Wim Mertens

Wim Mertens started his career in 1980 after working as a musicologist and radio producer. His first release 'For Amusement Only' consists only of the sound of pinball machines.

This album was followed by 'At Home-Not at Home' (1981), 'Vergessen' (1982), 'Struggle for Pleasure' (1983) and 'Maximizing the Audience' in 1984.
Over the past 45 years Mertens developed his musical output into a carefully crafted personal language, writing for different ensembles. He has also composed for vocals and for symphonic orchestra.

Today Mertens has more than 70 albums to his name, the music which he regularly performs live throughout Europe, North and Central America, Japan, Thailand and Russia.

In 2019, he released the album 'Inescapable', a limited-edition box set that provides an overview of four decades of composition (1980-2020).

This release was followed by 'The Gaze of the West' (2020), 'Heroides' (2022), 'Voice of the Living' (2023) and 'Ranges of Robustness' (2024).

In his new opus 'Ranges of Robustness', Mertens explores the numerous forms and degrees of the notion of 'robustness’.
In only nine compositions all-or at least many-variants are presented “in the way that our time requires”, in the words of the composer.
The contemporary symphonic approach is in line with today's robust challenges. The first single 'Polytics' was released on May 3, 2024.

The following year, As Water is to Fish considered the relationship between fish and water. Do they need a name for it? If a fish cried would we even notice?
The new piano solo album 'Ma Soeur Masculin' has been released on September 11.

The live experience
Wim Mertens regularly performs with different settings and ensembles: solo piano, duo (violin or trumpet, piano), trio (violin or trumpet, cello, piano) and also with a symphony orchestra.
After a series of shows in Greece, one reviewer wrote, “Intimate yet gripping, he reaffirmed the value of listening—and the audience followed. One of the most powerful musical moments of 2025.”

www.wimmertens.com