Anne Vanschothorst, an artist with a harp, has released her newest creation, a musical piece called “Riff”, inspired by Bob Gramsma’s monument ‘Riff’. Made in collaboration with sound designer and producer Thijs de Melker, the piece delicately builds a vast landscape where one could get lost in for a pleasantly long exploration.
At the core of “RIFF”, the present is formed by pieces of past, some of them invisible and others as imposing as Gramsma’s land art sculpture. This formation of present is explored through the echoing melodies of harp creating a visual of changing landscapes, one where pieces from history create a foundation for the current moments.
Riff is the result of two reunions: a long-forgotten harp recording returning to the surface, and a renewed collaboration with producer and sound designer Thijs de Melker after many years. It also marks a personal shift: over time, I have come to think less of myself as a harpist and more as an artist with a harp, using the instrument as a starting point for exploring sound, landscape and imagination.
Anne Vanschothorst
Originally recorded as a harp solo, the instrument’s crystalline notes are joined by an undercurrent of tension and anticipation. Vastness comes from notes slowly fading into the ether, while the slowly moving melodies explore the history embedded in the landscape, as well as the undeniable and unfathomable cosmic forces behind the existence of this place. It’s beautiful, present and also distant, an energy one can never fully restrain.
The balance of matter and void in a resonant body of work reflects a landscape that, without human efforts, would be underwater. With this in mind, the watery and poignant melodies of “RIFF” carry the undertone of endless wonder as well as an understanding of forces, those that could undo everything. Yet the landscape stands today.
Anne Vanschothorst is a visionary artist whose works span recorded albums, audiovisual works, and sound installations. Currently, the artist is working on a research project, Das Harfenklangbuch, creating an explorative atlas, where the tangible, long-standing, and material meet ephemeral, transient, and spiritual.
Listen to “RIFF” now on your favourite platforms!
Remember to support this project and follow Anne Vanschothorst on SoundCloud, Apple Music, and Spotify. You can also check out her official website. If you enjoy this music and would like to provide monetary support, please visit the artist’s Bandcamp page.
You can find it in the following Playlists: Fresh Singles, Female Rising Stars, 12 New Songs This Week, Chill – Folk – Acoustic, Unknown but Essentials!, Track Of The Day, and Take It Easy.
PS If you enjoy discovering new artists and brand-new music, subscribe to this blog, Less Than 1,000 Followers, and follow the Playlist with all the artists we have presented here!
If you enjoy this track, please remember to give it a green heart on Spotify and add it to your favorite playlist. This little action saves the track on your music library and helps the artist. You know that the game’s name for us is “support”. Thank you!
FOR MORE INSTRUMENTAL TRACKS CLICK HERE
FOR MORE CLASSICAL TRACKS CLICK HERE
