In the slightly more lowkey of Culture Collide’s various venues- TAIX served as host to The Black Atlantic’s performance- and the sweet melodic indie rock was anything but ordinary.  Geert van der Velde’s melodic and lulling vocals were sweetly surprising- and the somewhat intimate setting was the perfect venue for this kind of show.

With his well-mannered and articulate nature, it’s hard to imagine that Geert was the frontman for hardcore metal band Shai Hulud- a complete one eighty from his former days!  Pre-set I got to sit down amidst a room set off to the side with the leadman and his soft spoken nature was everything I’d expect from the man creating the subtle tunes that stick with you like melodic ghosts of the mind.

BNB:  So Geert, how’d you all meet each other?

G:  Well let’s see- Kim and I met him through a mutual friend who’s actually back in the band now, and we just really clicked right away.  He’s a singer/songwriter as well and we just clicked and started writing song together!

BNB:  So you guys sound really close!  MySpace “top eight” status?

G:  Haha!  Totally!  I mean Kim’s on there for sure- I love his records and his music!

BNB:  Main musical influences?

G:  That’s always difficult to say…

BNB:  I’m sure they change day to day!

G:  It’s really what were listening to at the time- and that obviously has an effect on what you write.  Sometimes I listen to the music because I really like what’s going on in there and I’d really like to sort of let it sink into me.

BNB:  Currently on your Ipod right now?

G:  I’m trying to think what I’ve been listening to…

BNB:  I mean that was like a 55,000 hour flight across the pond!

G:  Haha, to be honest, the first half of the flight was with my baby and with my wife so I was just changing a lot of diapers and trying to keep her quiet!

BNB:  How’d that go for you?

G:  You know- it’s not easy with a 7 month old!  And then, the second half from New York to L.A.- well that was just trying to catch up on sleep!  So not much music listening to on this long flight- but actually a band that we listen to a LOT is called Camera Obscura!

 

BNB:  So you’re doing Culture Collide and then you’re off to play CMJ in NYC!  Any pre-show vices or rituals?

G:  Well today everybody’s just EXHAUSTED- but normally we just hang out- there’s no warm ups really.

BNB:  You just kind of get on stage and do your thing- sometimes that’s the best.

G:  Yeah, it’s different for everybody- I used to play in a hardcore band and we’d run laps and do push ups and stuff just to get warmed up because the second you’re on stage you’re jumping around.

BNB:  Wow, you know Casiokids just told me they do some odd pushups pre-performance!  Must be you boys from across the Atlantic.

G:  Well Black Atlantic we just kind of hang out on couches until it’s the last second before we go on!

BNB:  So, I’ll be joining the Black Atlantic when I join a band then.

G:  Definitely!

 

BNB:  So what’s up next for Black Atlantic- new CD, touring?

G:  We just came out of the studio- we did some rearrangements of songs for the re-release of our record.  So our record’s been out for a year- but we’re re-releasing it with some extra material.

 

BNB:  First CD you ever bought?

G:  Well, I got a 7 inch when I was about nine years old- two 7 inches from my mom- one was Janet Jackson, and the other was Tina Turner.

BNB:  Yeah, so….I can’t imagine why you’d like metal…

G:  That might have been the reason why I started!

Geert and I hung out for a little while longer and chatted about nothing in particular, I anxious for his set, and he just completely laid back.  The songs really stick with you, which is what caught my attention in the first place, and you can catch the sweet sounds at CMJ this year, and check back at www.myspace.com/theblackatlantic for more info on where to catch the kids from across the black atlantic next!