August 11, 2012

When it was VeneneuM

VenenuM is finally taking form… since this personal project was founded in 2004 it has been very difficult to develop it, but maybe it was better that way, because now I have another perspective about music, musicians and about waiting and time. Time makes everything grow, no matter if something takes a bit of time, in the end what matters is to do it right.

Thanks to My Space and thanks to chance, I found the right people to create and re-make. Because the first three VenenuM’s tracks are re-makes but with a total different music direction. If you listen to the original tracks and the new ones, it’s barely noticeable that those are the same. Oh and by the way, the composition process continues, with a very experimental intention, with unedited and very, very personal songs.

The original tracks are “Whine”, “Quaerens Quem Devoret” and “Kein Schmerz”. The first two are compositions from Horus, band in which I sang and wrote the lyrics in 2003. I never had the opportunity to record them myself because I decided to leave the band. “Kein Schmerz” is original from VenenuM, composed in 2004.

For this musical process I counted with the support of Andrés Silva and Juan Robles (Dark Angeluz), keyboard player and drummer who I already knew from Spiritual Ashes, Ruben Restrepo’s personal project in which I sang and composed the lyrics. From the beginning I was sure that the way Silva and Robles compose and execute their instruments was going to be perfect for VenenuM.

Andrés Silva, keyboards and bass

Juan Robles (Dark Angeluz),drums

Daniel Díaz Ordoñez recorded the acoustic and electric guitars.

Who I met from the dutch lessons here in Antwerp, and it was very funny and interesting to find in this country a fellow countryman that shares this passion for music.

Janina Stork, my first German teacher, witness at my marriage, and dear friend recorded the spoken voices for “Kein Schmerz”.

She came to Antwerp for a week in march to visit us.

I got the idea that she could narrate two lines of the “Nibelungenlied” that I used in the lyrics to give an antique touch to the song,

and who better than her to give this German touch.She used to sing in the local opera in Eutin, Germany.

I appreciate her very much and she has of course, a very beautiful soprano tessiture.

Erik Vochten, my dear husband was the bass register that I needed to give a deep and dark taste. I wanted to have his voice in one of my songs for a long time ago, but we could not do it until this year. So this is a very special personal effect for me and I have a lot to be grateful for.

The editing in mixing process has begun, that is something for Hamlet… you will know more about him very soon, when the tracks are already edited.

Isabel Cristina Restrepo, lead voice, sitar and lyrics

Thanks to all of them for their great work and support. Thanks also to Caroline Smith for her beautiful acoustic guitar.

To make music a personal way to grow up, is the most exciting thing on earth… nothing compares to that and that’s why I am very grateful. Without these musicians it would be more difficult, Not impossible, but anyway, the group work is a cooperative way to learn. I also love to learn.

The drum session of “Quarens Quem Devoret” and “Whine” was recorded in Anhell Studios, Madrid – Spain.