"There is a boy, who wants to be seen." This sentence is the essence at the beginning of the third and final single "Beast" from Max Berend's new EP "She, the Sea". The Swiss-based singer- songwriter with Dutch roots questions his own "self-evident belonging" and addresses the topic of "inclusion" not only in his songs, but directly on stage with the Tabula Musica Orchestra.
"All people want to be seen and heard," says Max Berend. This was the origin of the creation of the EP "She, the Sea". Because he observed in himself how often he looked for people and places to feel like he belonged, but did not find them, because he did not present himself for who he really is. Society often socializes us to strive for what we consider "normal" in life, based on metrics that no individual truly understands. This fosters a culture in which we often confuse acceptance with belonging, causing us to erect internal emotional barriers against each other that perpetuate conditions in which we hide parts of ourselves. This self-reflection is what he captures in the single "Beast," which aims to point out: We can all create belonging when we confront our own inner beast to come together as humanity through inclusion.
Berend learned this even before his music career began, during his time at the organization Blindspot, where he worked as part of an inclusive team with people with and without impairments on equal footing. It was clear to him even in the early days of his music that his debut album Plattentaufe had to be in the inclusive cultural venue Provisorium46, and his first festival had to be the Wildwuchs Festival in Basel.
He continues with this attitude, and found a strong partner in the inclusive Tabula Musica Orchestra, which with him and his band bring the songs of the new EP 'She, the Sea' to the stage. Founded in 2017, Tabula Musica Orchestra consists of musicians with and without disabilities, and is trained to play in a professional environment. Over the last few years, Tabula Musica has collaborated with artists such as Lo & Leduc, Jeans for Jeans and the Symphony Orchestra Biel Solothurn (TOBS).
She, the Sea Tour
On the "She, the Sea Tour" through Switzerland, Max Berend and the Tabula Musica Orchestra will play three concerts at three selected and accessible locations. The performances are planned with sign language interpreters. They want to be where the "mainstream" can be found, in order to demonstrate: Together we can live inclusion and create participation and belonging naturally - no matter what background, gender, skin color, religion or whether with or without impairment someone might have. The beginning of this journey starts with opening up, and ends with listening.
credits
released March 31, 2023
Music: Max Berend de Boer, Bettina Hummler & Daniël van der Duim
Lyrics: Max Berend de Boer
Production: Daniël van der Duim
Mix: Mark van Bruggen
Master: Robin Schmidt
Studio Sound Engineer: André Mastronardi
Vocal: Max Berend de Boer
Piano: Daniël van der Duim
Guitars: Simon Leferink
Bass: Alan Tucci
Drums: Andri Hürlemann
Backing Vocals: Sara di Caro, Nina Valotti, Daniela Moser, Malin Heiniger
Art Work: Maximilian Lederer
His music captures his inner world with warm guitar sounds, dreamy synths, a cold melodious piano, a raw sandy voice and
honest pictorial lines about life. Sometimes he shares his inner world in a soft and easy manner, sometimes rough and brutally direct. But always in a stirring way to feel comfortable with. A world, which sometimes also can act like a mirror for the listener....more
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