Spinvis

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Spinvis

Background information
Origin	the Netherlands
Genre(s)	Experimental pop
Years active	2001- present
Label(s)	Excelsior Recordings
Website	Official website
Members
Erik de Jong

Spinvis is the one-man project of Erik de Jong from the Netherlands. With his experimental lo-fi music Spinvis has been an instant succes in his home country. Earning two gold records and playing sold-out tours in both the Netherlands and Belgium.

1 Biography
2 Discography

[edit] Biography

[edit] Spinvis

In 2001 Erik de Jong, or Spinvis, finally feels ready to share his music with the world. The 41 year-old had been piecing together his songs in the years before and decides to send a three song demo to esteemed Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings. Within two weeks a record deal is inked.

The label decides to keep the songs that Spinvis had recorded on his home computer. With some minor mixing touch-ups these songs comprise the debut album of Spinvis. In 2002 this self-titled record is released in the Netherlands on April 1st. The music press responds with a string of very positive reviews. The album reaches the number one position in Oor Magazine’s Moordlijst, which is an important alternative charts in the Netherlands.

Eventhough Spinvis is a one-man project, De Jong decides to take his music out on the road. Together with renowned musicians, including Toots Thielemans he plays at the Crossing Border Festival in Amsterdam. At the end of 2002, Spinvis’ song "Smalfilm" ends up second at the VPRO’s Song of the Year 2002 contest. In addition to this De Jong receives an Essent Award, a prize for breakthrough artists.

Spinvis and his ensemble complete a brief tour in early 2003. With labelmates Bauer De Jong creates a track for a 3voor12 (a Dutch music webzine) compilation. In August Spinvis moves across the Dutch borders and performs in Germany (Haldern Open Air) and Belgium (Pukkelpop). On December 1st "Nieuwegein aan Zee" is released, it contains a live registration and a number of unreleased tracks. December 17th Spinvis closes the year by performing with an orchestra in Vredenburg, Utrecht.

In early 2004 Spinvis wins two Dutch awards, the Silver Harp and the Annie M.G. Schmidt prize. In honour of the fourth edition of the Cross-Linx festival De Jong composes a musical piece that consists of three rhythmical monologues. Actrice Roos Ouwehand, opera singer Lucia Meeuwsen and actor Hans Dagelet perform the pieces together with Spinvis. For Theo van Gogh Spinvis writes the title song for the director’s television series Medea. This six-part series on current-day Dutch politics airs in the winter of 2004. In this busy year Spinvis also contributes to Claudia de Breij’s song "Nieuwbouwwijk".

[edit] Dagen van gras, dagen van stro

During music festival Noorderslag the Ringtone Society presents a website that promotes the artistic development of ringtones. Spinvis participates in this project. The song "Idee Zeventien" ('Idea Seventeen') appears on the compilation The Pet Series: Volume 4. Throughout the spring of 2005 Spinvis visits the Dutch theaters with his Lotus Europa tour. The band Solo plays as support act. In April Spinvis creates a threatrical show in which he mixes stock footage, with music and dialogue. Together with Hans Dagelet Spinvis performs the piece. On 11 September Spinvis’ performance at the Dutch Moroccan Music Experience is cancelled because the organisers oppose to the lyrics of the song "Het Mes van God" ('The Dagger of God'). The song’s lyrics are considered too sensitive as Spinvis refers to Theo van Gogh’s assassination in November of 2004. Spinvis contributes a guest performance on the album Geluiden van Weleer of at the close of every day. In November his own album Dagen van gras, dagen van stro is released. The album title is a translation of Days of Grass, Days of Straw which is a book by R.A. Lafferty from 1973. The first single of the album is Het Voordeel van Video (The Advantage of Video). In December Spinvis initiates a tour in support of the album.

The second single is Ik wil alleen maar zwemmen (I only want to swim), De Jong creates a new mix for the song and also adds a dub version to the release. The song Voor ik vergeet ('Before I forget') becomes part of Strips in Stereo. For this project visual artists draw comics based on 14 different Dutch songs. Hanco Kolk draws the graphics for Spinvis’ song. Strips in Stereo is presented in Paradiso, Amsterdam in March, in conjunction with Boekenweek 2006 (an annual ‘book week’ in the Netherlands).

[edit] JA!

Together with Meindert Talma, De Kift, at the close of every day, Andre Manuel, Mondo Leone en D’r Sjaak, Spinvis is part of the NL Impressionisten. In groups of two the artists perform for a number of months throughout the Netherlands, starting from March 18. Two days later JA! Is released, it marks the 100th Excelsior Recordings release. Spinvis recorded it with Simon Vinkenoog (a poet). Together with Arjan Witte (keys). The men play several dates in support of the album. Rotterdam, Antwerp, Groningen en Drachten are visited. Following this Spinvis and Vinkenoog waste no time and perform the show De Suikerklok (‘The Sugar Clock’). In the summer Spinvis and his band perform at Lowlands, Waterpop, Dranouter amongst other festivals.