessions’ is a collaboration between Onder Invloed and Utrecht-based producer Martijn Groeneveld of the Mailmen Studio. Every now and then, international bands will be invited to the Mailmen Studio to record a 5-song live set, including one cover.
Onder Invloed Bookings
Since Van der Ven’s first visit to Glasgow in March 2009, he’s gone there a lot of times and got to know many talented bands. Acts that should be playing in The Netherlands as well. That’s why he started Onder Invloed Bookings, a small booking agency focussed on these British – mainly Scottisch – acts. At the moment he’s working with The Starlets, The Seventeenth Century, Doghouse Roses, Three Blind Wolves and Ryan Joseph Burns.
Contact
Please send an email for more information, session possibilities, collaborations or anything else.
