b i o g r a p h y the colour u

b i o g r a p h y

For some years now, musician Peter Maes and visual artist Stefaan van Biesen have been working together as a duo. Their music collaboration covers a broad field of styles and influences, ranging from experimental music to soundscapes, from wave to ambiant.

Starting from a rock setting, their music has evolved to a more eclectic form, [a crossover], where all kinds of influences, from the classical avant-garde to alternative rock, have melted into one specific sound.

Having opted for the guitar as their instrument, they use a computer, sampling, keyboards and digital recor-dings of their surroundings to further their creation of a sound landscape of their own.

In this way, they give music a more visual dimension. Inevitably, this has resulted into a series of compositions, written especially for video and art exhibitions.

the Milena principle, Geert Vermeire and Stefaan van Biesen [the colour U] collaborated with soundartist Enrique Tomás [Escoitar.org] on various projects that connect literature, visual arts and new media. Including geolocalization, movement technology, applications for portable screens [smartphone, gps] for among others SMAK City Museum of Contemporary Art Ghent in Belgium, and a travelling project for various cultural venues in five countries [City Museum of Belgrado, Museum Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Museum Deichtorhallen in Hamburg in 2012, and in BOZAR Brussels and the Historical Museum of Trieste in 2013].

Inspired by

the music from: Brian Eno, Syd Barrett and the early Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, David Sylvian and Japan, Gustav Mahler, Robert Fripp, the Berlin period of David Bowie, Karlheinz Stockhausen, 'the day before you came' Abba, Kraftwerk, Blixa Bargeld and Einstürzende Neubauten, 52 commercial road, Holger Czukay, John Hassell, David Thorn, The Doors and Robby Krieger, Young Marble Giants, Wire, J. Peter Schwalm, Bill Laswell, Henryk Gorecki, Craig Armstrong, 'Sister Bliss' Ayalah Bentovim, Mark Hollis & Talk Talk, Gavin Bryars, Nico & the Velvet Underground, Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Marie Boine 'Eallin', an old friend Dirk Ivens from Dive, the Klinik, and Sonar, Toro Takamitsu, Depeche mode, Badmarsh & Singh, 'Twin Peaks' Angelo Badalamenti, György Ligeti 'Lux Aeterna', Jeff Buckley, Steven Patrick Morrissey and the Smiths, Alison Goldfrapp & William Owen Gregory, Ennio Morricone, Massive attack, Elisabeth Frazer, Steve Reich, Sergiu CelebidacheEnrique Tomas, Christina Vantzou...

top