When there is something you are destined to do, it finds a way to sneak into your life. Such is the story of Dutch pianist and composer Joep Beving.
Beving was initially accepted into the conservatoire to pursue his musical aspirations, but they were snatched from him by a repetitive strain injury.Beving toiled away in advertising for the next two decades, until he began tinkering, recording his 2015 debut album 'Solipsism' for those close to him. Enter destiny, and the power of the internet, which shot Beving to overnight success.
Now 700 million streams on Spotify alone paint a picture of a fate that was always waiting for Beving, waiting as gently as he strikes the keys. Beving will tour Australia later this month including performances at Illuminate Adelaide and Open Frame in Brisbane, curating an intricate show.
He will perform from his latest album 'Hermetism' accompanied by two visual installations created in collaboration with audio-visual artists Boris Acket, Merijn Versnel and Roxanne Percobic. The show will explore how the process of change can result in something beautiful, and how experience can be transformative.
Let's start at the beginning. What was the first song that you became obsessed with playing?
That is probably either 'Where Is My Mind?' by the Pixies or 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.
Your grandmother left you her piano when she passed, which is beautiful. Do you believe instruments can embody the energy of their players, and if so, do you believe a piece of your grandmother's playing influences and is contained within your own compositions?
What a beautiful question. I definitely think that instruments form with their players, and vice versa.
I would like to think that some of my grandmother's intentions where left in the piano and that through it I somehow get to connect with her, but having her beautiful instrument in my studio serves as a constant reminder of her anyhow.
When you think about how you played when you were a teenager and how you play now, how do you think young Joep would feel playing your compositions? Would he approach them differently?
I was very impatient as a younger player. I remember vividly that my teacher would challenge me to play slower and softer.
It took me many years of playing and not playing at all to get to the point where I am now where these traits are what characterises my music and performances. I would be very curious to know whether my younger me would have actually taken a liking in the music at all.
When 'Solipsism' became so successful, was it an unexpected change in your life's direction or did you somehow feel you would always end up where you are?
This was very unexpected, yet I did always feel this urge to create music.
When I finally made my first album at the age of 38, all of a sudden I was given the prospect of dedicating the rest of my life to music, which I think is what I always dreamt of. Now almost ten years later I feel very grateful that this has happened and that I get to talk to my piano instead of my boss everyday.
You have collaborated with some amazing audio-visual artists for the 'Hermetism' show, which you perform as part of the Open Frame festival in Brisbane. Why did you select Boris Acket and Merijn Versnel for this project?
Boris and I had worked together before. We became friends and even share our management. We have a similar way of approaching our work and have a lot of mutual interests that inspire us in our work.
I love his talent for conceptual thinking and creatively translating this into scenographies that often benefit from strong research and development. With Merijn Versnel, he has an incredibly creative engineering partner that helps to turn his dreams into reality.
What can attendees expect from this live show you're touring?
It is a solo piano recital type show. We have taken inspiration from open-eye meditation in designing the light installation. The choreography underlines and amplifies the music and makes the thematic of my last solo piano album 'Hermetism' more palpable. I will be performing pieces from that album as well as songs from previous ones.
'Hermetism' means the change in form, nature or substance to something beautiful. Where have you seen this in the areas of your own life?
My garden. My children. My kitchen. ;)
If all art was suddenly removed from the world, how quickly do you think humanity would descend into madness?
This would be devastating. Art brings beauty into the world and beauty is truth.
Through art we get to connect to each other on a spiritual level. It can show us who we really are. In times of fragmentation and polarisation, it is essential that we have art and stories that can help build the bridges between us.
What are you most looking forward to about coming to Australia?
Some sun (even though I know it's winter down under). The people. The food.
Anything else you'd like to add before we say goodbye?
Nope. Just thank you for asking me questions!
Joep Beving 2024 Tour Dates
Thu 18 Jul - Illuminate Adelaide @ Her Majesty's TheatreSat 20 Jul - Open Frame @ Brisbane Powerhouse
Mon 22 Jul - Sydney Opera House
Wed 24 Jul - Canberra Theatre Centre
Fri 26 Jul - Melbourne Recital Centre
