The Gentle Power of Sixteen Drummers
Imagine this: as a seven-year-old boy, you join the local marching band in Makkum. Over forty years later, you’ve traveled the world as a musician and singer with your own repertoire, putting Frisian and multilingualism on the map. So, what do you do when you return to Makkum? Exactly — you head into a church with that same marching band to record an album together. That’s precisely what Zea, aka Arnold de Boer, was busy with this past spring. At our festival, he presents his third Frisian-language album, titled In lichem fol beloften (A Body Full of Promises).
For those wondering: yes, the sixteen percussionists of Drumband Hallelujah Makkum will join him on stage (including Arnold’s own father, now 81 years old!). Also joining are clarinetist Xavier Charles, cellist Harald Austbø, and drummer Ineke Duivenvoorde, with whom Zea already gave a spellbinding preview of his latest brainchild at Oerol.
In the world of Zea, everything is connected — events, places, music, language, lyrics, and visuals come together in a magical way. De Boer’s Frisian lyrics are poetic; they often provide a beautiful counterpoint and follow their own path along the edges of the music. Goosebumps guaranteed.
In lichem fol beloften will be released on November 7, available on LP, CD, digitally, and as an 80-page book. The release is a collaboration between Makkum Records and Subroutine (MR44 / SR134), in partnership with Explore the North and Popfabryk.
