Vic Willems | Master Of Nothing
"Musical and textual depth. Only playing and saying what needs to be played and said, leaving out all the superfluous - it seems simple, but Vic Willems makes an art of it."- Oor magazine.From a young age, Vic Willems has been capturing his life in songs. What started with an acoustic guitar has now grown into an extensive music career in which he creates - both for himself and others - complete arrangements and productions. Willems' songs are intimate, sharp and disarming, and his lyrics describe diverse scenes from his life: from a sunny day with friends and the feeling of slowly becoming invisible, to saying goodbye to a loved one.To his own surprise, Vic won the Grote Prijs van Nederland in 2016, after completing his master's degree in Psychology. Since then, he has been on an impressive musical journey. For instance, he collaborated with British songwriter Fink for his first EP. The leading Excelsior Recordings released his first two critically acclaimed albums. These records brought him to many fine venues, including The Concertgebouw, the 2m sessions, Paradiso-North, Royal Park and a surprise show at Into The Great Wide Open.Press photo Vic Willems by Casper Buitendijk (7)Besides his own musical projects, Willems has a talent for supporting other artists. You may well have heard his work before without realising, as his lyrics and productions have been used in songs by the likes of Linde Schöne, De Club van Sinterklaas, Cero Ismael and Wulf.For his third album, Meester Van Niks, Willems sought out new collaborations, including with widely acclaimed producer Rijnbaart. This collaboration takes Willems' DIY home recordings to challenging heights; the album almost bursts with tantalising experimentation. Within a sound world where banjos and autotune blend smoothly, Vic writes off the past five years: the break-up of his relationship, the many lockdowns, depression and the loss of his mother. On Master Of Nothing, he describes this eventful period in a way that emphasises not heaviness, but rather lightness, playfulness and the growth he has experienced. A sharp and topical album about letting go of what you can't hold on to and embracing emptiness. Master of Niksis released on 28 February 2025 and invites the listener to be carried away by the masterful balance between experimentation and emotion.In the press:
"...In that song -and actually the whole show- you can hear how excitingly he and his band colour folk songs. Not traditional at all, but instead full of sax freaks, simmering synthesisers." (3voor12)
"Waiting Until It Goes Wrong is a timeless album, at times reminiscent of songs by Boudewijn de Groot, Lennaert Nijgh, 80s Nederpop and Spinvis. These are not the least associations Vic Willems conjures up, but fortunately there is an authentic individuality that allows him to set the bar so high with his listening pop." (Muziscene)
"A wonderful relay of stillness, depth, impressive melancholy and lyrics to crawl into the speakers for." (PlatoMania)This concert has no intermission.Ticket price: €16 including fee/transaction fee.Photo: Casper Buitendijk
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