Ranked as “ambitious [and] delightful” by The Guardian UK, the Dutch singer/songwriter Kim Janssen was born in the Netherlands, but he spent most of his life in Asia, where he was also raised. Besides being a member of The Black Atlantic pop group, he has turned his attentions to a solo career. So, after coming a long way through his musical lifework, Kim is preparing to launch his new pop album named “Cousins” this March.
The new album represents the personal journey of the singer and reflects the stories filled with success and drama that the artist encountered during his life. With the help of Dutch graphic designer, Nick Liefhebber, fans can ‘see’ how the sound of “Cousins” album looks like, through beautiful images and vibrant luxurious packaging – specifically designed for the CD and Vinyl covers of the current LP.
Portraying a voyage through “spiritual doubt, dedication, and obsession,” these exquisite sounds that make up the new album define the singer’s personal life, from childhood moments to adulthood.
Previously, Kim released other musical albums, like “The Truth Is, I Am Always Responsible” (2009) launched with the help of Volkoren records. Later, in his sophomore year, the artist released a couple more albums in collaboration with Snowstar Records: Ancient Crime (2012) and The Lonely Mountains (2013).
Since words and sounds have a very strong connection, the designer of the album cover decided to use this in his advantage, conceptualizing a customized view of the letters, so that they fit with the melody line. Even though the project is based on a sketch consisting only of words, everything was born from a picture of a city, which, although misty, is full of stories. In fact, even the colors used in the project are closely linked to this image.
Kim’s new album contains discrete ballads and maximalist pop music explosions, recalling his experiences during his time spent in Asia. Snowstar describes the new record as “swinging in tone from dark to blinding technicolor, with glossy synchs, huge orchestral arrangements and Kim’s vocal.”
Speaking about the album, Kim said this was his dream: “This is the album I’ve always wanted to make, I can’t believe it’s finished and will be released soon. If you would have told me four years ago that Eiríkur Orri Ólaffson (Sigur Rós) and Marla Hansen (The National) would be on my next record and that it would be mixed by Chris Coady (Beachhouse, Future Islands) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Born to Run, Graceland), I would have laughed.”
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