So, I couple of weeks ago I wrote about DeLange and his track Berlin and today we go Behind the piano to get to know the person behind the track a bit better!
Whats your name?
Frank DeLange. I release music under my last name
How did you come up with your artist name?
Pretty easily 🙂 But maybe a little inspired by the fact that the Great Composers are mostly known by their last name -Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff…
Where are you from? And where do you live?
I’m Dutch and live near Amsterdam.
How long have you been playing the piano, and do you play other instruments as well?
I started not very young – I was 17 years old after having played the violin for several years. I can’t play the violin anymore, nor can I play any other instrument 🙂
Tell us about how you started playing music.Â
I grew up in a musical family. Even with a few professional musicians. My grandfather taught me the basics of the piano and music theory. Meanwhile, one of my favourite uncles played me jazz records of Oscar Peterson and Erroll Garner. Combined with the Romantic and Modern music that my parents played at home, this was the sound of my youth.
How long have you been making piano music?
As long as I’ve been playing the piano.
Tell us something about that moment you realized you could make songs yourself!
My grandfather showed me how to improvise. It was magical to find out that you can make something that didn’t exist before! Later on, I went to the conservatory to specialise in Jazz improvisation.Â
What are your favorite artists in this “piano genre”?
Yann Tiersen, Joep Beving and Philip Glass are contemporary artists I listen to. Of course the Great Legends like Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Fauré, Satie. Besides them I listen a lot to Keith Jarrett. Herbie Hancock. Bill Evans.
Is there one song which you play over and over again as soon as you sit down by a piano?
I love playing a few of the Chopin Etudes. Lately that’s the Nouvelle Etude No1 by Chopin. It is very satisfying to play it.
What rules (in making music) needs to be broken?
The assumption that there are rules. Also the fact that a musical piece has to please an audience. I mean, it poisones the creative process when you have the pleasure of a listener on your mind and in the way. Of course, there’s music that solely exists to please (I produced a lot of that too), but in this period in my life, I feel that telling a valid and true story is crucial.
How do you record your music? Yourself? In a big studio? etc.
For my new record, I recorded my own upright piano in my own living room, using my pair of vintage microphones. But I also recorded in big studios on huge Steinways -also great fun.
Whats your take on sampled instruments?
There are wonderful libraries out there. Keyscape, Ivory, Addictive Keys, CFX etc etc. The thing to watch out for, is that recordings might sound the same and miss a unique vibe. I do use it quite often to experiment with ideas and to be mobile.
The last question is asked by my 6 year old son:
Where do all your songs come from?Â
From the music fairy that visits me from time to time 🙂
Thanks for you participation Frank!
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