About me

We are now crowd funding for our new album that we will record in March! This album will be a 14 song long album and will be recorded in cooperation with Annie Goodchild, the singer of Melou! Check out the website how you can make your pledge!

http://www.verkami.com/projects/3977-maarten-swaan-and-annie-goodchild-are-back

Maarten Swaan is a singer/songwriter/musician from Holland, and also a founder of the popular Dutch-American band Melou.

In 2005 Maarten left Holland for a life of traveling the world and playing music. Starting in Guatemala, Maarten met Annie Goodchild, with whom he found the band Melou. They recorded 2 full-length albums ("Communication", 2006; "Battery Park", 2008) and did 3 extensive tours through Europe and New England. In the summer of 2009, Melou played her last show in Holland, and the members decided to go their own ways into the world of music.

In September of '09, Maarten's musical adventure took him on a tour in Holland and England with American songwriter Leslie (Serpentfly) Helpert. He then ventured to Boston to play and tour for 3 months with singer Charlie Christos.

While touring and recording for other groups Maarten began writing his own music. Recording demo tracks on a laptop, based on only piano, guitar and vocals, he created an ambient, 70's sounding vibe reminiscent of Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Queen. In February '10, Maarten traveled to the beautiful and inspiring city of Barcelona to record his debut album at the Emergency Room Studio with producer Dave Bianchi. The goal was to keep the ambient 70's sound from the demos in the new recording, but to add a full band. With the help of his musical friends in Barcelona, Dave and Maarten created a wonderful EP, entitled: "Write Me Notes" that was released in June "10 worldwide on I-tunes.

In the summer of 2010 Maarten got asked to join his friends in the "Negritos". an Argentinian band, to play bass for them. With them he then ventured to Buenos Aires for 2 months where he toured during the summer months of December '10 and January '11. From the hot summer in Argentina he flew to the cold winter of New England, where Maarten toured New York, Boston and many cities in Vermont and New Hampshire. Again with his good friend Charlie Christos he performed in a duo show, songs from both albums " Write Me Notes" and Charlies album "Widow's Gun" on which Maarten played guitar.

All of the touring gave Maarten enough inspiration to write enough songs for a new album. Back in Barcelona, he started with his band for the 4th time in cooperation with Dave Bianchi, the recordings for his 2nd solo album. "Broken Bike" is the title of the album, which contains a duet with Leslie (Serpentfly) Helpert. A much more diverse album, less melancholic, but still with it's epic moments, different styles, and topped of with a classical piano piece this EP almost can be called a full length album. In December of 2011 it was officially released under the independent abel " Whatabout Music" .

After the recordings, Maarten took the band for an album release tour in Holland. Later in the year, in September, they all ventured to the USA, where they played a 2 week tour in the New York and New England area. They played in cities as New York, Boston and many places in Vermont, New Hampshire and Main. This all together with Charlie Christos, with whom they toured together, mixing the sets of Maarten and Charlie, supported by the band.

This all brought the band even more together and new plans were made for a next album, which will be realized in March of 2013. Another little fact is that Annie Goodchild will be taking part of this album! Enough to look forward to!

In the meanwhile the song

Discography

"In this together" (2012)

"Broken Bike" by Maarten Swaan (2011)

"Write me notes" by Maarten Swaan (2010)

"Battery Park" by Melou (2008)

"Communication" by Melou (2007)

"Obre" by Iluminata (2013)

"WIdow's Gun" by Charlie Christos (2009)

Images

By Paul van Bueren

By Clara Bes 2010

Prints Annie Wilcox

Live in Action

Random

Videos

"Like the leaves in Autumn Time" - Maarten Swaan's of the latest album "Broken Bike"

Maarten Swaan's newest video: "Like the leaves in Autumn Time" of the latest album "Broken Bike" .

Recorded and produced in Barcelona by C. Joan Blanques Crew & Maarten Swaan Band:

Starring:

Xavi (Mole) Molero (drum)

Miguel Serna (Bass)

Claudia Gomez (Piano)

Nadine Nunez (Danza)

Maarten Swaan (Hangover)

Camera and procuction by "Daltonica" 2011:

Maria Camila Sanjines

Manel Quintana

Quinto Quintana

"Like The Leaves in Autumn Time"

from the cd "Broken Bike" 2011

Music and Lyrics by Maarten Swaan,&

"Be Together" by Maarten Swaan (Official Music Video)

Music video "Be Together" - Maarten Swaan; by Rosa Rydahl, Diethild Meier (pictures); Laia Sauret, Lope (puppets); Pablo Arias, Fabiana Schulz (scene design and support), Maarten Swaan

(production)

"Tic Tac" by "Negritos" live in Parque Roca Festival Buenos Aires, Argentina

Side Project of Maarten Swaan: Negritos

www.negritosgritos.com

"My World" Maarten Swaan Live at Nunoff Festival July 2010

Live at the NUNOFF Festival in Barcelona, :"My World" with:

Xavi Molero on drums

Paco Mendez on Bass

Ewa Wikstrom on Voice and Trumpet

Maru di Pace on Guitar

"Nort shore" by Charlie Christos and the Widow's Gun

"Norths Shore" by Charlie Christos, good friend and touring buddy of Maarten Swaan. Recorded at the end of their tour in January 2010

Magical White by Maarten Swaan live @ Nunoff Festival

22 of July Maarten Swaan and band played the "Write me Notes" Album release party at Nunoff Festival '10, featuring Xavi Molero on Drums Paco Mendez on bass Maria di Pace Electric guitar/ Vocals Ewa Wikstrom Trumpet/ vocals Maarten Swaan Guitar/ Vocals

The White Dress

Maarten Swaan with "The White Dress" for "Nice and Crazy"

Maarten Swaan with "Noortje" for "Macson"

Maarten Swaan performs the song "Noortje" for Macson Summer Campaign

Lyrics

Be Together

Give me

My world

In 20 years

Magical White

Hourglass

The White Dress

Broken Bike

So Long

Play Pretend

Like The Leaves in Autumn Time

Live

Iluminata Live at l'espai Niu de Poble Nou

30-05-2013

Iluminata Live @

Niu : espai artístic contemporani
Almogàvers, 208 . 08018 Barcelona

Place: l'espai Niu de Poble Nou Hour: 00:00 + info: http://www.niubcn.com/

Iluminata & banda en Ray, Barcelona

16-06-2013

Iluminata concert, more details follow!

C/Carders, 12 principal 08003 Barcelona

Place: Rai, Barcelona Hour: 20:00 + info: http://rai.pangea.org/raiart/es/

Negritos Live en Camping De Roode Haan

06-07-2013

Roodehaan
Roodehaansterweg 9
9963 TC Warfhuizen

Place: Camping de Roode Haan, Warfhuizen, Holland Hour: 20:00 + info: http://www.roodehaan.com/

Negritos live at the Zeehelden Festival, Den Haag, Holland

11-07-2013

Part of the Negritos 2013 tour!

Prins Hendrikplein,

Den Haag,

Free festival!

Place: Zeehelden Festival Den Haag, Holland Hour: 21:30 + info: http://www.zeeheldenfestival.nl/perm_site/

Press kit

Artwork Format:psd & ai

Contact

Please fill in the following form to contact me

News

Pledge now!!

22-12-2012

This is the Verkami website where you can make your pledge for the new album of Maarten Swaan & Annie Goodchild!!!

"She is all he need" released!

24-05-2013

Maarten Swaan's song "She is all he needs" was released world wide in November of this year on the compulation album "In this together" by the Los Angelas based label "Hayday Medea group".

19 October Maarten Swaan & Band in Sala Underground!

24-05-2013

http://www.undergroundclub.es/

Bye bye Usa, Helo Barcelona!

25-09-2012

And we are back In Barcelona! How awesome was our trip! This band ROCKS! Soon to be seen in Barcelona!

Right now with Band & Charlie Christos on tour in the USA!!!

08-09-2012

See under "live" for the schedule!

Broken Bike now also on Spotify!

08-09-2012

http://open.spotify.com/artist/6ozRNNYuoCILmzYnFltpKF

At the moment touring with negritos

13-08-2012

Check the website for details!

The new album!

30-11-2011

The new album "Broken bike" has just been delivered to my house!!!

Send me an email or come to a show to purchase one!

New Music Video viewed 440 times in the first week up!

The new music video by Maarten Swaan has been viewed 440 times in the first week that it's up!

Nice one! You haven't seen it yet, check it out here

New Video out. Check it on this page!!!!

New Video of "Like The Leaves in autumn Times" is up!!!! Check it out on this page!!!!