REINDIER

Here is REINDIER! Take one part pop, a spoonful of electronics, a whiff of new wave, a gram of glam and an ample portion of theatre, shake asymmetrically and there it is: a new sound. Melancholic vocals, experimental instruments and confronting lyrics, that is REINDIER. The three-man band diligently appears on stage to make their audience laugh, enjoy, reflect, forget and occasionally let them shed a little, glittery tear. Step into the wonderful world of REINDIER. What does REINDIER sound like? After a long process of writing, recording, rewriting, producing and polishing, REINDIER’s debut EP is finally completed. ‘Porcelain’ is the mini-album’s title, appropriate for the band’s sound, which is powerful and fragile at the same time. The five tracks are freaky at times but always intriguing and affirm REINDIER’s versatility, ranging from the poignant song ‘Control Me’ to dreamy ‘Icarus’. The EP was released in May 2015 during an hour-long theatrical show in a sold-out Melkweg Theatre. REINDIER’s ‘Porcelain’ is available through Spotify and the iTunes Store. What is REINDIER? REINDIER musically navigates along various disciplines. The band has collaborated in film, dance and theatre projects and incorporates these art forms into their own performance. Inspired by mystical tales from children’s books or myths from classical antiquity, but also by dramatic or joyful events in everyday life, REINDIER’s band members translate their own explorations into music. During a live performance, the audience is submerged in a wondrous world of costumes, light effects and visuals, while REINDIER winds their musical way through an enchanted forest filled with fantasies and mysterious creatures. Who is REINDIER? REINDIER is the music project of musician Reinier van Harten from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He started off solo in 2013, but is now accompanied by two masked companions, Carlos and Boy. Varying guest musicians and backing vocals regularly assist the trio during live performances. Reinier van Harten (1991) is born in a picturesque village in the south of Holland. He learns to play the piano and guitar at a young age and not much later also takes up singing and songwriting. While studying at the Rock Academy in Tilburg, his first band is formed: Puppa and the Clementines, an eccentric bunch that blends theatre and music into a poppy hotchpotch. When Reinier relocates to Amsterdam, he finds new inspiration in the capital’s buzzing nightlife filled with creative creatures. He writes about accomplished ladies that pursue secret fetishes for sexual satisfaction and about drag queens that thrive in wild underground parties, yet fear setting foot into the less tolerant world outside. Reinier is also influenced by the poetic lyrics of Bob Dylan, the passionate videos of Kate Bush and the dreamy mysteries of Björk. Reinier studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and gives singing lessons on the side. In REINDIER he sings and plays the guitar, synthesizer and piano. Carlos Dalla-Fiore (1976) has worked as an animator, cameraman, sound engineer and director in the field of film, television and radio, including at the Dutch broadcaster VPRO and radio station Q-music. Besides working for Desmet Studios in Amsterdam he runs his own recording studio, Studio De Zwarte Molen, and he plays in the reggae band Bagjuice. In REINDIER, Carlos produces all tracks and during live performances he operates all electronics. Using sound effects and samples, he contributes to the music’s mystical atmosphere. He also plays the synth bass and controls the various loops that Reinier ‘stacks’ while singing. Boy van Ooijen (1991) studies drumming at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and also plays in two other bands: in Bagjuice together with Carlos and with five others in Schizoid Lloyd, an experimental prog-rock band that takes its inspiration from Pink Floyd, System Of A Down and Radiohead. Boy is not your average drummer; with his experimental style and idiosyncratic combination of acoustic and digital drums, he adds an extra layer of musical depth to the sound of REINDIER. What do the experts say? Herman Hofman (3FM): “The music is a bit strange, it’s not too easy and quite atmospheric as well, but I totally dig it. He’s such a great talent, this guy is going to make it!” 3voor12: “As soon as they strike the first notes, you can feel that this band is going to surprise. A mixture of electro, vigorous vocals, a touch of folk and solid beats make REINDIER an extraordinary and musically powerful act.” PopTition: “REINDIER is more than electronic pop music with a nice story, it is an experience. Whether they will have a hit or stay ‘alternative’, doesn’t really matter. As long as we are drawn into the wonderful world of REINDIER.” Eva van Netten (Popronde): “Young men who claim to be influenced by Bob Dylan, Kate Bush AND Björk, you don’t run into them often. REINDIER’s influences result in an extraordinary and unique sound. Add androgynous, melancholic vocals and confronting lyrics… Did we already mention that REINDIER is very special?” UUT.nl: “REINDIER is a flamboyant act and a name to look out for. Reinier van Harten and his band play fairylike electro-soul with his voice as the enchanting centrepiece.” Uitformatie.nl: “For those who like The XX, How To Dress Well and London Grammar, REINDIER is an absolute must!” Frank van der Lende (3FM): “Damn, this is insane!!” Take one part pop, a spoonful of electronics, a whiff of new wave, a gram of glam, an ample portion of theatre and shake asymmetrically | www.REINDIER.com