Bart, Noortje, and Lucas take their audience on a musical adventure at Hedon Zwolle
- Music
Noorderlicht - this is the name of the musical trio of fourth-year Music in Education students Bart, Lucas, and Noortje. They have spent the past two years working on their debut album. As part of their final exam, they will present it to their audience on the 13th of June at Hedon in Zwolle. The album, which they describe as a vibrant mix of pop, funk, melancholy, and even gospel, tells the story of the journey they have undertaken during their studies. Both personally and as musicians, they have experienced significant growth, and this record reflects that. “We really invite our audience to step into our boat and sail along with us”, Noortje says.
They have organised this production in entirely by themselves; from recording and mixing the album to arranging for a 17-piece live ensemble. Selling tickets and handling all logistical challenges are also part of the process. “That is something where I see the added value of the teacher training course. I have learned how to lead and bring structure to chaos. Something you can apply in the classroom, but also in a large stage production like ours”, explains Lucas.
Since 2022, Noortje, Lucas, and Bart have formed Noorderlicht. They met during their Music in Education course at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle. Both Bart and Noortje wanted to start a band with pianist Lucas, who then brought the trio together. In a short time, their friendship has grown immensely, with music being their unifying factor. “Running a band together can be quite challenging. Besides making and writing music, there's a lot to organise, such as logistics and marketing. Essentially, you operate like a small business. What many businesses lack, and what we have, is the ability to always reconnect through making music, even if we sometimes disagree. That's where our connection and strength lie, and I think that’s what makes our music strong. It's really about our shared journey through ups and downs”, explains Lucas.
During this concert, we can showcase how we have grown as musicians, as well as our leadership and organisational skills that come with being an educator.
“Being part of this band is incredibly valuable to me”, says guitarist Bart. “You quickly gain a lot of different experiences. You're constantly facing challenges, and you solve them together. For instance, I had never mixed an album before, but I really wanted to do it for our record. Like a sponge, I absorbed as much knowledge as possible, and eventually, I succeeded. Koen Gardebroek the mastered the whole album.”
“Songwriting happens very organically. Sometimes I come up with a vocal line at home, and other times someone else brings a few chords to rehearsal. We work it out together in the end. Our first single, 'Stuck in the Moment', was written from scratch during a writing camp at Bart's parents' holiday cottage. We are not bound to a specific genre; our repertoire is a vibrant mix of pop, indie, funk, and even a bit of gospel. Now that we've been playing together for a while, a unique, recognisable sound has emerged”, says Noortje.
Graduation
“Our time at the ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle has flown by. Our final exam was approaching, and we decided together that the release show of our album should also be our final exam production. That’s why we’re going all out for this show with a 17-piece ensemble and a one-and-a-half-hour production with a theatrical character. During this concert, we can showcase how we have grown as musicians, as well as our leadership and organisational skills that come with being an educator. What the audience will see is an interdisciplinary collaboration of various students and alumni from ArtEZ. The choir, arrangements for a large ensemble, and help with directing the show: thanks to the network we’ve built within ArtEZ, we have easy access to many talented people. We receive support from students of the Artisteducator in Theatre & Media course and, of course, from other conservatory programmes like Jazz & Pop and Classical Music”, says Lucas.
Future
For Bart and Noortje, their journey at the conservatory is not yet over. They will continue their studies at the MediaMusic and Pop Academy at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede. Lucas will start teaching, and together they will continue Noorderlicht. Are you curious about their music and the final exam production they will perform on 13 June at the Hedon pop venue in Zwolle? Then quickly order your tickets via www.noorderlichtband.nl.
