Hendrik van Boetzelaer: Recent Episodes
Hendrik van Boetzelaer
Formerly known as Opuswerk. High-quality electronic dance music from the Swiss lakeside,
Affiliated to labels like @dement3d, @artsltd, @semantica-records,, @krillmusic and @knotweed-records
1/2 of HISS:1292 with @francoisx
Curator of the #OPUS parties with guests such as: Iori, Agonis, Cosmin TRG, Henning Baer, Sandrien, JP Enfant, Yotam Avni, Blawan, Svreca, Ulf Erikson, Nikita Zabelin, Barker ______________________________
Half Dutch, Half Egyptian, and based in Geneva, Hendrik van Boetzelaer has established himself as a key player of the Swiss scene. He is known for his passion for warm and forward thinking music for the body regardless of the genre. Following years of activism as Opuswerk, his first work under his real name, the “Mémoire Du Présent EP”, on François X’s Dement3dXXX, reveals an artist’s coming of age in continuity of his past work. Trained as an architect, and passionate by the concept of “the club”, he thrives for what triggers raw emotions. Maturing from years of self-education, spawned with dub and drum and bass sound systems, he plays and makes music that is both adventurous and inventive with a defined futuristic aesthetic and firmly grounded in the experience of one’s body on the dancefloor. It’s as if he found his sound as much as it found him, delving inspirations from the wide spectrum of what dance music has to offer: House, Techno, EBM, Electro, IDM, Balearics, old and new. His approach to producing, both visceral and highly technical have gotten him to team with artists like François X for the HISS:1292 project or Ripperton for the Aelectricitae Live project. As Hendrik van Boetzelear his work has reached a new plateau of explorations where he channels his many cultural origins into freeform experimentations. As a testimony to his never ending hunger for knowledge, and representative of his research process, his previous work using the Opuswerk pseudonym, came out on labels such as Bleed Music, Semantica, ARTS or Dement3d. As Hendrik van Boetzelaer, he has shed his skin and dropped the moniker. His style is always forward thinking and finds adventurous ways of transporting the dancers beyond the boundaries of the club all the while challenging them. His musical consistency, brings him to play, in the best clubs and festivals from Concrete to Tresor or Mute, CTM Festival and Montreux Jazz or Paleo. ______________________________
After a painful ear accident and months which felt like centuries, I could take on the decks again, and this time at Motel Campo (where I also designed their latest DJ booth).It was a pleasure to warm up the room for @bambounou, despite the very sudden ending (someone poulled the plug powering all the CDJs) I really had tons of fun playing, and finally hearing out loud all this amazing music I have accumulated.Can't wait to do more of this again.
I recorded a mix for the great mixtape project from Zürich: @Dubsearch. I aimed for a post end of year vibe, to digest the overload of food I hope you’ve had despite all that’s going on.
A set and selection to tune into with a glass of wine, a spliff and let your mind drift.
Tracklist: arc - eve pole - rondell zwei leftfield - rino’s prayer (rino’s prayer (nick rapaccioli remix) babe roots - sufferation time (babe roots rmx) aris kindt - floods certain creatures - nyau dust (tdel rework) azu tiwaline - until the end tm404 - 202-202-303-303-606 d.k. - forrest palace bubble club - the goddess (quiet village remix) wata igarashi - top secret seefeel - time to find me (afx fast mix) pablo’s eye - a way you’ll never be vril - torus xxxii voiski - ory fco jonnhy nash - conversations with mike m. rahn - paradise is closed
Final hour of a last minute all nighter at my residency night OPUS at the @Folklor in Lausanne. @PETRVS was deeply missed.
The fuses blew a couple of times so this all that's left from a ride starting at 110bpm up to 166. Also seems like quite a bit of saturation on the recording but loved the vibe of the night, especially in those strange times. Might take it down later. Tracks by the likes of
Playing all nighters really is the best.
Don't hesitate to ask for Ids.
During lockdown, @WAV33 and @bongojoerecordshop joined hands to propose streamed sets from Geneva's fertile musical grounds.
I was invited to close down the stream at the iconic club Le Zoo.
Crossing came out during the first lockdown as a part of the "This is Not a Drill Vol.1" compilation on the dutch label Konstrukt (@konstrukt-5)
This really nice compilation features tracks by the likes of : Rutger Muller, Shoal, natural/electronic.system, SHLTR, ESHU, Yugen, BLNDR, Evigt Mörker, Albert van Abbe, Artefakt, Amandra, ASC, Alan Backdrop, Peter van Hoesen, The Leap, Tin Man, Tripeo, Von Grall, Magna Pia, Yves de Mey, Z.I.P.P.O, henna.essa
About the compilation: "Music is a common ground shared by all of us. It connects us across cultural and political borders and is a centerpiece where people hold on to every day, especially in these uncertain times. That is why we put together an extensive compilation together with friends all over the world to help society in the areas where it is needed."
All Bandcamp sales of my tracks will be donated to The Red Cross of Egypt.
For the 10th edition of Antigel Festival I was tasked with opening the Grand Central before Function and Norman Nodge.
As the room filled up pretty gradually, i took the opportunity to go sideways, backwards and forward, from slow to faster and taking some unexpected turns here and there, playing many of my current favorites.
Monitoring was tough, but the vibe ended up HOT.
François X's Dement3dXXX took over Rinse France for a day, showcasing the sound of what's to come and the ethos behind the project. I was among artists like: François X, Yotam Avni, Bjarki, Redshape, Bambounou, Valentino Mora, Elise, In Aethernam Vale, Klashpoint, Prequel Tapes, Anthony Linell. Needless to say I'm proud to be part of this family!
Check the whole takeover here: https://www.mixcloud.com/RinseFrance/playlists/takeover-dement3d-xxx/
Full Tracklist:
- Suso Saiz - Objective Void - Music From Memory
- St Vincent - New York (Nina Kraviz Vocal remix) - Trip
- Gabriella Vergilov - I Can't Stop - Palinoia
- Dj Qu - Warrior Dance - Underground Quality
- Eric Cloutier - Ekpyrosis - Palinoia
- Kapoor - A - Kapoor
- Jason Fine - Many To Many (Ben Klock remix) - Kontra Musik
- Voigt - Kampff Test (Philipp Gorbachev remix) - Kompakt
- Lym. - Caracol - XXIII
- Loft - Funemployed - Wisdom Teeth
- Struction - Kreen - R&S
- Deapmash - Halcyon - Leisure System
- Planetary Assault Systems - Give It Up - Mote Evolver
- Vladimir Dubyushkin - Grasshopper - Trip
- Monoloake - Atlas T++ remix - Monolake
- Hendrik van Boetzelaer - 2777777 - unreleased
- Berg Jaar - Othies Planet Rhythm
- Bernard Fevre - Central Way - Musax
- Bio Dreams - White Sands - EXperimental
After a missed attempt due to plane delays, I finally managed to get to the Red Light Radio studios to promote my latest record on @dement3d XXX section: Mémoire du Présent.
I went with the flow, playing current exciting, old and new, tracks I've found.. Hope you enjoy the ride, and if you did, don't hesitate to share the word ;)
Full Tracklist: Altkat - Celeste Walk - Banlieue Records Benoit B - Far Distant Star System - Berceuse Heroïque Elise - BFDB (Forest Drive West remix) - Man Band T++ - Allied - Not On Label Bambounou - Kosovo Hardcore Rhyw - Emulsion Steps - Fever A.M. Pavel Milyakov - B.A.D. - Rassvet Second Woman - Instant II - Tresor Luke Slater - Love (Marcel Dettmann City Remix) - Mote Evolver Luke Hess - Hidden Dimension (Patrick Russell Dub Version) - Supercinema Svreca - Hidden Dimension (Patrick Russell Dub Version) - Semantica Kaczmarek - Z - Kaczmarek Shadowax - Ochen - TRIP Kassem Mosse - Banken im Nebel - Ominira Felix K - Fundamentals (Onar Anxiety Remix) - Blackest Ever Black (thanks @garcon) Glyn Hendry - Dexy - Polykicks Special Request - Double Rainbow - Houndtooth
Recorded a set for @couleur3 and their tournee generale show. The channel opened up the world of electronic dance music for me and I still remember the tapes I used to record. Hope this one can contribute to this and maybe open up a world of music to some other listener. It aired last night and you can now stream it from their website.
Dedicated to late night riders.
Tracklist:
Sukeltava - Ø / Mika Vaino - Sahkø Spatium - Opuswerk - Bipolar Disorder He Is Still Breathing - Subcortical - Subcortical Untitled#140 - Phoboz - Resonance Moscow Confusion - Nikita Zabelin - X/OZ Laguna - Crossing Avenue - Spazio Disponibile Percussiva - Neel & Natural electronic.system - Tikita Laser's Worldwar - Orbe - Palinoia Past Eroticism - A Brehme - Sonata Thought of Skin - Hollden - Coincidence Cloaked - BNJMN - Bright Sounds Dinner With The Devil (+plattform remix) - Christian Tilt - Live EP Ohne - OmniaVox - OmniaVox Intrigue - Scøpe - Scopavik Sleepstart - Lara Kills - IF? Records Paranoid (Opuswerk remix) - Emika Elena & Ryogo Yamamori - Human Lessons Earwitness - Cyspe - Rytm Buro Hydraulic Fracturing - Acronym - Semantica Minor Forms (Valentino Mora Cosmic Trans Rephase) - Francis Harris - Scissor And Thread Night In Forest - Vakula - Arma
Magnetic Magazine (@magnetic-magazine) premieres Extensum of my forthcoming EP on Bipolar Disorder (@bipolardisorder01).
Check it out here: https://www.magneticmag.com/2018/02/lights-out-premiere-opuswerk-extensum/
Magnetic Magazine: https://www.magneticmag.com https://www.facebook.com/magneticmag/
Bipolar Disorder: https://www.soundcloud.com/bipolardisorder01 https://www.facebook.com/bipolardisorder.rec/
"The Swiss maestro's latest work will have you questioning objective reality.
Today, we are excited to share the next Lights/Out premiere, from Switzerland based techno artist, Opuswerk. Out on Swiss label Bipolar Disorder, the 4-track EP, titled 'Forms Of Multiplicity', features two original tracks and two remixes from techno powerhouses Inland and Antigone. Track number one, Extensum, is a forward thinking and off-beat techno burner, that instantly sends you into another dimension. When asked about the thought process behind the track, Opuswerk had this to say:
"Mainly, the inspiration for it came from a set of Refracted, which he had posted one evening. It was made on a much slower BPM, which created those subtle and more intense grooves. Hearing this made me inspired, and i fired the machines and it kind of happened, mostly thanks to playing around with chords on my D50."
Upon pressing play, you are greeted with a psychedelic whooshing noise that sets the tone for the track and indicates that you are about to embark on a journey inwards. As the percussion arrives, there's a slow ethereal pad that builds underneath and helps create the dense and evolving atmosphere in which your surroundings disappear. Check the track below, and make sure to get your vinyl only copy. "
Preview the rest of the EP here and the excellent remix by Inland (@counterchange-inland): https://soundcloud.com/bipolardisorder01/bd002-opuswerk-forms-of-multiplicity-ep
Supported and played by the likes of: Ben UFO, Rodhad, Ben Sims, Len Faki, Daniel Avery, Dj Spider, Shifted, Dave Clarke, Marcel Fengler, François X, Truncate, Shlømø, Dustin Zhan, Rolando, Johannes Volk, Darko Esser, Setaoc Mass, Psyk, Kr!z, Baikal, Denise Rabe, Par Grindvik, Nastia Reigel, Insolate, Markus Suckut, Refracted, and more ;)
I recently participated to the @anotherearthmusic label for their 3rd Split EP serie, with me and Lee Holman on the other side. It recently found its way into @drrubinstein's selection among other great selectors ;)
You can find my 2 tracks up there and the whole EP here: https://soundcloud.com/anotherearthmusic/another-earth-303-snippets
Here's the promo jumbo: "The third release of the vinyl only label Another Earth is upon us and it's all about techno. Esther Duijn combines 2 acts together in a Split EP series which compliment each others sound. For this release Esther selected two notorious European techno producers she adores, Opuswerk and Lee Holman. On the A side Opuswerk delivers 2 deep driving techno tracks. RF Thruster basically expands from beginning to end. This constant propulsion has a deep impact on any dance floor. He drew inspiration from Jeff Mills and Planetary Assault Systems for this particular track. EmDrive starts with an atmospheric intro and morphs into one epic build up that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. On the flip side Lee Holman bangs 2 deep and firm techno grooves like there is no tomorrow. While Adaptive Optics is rough on the edges it does pay attention to small details which make the track very dynamic. Absorption Lines puts the emphasis on a warmer atmosphere. With this track you can transform anything into a pulsating hot mass, according to Esther"
Tracllist A1 - Opuswerk - RF Thruster A2 - Opuswerk - EmDrive B1 - Lee Holman - Adaptive Optics B2 - Lee Holman - Absorption Lines
I’ve been invited to participate in the mexican podcast serie The Forgotten. Again, hell burst open, and recording it was a mission, due to moving houses, corrupted hard disks and more.
But one late night, I put a dj setup in the kids room and recorded what you can hear the old school way, with a bunch of 12" and 2 turntables. A selection for deep into the night.Includes amazing tracks of the likes of @Sinfol, @Milton Bradley, @Conforce, @Luigi Tozzi, @Silent Servant and more.