Ledenconcert Ties Mellema

Ties Mellema is releasing his new solo album EN DOOR: harder and more electronic than before, with wide synths, sub-bass and self-programmed drums. He plays all the saxophones himself. Minimal music also plays a major role, alongside classical music, jazz, funk and pop, other lasting sources of inspiration. All these styles, and even different musical cultures, come together on this record. It is exactly this kind of coming together that he would like to see in society as well.

For years, Ties learned the language of classical music. Once he knew it well, he became freer. EN DOOR is the album on which he asks himself whether this is allowed, and discovers that everything is.

Press Release is minimalist, with idiosyncratic rhythms. passing trains, the opening track, has Steve Reich-like lines for soprano saxophone. KIPPENPOTEN is an arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Baba Yaga, a piece Ties played at the age of ten with a saxophone orchestra, and which he already heard as dance music back then.

The album continues where Ties began with PEAX, but electronic music plays a bigger role: further processed saxophones, wide synths and sub-bass, and self-programmed drums. The piece EN DOOR, which gives the album its name, was written on commission from the Harp Festival Utrecht, shortly after he stopped with PEAX. It is about having to keep going, wanting to keep going, and no longer being able to stop once you start making your own music this way: a heartbeat with forward momentum. Create while there is still time, play while you can, and keep moving forward.

At this release concert at Splendor, bassoonist Bram van Sambeek and bassist Ping-En Hung join him. They play works by Sofia Gubaidulina and Joris Roelofs, alongside arrangements of the new material. The concert also gives a first glimpse of the direction Ties is heading in next.

The whole album will be presented during the concert, on streaming, CD and in the luxury vinyl edition: a limited edition in gatefold on 180 gram vinyl, with photographic artwork by Stephan Keppel. In mid-December there is a pre-release on Bandcamp. Subscribe to Ties Mellema’s newsletter to stay up to date: https://tiesmellema.com/contact

Ties Mellema, saxophones & electronics,
Bram van Sambeek, bassoon
Ping-En Hung, bass guitar

Photos: Rafal Nowicki & Boris Peters

Member concert
Splendor can only be the independent and free hub that it is, thanks to the members who support us. We pay them back with our specialty: music. Every year, all Splendor musicians play one concert that's free for this crucial group to whom Splendor owes its everyday existence. Combined with many other events, this means that our members have free entrance to over 50 concerts a year for €9,99 p/m (and €4,99 p/m for minima and students!) – and receive a discount for all other concerts. Pretty good deal, right?

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