I am part of the Dutch Chamberchoir’s talent development programme, NKK NXT. I contributed to the project in many ways: I’m one of the eight singers, had a share in the concept, wrote new choral music for the choir, designed the marketing material and shared in the marketing tasks.
NKK NXT was tasked with one thing: create the choral performance of the future. For half a year with seven others Sem worked together on the concept. The result is “I Want To Be Like You”, a performance that blurs the line between what is real and fake by envisioning what role technology will have in the future of choral music. For the concept “Alex Inc.” was created, an AI wanting to be human, using the singers of NKK NXT 18/19 to find what it is to be truly human in a series of simulations.
NKK NXT 18/19 performed multiple times, including a sold out three-day concert series in Het Huis Utrecht and multiple festivals. For upcoming dates, check the concerts page.
Photography by Veerle Basitaanssen and Sem Hak.
De Man die afdreef op de Zee
A man wakes up on the air mattress he fell asleep on. He’s no longer on the beach – he drifts on the open sea. No land in sight. He encounters no-one, only his own fears, desires and deamons.
“De Man die afdreef op de Zee” tells the story of someone waking up in the middle ocean and is part of a three-part opera I’m writing together with Elea Bekkers. Written for chamber orchestra, one singer and an air mattress and with a playtime of around 20 minutes, this compact monodrama takes the audience on a journey through mental and phsysical heartship.
The following are excerpts from the piece, sung by Elea Bekkers.