Under the Surface

After 9 years, an album, film, and book capturing the magic of the band in various ways.

Under The Surface
On May 21, 2015, drummer Joost Lijbaart, guitarist Bram Stadhouders, and vocalist Sanne Rambags played their first concert in Breda. What started as an experi- ment quickly grew into a band that stormed the world. In the 9 years since their first meeting, the group has played more than 250 concerts in 30 countries. Now they look back on the formation of the band and try to capture the magic that arises every time Under the Sur- face comes together. On July 17, a book and film about the band will be released, and on July 18, the CD with the band’s very first recordings will be released. During their latest album ‘Miin Triiuwa,’ the band was already searching for their own history and discovered their own folk by creating beautiful songs based on Old Dutch texts. Through a book, film, and album, they now tell the story of the band and the elusive magic that has been there from the beginning.

The Film
The short film ‘Under the Surface’ tells the story of three individuals who have found each other in their shared quest for adventure and universal truths. The film of- fers insight into the motivations and visions of the band members and Under the Surface as a whole, posing the question; what is our purpose here on Earth? The stories are depicted in a beautiful artistic way by the British duo David Lam and Hannah Thompson of ON Studios in the UK, who created the film, providing imagery for normally elusive feelings and magic. Watch the short film here.

The Book
In 2020, the group started a collaboration with the wor- ld-famous illustrator Mark Wilkinson (known for his work for Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, The Beatles, and many others) who, through his designs, knows how to depict the atmosphere of the band.
The 100-page art book about Under the Surface gives an even deeper look into the soul of the group. Through diary fragments, photos, and collages, you get to know the multiple layers that form Under the Surface. The reader also gets a behind-the-scenes look at the many worldwide tours over the past 9 years. What happened during the countless tours? What development did the group go through? And what does the future hold? It is a book about reflection, making visible what is often invisible, and looking ahead to the future.

The Album
Six months after their first meeting, Under the Surface recorded a first series of pieces as an experiment at the Music Building of the Broadcaster (MCO) in Hilversum. Magic happened that evening; the three musicians seemed to understand each other almost effortlessly. It was after this evening that Sanne Rambags, Joost Lijbaart, and Bram Stadhouders decided to give improvised concerts together under the name Under the Surface. The improvisations recorded by the band at that time have never been released before but still showcase Under theSurface, even now, 9 years later, in its purest form.

Sanne Rambags - vocals
Bram Stadhouders - guitar
Joost Lijbaart - drums
Nathan Wouters - bass
Annabel Laura - guitar / vocals / percussion/ lyra / keyboard