There are many artists whose creativity and work contribute to making Rotterdam’s music scene what it is today: colorful, diverse.Bryan van Putten is one of them!
RoSounds: Bryan, hi.
Bryan van Putten: Hi.
RoSounds: For those who don’t know you, introduce yourself.
Bryan: I’m Bryan van Putten. I’m originally from Aruba and I moved here in 2004. I’m a singer-songwriter. I write both for myself and other people.
RoSounds: So you write for other people but do you also compose?
Bryan: I do yes, upon request when someone needs music to go with lyrics for example.
RoSounds: I heard you had your own studio at home. Is that true?
Bryan: It is. I record my own music in it so I never really have to leave the house…
I’ve been recording music for 15 years now. My gear is not the latest technology but I’ve learned to mix and arrange my music myself.
RoSounds: What instrument do you play?
Bryan: I’ve played the guitar for 17 years. I started when I was 9.
RoSounds: Wow you’re a bit of a multi-tasker aren’t you?
Bryan: I guess I am.
RoSounds: Sometimes when you play live, you play covers. Why not playing your own repertoire?
Bryan: I’ve been doing since Aruba, on the side. There, hotels and restaurants have theses paid-for playlists for the tourists.
It’s fun, it pays and you’re free to do whatever you want with the songs you know, acoustic version or with the singing, as long as people recognize the songs…
RoSounds: Let’s talk about your influences.
Bryan: Off the top of my mind Caribbean, American and Spanish. In Aruba, I was playing in a band by the age of 11 and we’d play Alternative or Punk Rock, but I never had a style in particular since I also played in Metal bands, Reggae bands… Now it seems to all come together: I just do what I feel like doing.
RoSounds: That’s diversity isn’t it?
Bryan: It definitely is and I always try to incorporate that diversity when I perform live.
It’s like a ride across different ages and continents.
RoSounds: The studio, the stage, both: where does Bryan get his kick?Bryan: The stage! The thing with studio work is that, being my own sound engineer, I’m never satisfied. So I keep making changes. The studio always was a necessity which in time became a skill, but all I really just like to be on stage.
RoSounds: What are you working on at the moment?
Bryan: I’m currently working on an album called Evermore and Thereafter. It's due for release next year. I’ve been busy with this project for about a year and a half. I’ve got maybe 30 tracks, of which I have to choose about 11.
RoSounds: How are you going to choose among all these tracks you have?
Bryan: I was thinking of putting an online poll on my website.
RoSounds: Will this album be available online and on CD?
Bryan: Online for sure. If people want it on CD they’ll get it. I was also thinking of release the album on vinyl because it’s kind of cool and quite popular too.
RoSounds: Is there anything you’d like to add?
Bryan: Go to my website and like my Facebook page, please.
RoSounds: Alright, thanks Bryan.
Bryan: Thanks guys!
I honestly like Bryan’s music. It’s actually playing in the background as I’m posting this. It’s perfect for when you don’t want to work in complete silence but still need to focus: his melodies and his voice are soothing. Just click on the links above, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Photo Credits: Bryan van Putten