INTERVIEW: EAST-97: Turning Darkness Into Day
For Nijmegen-based singer, songwriter and vocalist Marten Osterhaven, EAST-97 is a new chapter built around emotion, energy and the
For Nijmegen-based singer, songwriter and vocalist Marten Osterhaven, EAST-97 is a new chapter built around emotion, energy and the unique storytelling power of electronic music. Following his collaboration with Corren Cavini on ‘Darkness Into Day’, Osterhaven opens up about their friendship dating back to Tilburg’s Rockacademie, finding his voice within the dance music world, and the importance of letting feeling lead the creative process.
With a number of upcoming releases already in the works, EAST-97 is quickly establishing itself as a project focused on capturing those fleeting moments that can transform a production — and ultimately, a dancefloor.
‘Darkness Into Day’ sees you collaborate with Corren Cavini on a powerful blend of emotive vocals, melodies and club-ready energy. How did the collaboration come about, and what drew you to the track?
I’ve known Corren since our studies in Tilburg, the “Rockacademie”; a music school for musicians, artists and so forth. We quickly became friends and we’ve been keeping tabs on our music ever since. I’ve known Corren to be an incredibly powerful producer and I’ve wanted to do a track with him, as either a singer or a songwriter. This track to me is an embodiment of his top-level production, but the raw energy of it all is what really drew me in to start writing some bits and pieces. In the end we figured it out together, and I’m really of proud of that!
The track moves between darkness and uplift, both musically and emotionally. What does the title ‘Darkness Into Day’ mean to you personally?
To me ‘Darkness Into Day’ means turning something grey into something colourful, something broken into something powerful, it’s the change I guess. I’m a very optimistic and positive driven guy, but in this world of today it’s sometimes very easy to lose faith in everything around us. This track just reminded me of the power of change, and to keep believing that it will all work out someday.
EAST-97 is a newly launched project, while you already have experience as a singer-songwriter. What inspired you to create EAST-97, and what does the project allow you to explore that perhaps you couldn’t before?
I’ve been in love with music for as long as I can remember. It started with the piano, then came the songs. I started singing and professionally writing and it’s been such a blast to figure out songs and storytelling within songs. I love the puzzle that’s songwriting, but to me in dance music the puzzle is more of finding the right energy. Creating a moment in a production, that then turns into a song, that gets into a one, maybe two hours set; and then captivates the audience and sways the whole energy in the room. As EAST-97 I can explore this energy, I can try to catch a feeling somewhere in a production and turn it into a moment on the dance floor. That to me is so cool.
You’re from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, a country with such a rich electronic music culture. How has that environment influenced your relationship with dance music and your development as an artist?
The electronic music culture here in the Netherlands is incredible, we’ve got some of the best producers/DJ’s in the world. Our festival culture and the incredible music-show’s we have year round is amazing, and I really hope that’s something that sticks around. But I’m still developing my relationship with dance music, it’s all relatively new to me. What I love about it is, at least with the producers I’m working with, it’s very feelings based. Don’t get me wrong, the skills these producers have are incredible, but productions usually start from a feeling. For this project, EAST-97, I want to embody this. Just let the words and melodies flow and then the music will follow.
As a vocalist and songwriter working within electronic music, how do you approach writing for a dancefloor compared with writing a more traditional song?
I think I’ve said it a little before, but just letting your feelings take over and not think about it too much. Productions most of the time are like 6 minutes, and there’s always a couple of different sections. Traditional songs nowadays have to be so fast, I feel like it has to be clever line after clever line whereas with dance music it’s quite the opposite. You’re treating people to a certain kind of energy and you can’t fast-track that. Obviously I will treat the lyrics and melodies with the same dedication that I would in a more traditional song, but I think overall I tend to listen to my feelings a little more with writing dance music.
You’ve said that you’re always looking for new ways to use your skillset and learn from your peers. What have you learned from working with Corren Cavini that you’ll take into your future work?
Oh man, Corren has so many great features that make him into the artist he is today. The way he designs his sound, altering and always tweaking synth’s, vocals, samples; it turns his productions into something very rich. It’s full of beautiful layers, very well mixed and blended together, not many people can do what he does. But I think his dedication to perfection in his work is what I admire the most about him. Always in search of something to improve, always keeping his ears and eyes open for new ideas, yet staying true to himself. I think that’s really cool and will definitely get him to where he wants to be.
With EAST-97 still being a new project, what are you hoping listeners understand about you and your sound through ‘Darkness Into Day’?
I really hope they can connect to the sound of my voice! It’s very real, it’s who I am as a singer and I will always sing the songs the way I feel them. This song in particular is very hopeful, very energetic and I’m really proud of how the vocal came to be. Huge shout out to Corren of course, for giving my vocal a chance.
Looking ahead, what can we expect from EAST-97 — are there particular sounds, collaborators or directions you’re excited to explore next?
I’ve got a couple of releases coming up with DALÛ as EAST-97, which I’m really excited for. I would love to do more work with Corren and I’m confident in the future we will do sessions and create more magic together.
