Christof van der Ven has built a truly impressive CV over the course of his career, from supporting the likes of Bon Iver, The Staves, Mel Parsons, Bear’s Den, Lisa Hannigan, and Nick Mulvey, to playing in front of thousands of fans across the world.
Hailing originally from Holland, Christof van der Ven moved to Galway in 2007 before settling in London. He has released two LPs, Empty Handed (2018) and You Were The Place (2019), alongside multiple EPs. His career has been supported by DIY, Clash, Gold Flake Paint and his music has been played on BBC6 Radio and Radio X.
NEW ALBUM “Is this what we’ve become?”
Throughout ‘is this what we’ve become?’ Christof speaks to loved ones and past selves, reflecting on years of promise, regret and loss. His storytelling is characterized by gentle melodies and rich, textured arrangements, as his younger selves confront him with unfulfilled ambitions and perceived failures. When Christof turns towards friends and family, he finds them too in moments of upheaval, in need of support. Amidst the unpredictable and uncontrollable, community and friendship emerge, providing roots, giving comfort as Christof ruminates on how he came to be - and can come to accept - who he is now.
Written by Christof, ‘is this what we’ve become?’ also features musical contributions from Jools Owen (Bear’s Den, Bess Atwell), Tommy Heap (Billie Marten, Matthew and the Atlas), Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, Bear’s Den), and Estilo String Quartet. The album was produced and recorded by Christof and Ian Grimble (Daughter, Manic Street Preachers, Matt Corby, Fionn Regan), who also mixed the LP. ‘is this what we’ve become?’ incorporates recordings from both studio sessions in London, as well as ad hoc recording sessions engineered by Christof across the UK.
