You know what is special about this new single “Riff”? It grew out of Anne Vanschothorst’s response to Bob Gramsma’s artwork Riff, PD#18245, and that simple idea is already enough to leave an impression before a single note begins.
Once the music starts, everything unfolds at its own pace. She is one of the best harpists I’ve ever heard and her work carries the piece in a soft and gentle way. Small sounds appear in the background one by one and because nothing is crowded or rushed, every little detail has room to breathe. I caught myself listening more closely each minute instead of waiting for something bigger to happen. The simplicity is great and I really like it, but what really gets me is the deep emotion behind this piece.
There is a confidence in the way Anne builds this composition. It never tries to do too much. She keeps pulling me back with careful choices and a clear sense of purpose. Yes, the music was inspired by the artwork, but even without that story, the composition speaks for itself.
Anne Vanschothorst is one of the few artists who has surprised me this much. I honestly don’t think I have enough words to describe how much I enjoyed her style, her music and the respect she shows for her art. That passion comes through in every note and without needing to prove anything. I’ll definitely keep an eye on Anne’s future releases because this is an artist I want to hear more from and I hope I’ll have the chance to cover many more of her projects.
