It's always special to share a debut release and this is no exception. Although he has been around for years as the acclaimed drummer for bands like Nordmann and Hypochristmutreefuzz, 'Kaiku' is Elias' solo debut. This compelling and remarkable 5 track EP is out today on digital or limited blue 12". Take a deep dive.
Belgian drummer and songwriter Elias Devoldere has been playing clubs and festivals across Europe with several prominent bands (Nordmann, Sumi, Hypochristmutreefuzz, John Ghost, Hast…) for the past ten years. He was also invited to create soundtracks for dance performances and theatre quite often, which in hindsight turns out to be the starting point (and inspiration) for his solo debut.
In Nordmann, Sumi and Hypochristmutreefuzz, Elias already had a fair share of the writing and arrangement credits. He mainly gets his energy from creating music together and never settles for the supporting role that is often reserved for drummers. Therefore it was just only a matter of time before he would be sharing his own ‘solo’ music with us. While working on a dance performance in Finland (2018), the first sketches for Elias' debut ‘Kaiku’ emerged: well-crafted songs, sung with a longing, melancholic voice, driven by Elias’ sumptuous drumming. Volatile chord progressions create this enticing yet sinister soundscape ... as if Wim Wenders were directing an episode of The Bridge.
For this project, unpretentiously named Elias, Devoldere composes music that is intuitive, personal and highly visual. Elias' approach is cinematic, he’s always on the lookout for images that move him, but instead of capturing them on photo or video, he turns these pictures into music. Like a poet playing with words to describe the inexplicable, Elias becomes the movie director who sculpts through music.
This time Devoldere wrote all of the music and lyrics - yep, the drummer’s also a singer - and played nearly all instruments on the album. No compromises on ‘Kaiku’. This time, all we hear is Elias Devoldere himself, raw and pure.
For the live band however, Elias put together a dream team, an eclectic mix of Belgium's finest: Dries Geusens (Nordmann), Cyriel Vandenabeele (Sumi) and Jesse Maes (Sophia, Hypochristmutreefuzz, Mooneye) will join him on stage. Moreover, this live band will interpret rather than reproduce. The 5 songs on "Kaiku" are not a final destination, but the mere starting point for an adventurous trip.