Genauso gerne wie Eventreportagen mache ich Künstlerportraits.
John van Deusen war lange Jahre Frontmann von “The Lonely Forest” aus Anacortes in Washington. Nach Ende der sehr erfolgreichen Indie-Band, die auch mit Death Cab for Cutie getourt ist, beschloss er solo weiterzumachen. Also nahm er mit Freunden einen Haufen Lieder auf, die jetzt sukzessive beim Label Devilduck Records veröffentlicht werden. Nachdem John ein Konzert in unserem Studio/Wohnzimmer gespielt hat, traf ich mich mit ihm am nächsten Tag in Schloss Röhrsdorf. Hier machte ich einige Portraits für seine geplanten Publikationen (Pressefotos, CD-Cover, social media, Tourplakat/Flyer). Ein junger und sehr sympathischer Ausnahme-Songwriter, dessen Texte über Glauben, Zweifel und Depressionen mich schon immer sehr berührt haben.
Hier geht es übrigens zu mehr Künstlerportraits.
English Info:
Though Van Deusen’s music may be reasonably accessible, he is nonetheless difficult to pin down. His artistic upbringing is rooted in the DIY scene of Anacortes, Washington but equally shaped by his simultaneous love for pop songs with big hooks. Though he sings about his faith, Van Deusen explores issues of doubt, depression and suicide with as much earnestness. The feedback and the noise — both sonic and emotional — might not always reach a solid conclusion; it’s still always cathartic and gripping.
John Van Deusen is an artist of contradictions. The first seeds of these contradictions were planted in his early career as frontman and primary songwriter for The Lonely Forest (Trans/Atlantic Records). The Lonely Forest saw Van Deusen first blend unabashedly heart-on-the-sleeve songwriting with propulsive indie rock, quickly leading to heavy national touring in support of bands such as Death Cab For Cutie and Portugal the Man. His band also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and was voted NPR’s Best New Artist in 2011. Though his songs from this era were “radio-ready” and earned Van Deusen support from KEXP, Alt-Nation and 107.7 The End (KNDD Seattle), his emotional vulnerability lent an uncanny quality that made him hard to define. This quality was amplified further in John Van Deusen’s subsequent solo work, as he began to wrestle openly in his lyrics with his complicated relationship to faith.