Future Music|August 2016

With their self-titled debut album, the Dutch duo have created a disarmingly mature concoction of joyous synth hooks and leftfield beats. Si Truss catches up with Weval as they prepare to unveil their new live show

Article Reader

 

Listening to the self-titled debut album from Weval, aka Merijn Scholte Albers and Harm Coolen, it’s hard to believe that it’s barely three years since the Amsterdam-based duo put out their first EP. Blending grandiose synth hooks with Krautrock-tinged drum lines, the album balances creativity and accessibility in a way that demonstrates a level of songwriting maturity that belies the relative infancy of the outfit behind it.

Having met through a mutual connection to filmmaking, the duo brought their disparate influences and music making backgrounds together to create their debut Half Age EP back in 2013. Its ear-catching combination of emotive synths and cinematic atmospherics caught the attention of German label Kompakt who promptly signed the duo, releasing a pair of EPs and now their debut full-length.

With the album in the bag, Albers and Coolen are now turning their attention to expanding Weval’s live show, moving beyond the standard Ableton/ controller approach with the addition of a live drummer and a looser, semi-improvisational approach. FM caught up with Weval in their rehearsal space in Utrecht, grabbing a brief moment of downtime amidst preparations for the band’s first live shows as a three-piece.

FM: When and how did the pair of you first start making music together?

Harm: “About six years ago, through a mutual friend. We were both into film and the original idea was to get together and talk about a film project. We did that project, and it was really nice to know each other, but in the meantime throughout those brainstorm sessions we showed each other some music we were working on and had a feeling we could do more together creatively. We both had different taste and a different background in terms of what we were listening to when we were young, but it was nice to do. So we did it more and more.”

Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Future Music.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra August 2016-utgaven av Future Music.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FUTURE MUSICSe alt
SONIC DESTRUCTION
Future Music

SONIC DESTRUCTION

From overdriven signal paths to rhythmic malfunctions, there’s plenty of creativity to be found by doing things just a little bit wrong

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Feed Me
Future Music

Feed Me

EDM producer Jon Gooch revives his cartoonish Feed Me moniker. Danny Turner finds out how the use of live instrumentation changed his production approach

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Exploring Akai MPC
Future Music

Exploring Akai MPC

Leo Maymind takes a detailed look at an iconic groovebox whose influence helped shape modern hip-hop and much more besides

time-read
8 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Liars
Future Music

Liars

Dissolving the contours of rock and electronics, Danny Turner charts the making of Liars’ 10th album with Angus Andrew and Laurence Pike

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Jean-Michel Jarre
Future Music

Jean-Michel Jarre

The pioneering musician who introduced generations to futuristic sounds the first time around is at it again. He joins Matt Mullen to talk experiments in VR gigging, spatial audio and more...

time-read
10 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Noise
Future Music

Noise

With roots as far back as 1913, noise is the genre that’s also a state of mind

time-read
4 mins  |
Autumn 2021
1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549
Future Music

1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549

Rob Redman finds out whether this updated sampler box of tricks contains any more surprises

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499
Future Music

Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499

Rob Redman braces himself for another resurrected blast from the past

time-read
6 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169
Future Music

Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169

Modal are back with an update to their SKULPT synth. Bruce Aisher takes a listen to see if it can rustle up a big sound

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Reason Studios Reason 12 £399
Future Music

Reason Studios Reason 12 £399

Now in both DAW and plugin realms, Reason gains a sampler and refreshed Combinator. Si Truss investigates

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021