Ton Scherpenzeel
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Interviews
Forum Description: Original interviews with Prog artists (which are exclusive to Prog Archives)
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78572
Printed Date: December 23 2024 at 01:06
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Topic: Ton Scherpenzeel
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: Ton Scherpenzeel
Date Posted: May 25 2011 at 14:37
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Ton Scherpenzeel is commonly known because of his work as keyboardist, composer, producer, arranger and lyricist for Dutch 'prog-art' rockband Kayak. He began Kayak in 1968 in Hilversun, Netherlands and many aspects of their sound was not that disimilar to Supertramp or Alan Parsons Project.In 1980 they disbanded and Ton Schepenzeel worked with Camel, guesting on the Pressure Points Live album in 1984, credited on Stationary Traveller, and Dust & Dreams in 1991. I got in touch with him and he patiently answered my many questions. #############################################################################
You have a background from both Kayak
and Camel. Which albums did you take part in and have you also been
involved in any other bands and/or albums ?
All Kayak albums and several Camel
albums: Stationary Traveller, Pressure Points (live), Rajaz, Dust and
Dreams.
I have been involved in many other
albums and bands. See my http://www.tonscherpenzeel.nl/bio.html" rel="nofollow - (even in Dutch if you can
read the titles.
How was the music scene in your area when you started ? I grew up in a town called Hilversum
(known for Dutch radio and TV) where not much happened, not like
Amsterdam or the Hague. A few local bands, some had a little national
fame.  Over to your three albums. Your debut album was Le Carnival Des Animaux from 1978. Please tell us more about this album. I have studied double bass (classical)
and once played the original work from Saint Saens during my studies
at the music academy. I thought it would be nice to do a modern
interpredation. I liked doing it, but I can not bear to listen to it
anymore.  Your second album was Heart Of The Universe from 1984. Please tell us more about this album. Kayak had broken up, and the band after
that, called Europe (not the Swedish band) stopped within one year. I
was lucky to be able to make a solo album so I could still record my
songs. It is mainly synthesizer, half vocal, half instrumetal. I met
singer Chris Rainbow during the recordings of the Camel album
Stationary Traveller in London and really liked his voice so I asked
him to do the vocals.
 Your third and most recent album was Virgin Grounds from 1991. Please tell us more about this album. That was originally a music score for a
TV series, called Conquer The Arctic. It was a contest between teams
in Northern Norway, with lots of ice, snow and cold. I decided to
release it as an album. Officially it's underthe name Orion. I had
problems with the record company that released it but they never gave
me a contract. I think 12 copies has been sold so they really are
collector's items. Again, it's lots of synthesizer, this time no
vocals. It is mainly atmospheric, background music.
For those of us unknown with your music; how would you describe the music on these three albums and which bands would you compare yourself with ? That's for other people to say. I
consider myself as a composer/writer first. And my work has been
quite eclectic the last 25 years. My solo albums have been, till now,
only side products and are not really representative for what I do.
Your albums is rumoured to be unavailable. Please update us on this. What is the availability of your albums and do you have any plans to make them available again ? Carnaval Des Animaux can be ordered on
demand (Fonos.nl). Heart Of The Universe can be found and purchased
at http://www.KAYAKONLINE.BIEDMEER.NL/" rel="nofollow - ,
our own webshop. But only a few copies are left now. I am not sure if
it will be repressed again. Virgin Grounds is not available anymore.
You have been both observing the music scene for the last forty years and been a part of it. What is in your view the future of the music scene and the music industry ? I don't know. There'll always be music
and so there will also be an industry. But lots of things has changed
for the worse. Obviously, the CD sales are so low, it's almost
becoming a hobby to make one nowadays. Unfortunately, playing live
does not completely make up for the loss of income. Many people sort
of expect to get your work for free. The good thing is, it is forcing
the industry and musicians to become inventive. We'll see what
happens.
Virgin Grounds was released 20 years ago. I have noticed you have a website, but Dutch is a language I do not speak. So in English; what have you been up to since 1991, what is the latest news and what is your plans for the future ? I have been writing lots and lots of
music for Dutch theatre (ballet, youth and family, musicals) and
since 1984 I am the composer/pianist of one of Holland's most popular
cabaret performers called Youp Van't Hek. Dutch cabaret (for lack of
a better word) is something between stand up comedians and singing
story tellers. I do a lot of live tours with him. Much can be seen on
Yotube and of course, since 1999 Kayak reunited and we released more
albums in the past decade than we did in the 1970s.
To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview ? Yes. I'd like to bring Kayak's new
album Anywhere But Here to your attention. It will be released in
September. Thank you to Ton Scherpenzeel for this interview His PA profile is http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5918" rel="nofollow - and his homepage is http://www.tonscherpenzeel.nl" rel="nofollow -
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Replies:
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: December 06 2011 at 22:17
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Curious that this interview passed unnoticed, since he is already a legendary musician in the progressive rock scene. Thanks for the interview Torodd. ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: December 07 2011 at 01:59
| Yes, I didn't see it either. Thanks, Torodd. |