Maaike den Dunnen
In recognition of Maaike's accomplishment, Synthogy, a longstanding supporter of the competition, gifted her the latest Ivory 3 piano software, giving her fresh tools to explore and enhance her musical expression.
In this conversation, Maaike reflects on the competition, her journey as a musician, and what lies ahead.
Your music has been described as a bridge between traditional jazz and contemporary storytelling. How do you balance jazz's rich history while pushing the genre in new directions?
I have studied traditional jazz very thoroughly for years (and still do). It became part of my musical language. When I'm writing a song, I’m just trying to express my feelings through music, I don't aim for a certain musical style. But it comes out as jazz: the harmony, the rhythm, the melody. This language comes out in 'my way' though, through my feeling and ideas, and therefore it becomes something new. Especially now with the solo project it is more about songs. The singer-songwriter genre is very broad (and I'd say more pop oriented), but it can be jazzy as well in this way.
In today's digital age, how do you keep a personal connection with your audience, both online and during live shows?
On live shows, I always tell some stories in between to set up the songs, so listeners can relate to it on a personal level. After the concerts I usually stay and talk with people the audience. They subscribe to my newsletter or socials and stay connected. On social media I share news, and also more insight on the creative process. The 'exclusive content' section of my EP (for sale and accessible through a QR code) shows a lot of behind the scenes material and an inside look of the recording process of my visual EP.
What trends or shifts within the industry have you observed, and how are they influencing your work as an artist?
The transition from CD sales to online streams has definitely influenced the industry. It seems to me that in these days it's more about generating attention for something (new) as often as you can. 10 years ago I started out with putting a full album together. Taking the time to construct an artistic palette of multiple songs, release it all in once and start touring with it. Now I think it makes more sense to release a short EP or even just singles, in order to have more moments to release something (even small). This also changes the artistic process. Making an album is not the same as making one song. Also I think that social media have become a major channel for musicians to spread their music, more so than gaining publicity from TV, radio and reviews. Artists have more ownership now over what they want to make and how to find an audience for it. It has both positive and negative consequences in my opinion.
As a European artist making waves internationally, how do you navigate the different jazz scenes across the globe, who do you follow?
Well, I wouldn't want to say that I know the ins and outs of every exact jazz scene. But indeed I travel and tour quite a lot and from my experience, I feel most inspired by the U.S. When I was in New York, I felt a general appreciation and respect for jazz that I haven't sensed anywhere else. It's as if the vocabulary is more common to know. Also the high energy I felt there is something I just love in music. It has so much drive, it’s so strong and persuasive. In The Netherlands on the other hand, I feel as if there is more room to experiment. With different genres, styles, interdisciplinary projects, etc. In Austria/Germany/Switzerland, I had the feeling that art in general is very much appreciated, seeing both younger and older people in the audience. As if going to a theatre is more of a general routine there, instead of now and then going to a show from someone you already know. At the Ubud Village Jazz Festival on Bali I performed with a band of (great) Indonesian musicians, and I got the feeling that they had this very mindful approach, not playing too much in once but instead taking time and letting something build very organically. I don't know, it could very well be that the way we play and approach (the same) music is very much inspired by the surroundings we live in.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your style?
The first jazz record I ever listened to was Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis. I could listen to it over and over on repeat. There is so much already in just that one record that probably has influenced me: swing, modal thinking, Coltrane's use of pentatonics, my instrumental approach (there is no singer on this record). In general I listened to a lot of instrumentalists, but also to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Their swing and frasing became part of my singing somewhere...I hope! For ballad singing and story telling, I think my main influences are Shirley Horn and Jay Clayton (who has taught me a few lessons on ballad singing). With these singers I just feel like they mean every word and I can feel my tears running at their concerts/recordings. Norma Winstone's wonderful lyrics (besides her great singing) are a great inspiration for me in writing. Very poetic and visual and rich. It's a way of expressing that I relate to very much, and can’t always find in the lyrics to traditional standards. For beautiful lyrical melodies (and harmonies), Kenny Wheeler and Fred Hersch are my favorite composers. For constructing just a great song on all levels: Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Carole King.
How do you approach collaboration, and what qualities do you look for in your fellow performers?
As a singer and songwriter, I usually happen to be the person initiating a project and taking the lead. Then I meet my band later in the process, instead of it being a collaboration right from the start. I love it when people play their take on my ideas, give their interpretation and original twist to it. I love the interplay in performing live. There is conversation and interaction between all instruments. I feel best with people who can sort of spiritually tune in, and follow this feeling of what is naturally happening in that moment. I think all jazz players do, but with some people it’s just more of a natural connection than with others, that might just be a personal thing.
What's the story behind one of your favorite songs that you've written?
Photographs is a older tune of mine that is being played by big bands and sang by various singers. I remember writing it while I was practicing. I was singing over certain chord progressions and suddenly I came up with this melody and thought: I need to record it and not forget it. The lyric came actually later (sometimes it comes in once, or the other way around: lyrics first). It’s about this feeling of being afraid to fall in love. You’re getting to know someone but you’re already carefully collecting memories (‘making photographs’) just in case things go wrong. It’s also about something so great, it’s just hard to believe that it can be real. You wish you could capture the moment and hold it in your hands forever because it’s so precious. But you have to let go and let things happen as they come. It’s not literally an autobiographical song (hardly any of my songs are) but this feeling behind it, well yes, I definitely did feel that way when I wrote it.
What are your long-term career goals, and how do you see your role in the jazz community in the next ten years?
I’d love to explore more of performing solo, using synths and vocal effects. I’ve recorded two albums as a band leader with top musicians and toured with them for years. The solo project that I’ve started feels like another path to explore. While I do miss the interaction with my fellow musicians, I feel more challenged to focus on the message of the song, in a more intimate kind of performing that I find very interesting. Besides being a musician I am a teacher, at the University of Music in The Hague a.o. (Royal Conservatoire). My lessons currently focus on song accompaniment at the piano. I’d love to be a professor in jazz singing and songwriting at some point, specifically at a jazz department. Also I am thinking about setting up a summer school, concert series, etc, for people writing their own material. I find great joy in witnessing other people’s creative process and supporting their talent.
by Jonah G Benwell
A Special Thank You
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Synthogy, our longtime partner, for their continued support of the Made In New York Jazz Competition. Their generosity plays a vital role in empowering talented musicians worldwide and helping them reach new heights in their artistic journey.
