RIAAN NIEUWENHUIS /
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Riaan Nieuwenhuis is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, based in South Africa. His music spans the genres of Indie Rock to New Age, Classical and Blues. Compositions range from spacious, ethereal and melodic piano, to adrenalin-pumping, power-driven rock instrumentals.
Riaan has travelled the world, exchanging musical ideas and interacting with foreign musicians. Fusing his own ideas with these and local South African influences, he creates dynamic and delicate world compositions while maintaining his originality.
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Riaan has travelled the world, exchanging musical ideas and interacting with foreign musicians. Fusing his own ideas with these and local South African influences, he creates dynamic and delicate world compositions while maintaining his originality.
read more
NEW ALBUM RELEASE
Riaan's instrumental double album, Mediator is available at selected outlets, including Amazon.com.
CD 1 consists of warm, contemplative, piano instrumentals. The twelve classical-contemporary tracks reflect the composer's blues influences. The melodies are delicate, minimalistic, spacious, and at times nostalgic yet epic. There is a distant, mysterious feel about these tracks. In essence it is relaxing, flowing and unique in its originality.
CD 2 consist of eleven original, powerful, more pulsing lounge instrumentals varying in genre and instruments. These energetic crossover-lounge/indie compositions reflect elements of funk, jazz, blues, latin, and classical.
The piano acts as mediator between the two CD's as the foundation from which each track has been composed. Other instruments include drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, sax, accordion, strings and harmonica.
Riaan Nieuwenhuis : Mediator. CD review by Mariana Malan, Friday 20-1-2012, Die Burger Newspaper.
Memories go a long way back when one hears the name Riaan Nieuwenhuis.He was everywhere where the blues was played, sometimes slightly hidden behind his keyboard, but always on the note.
He was part of several bands, but one could not actually suspect that he is also a composer and arranger to the music on this double album.
The first album sooths the senses properly, and the second overpower you with accessible blues.
There is saxophone, but also cello, violin and accordion. Together with the skilled Nieuwenhuis on piano, there are two other Nieuwenhuis brothers-Rikus on drums and Andre on Harmonica, as well as the track BOOGIE TRAP.
Melissa van der Spuy makes a visit on accordion on the lovely De la Noche and guitars with different personalities fill in.
From cool blue to red-hot, this double album grows on your heart.
[Translated. Album received four stars.]
The album is awaiting a larger distribution deal, of which stores will be update, but is currently available in the following outlets :
Classix on CD, StellenboschW Heuer, Stellenbosch
La Pineta Restaurant, Stellenbosch
The African Music Store, 134 Long Street, Cape Town
Mabu Vinyl & Sugar Music, 2 Rheede Street, Gardens, Cape Town