If you are looking for music with purpose, you just found it. ‘De Zonnewende’ EP is a liminal, evocative slice of instrumental goodness, an eclectic collection of ambient-laden, guitar-powered pieces with a strong Arabic flair. Dedicated to the late Syrian refugee Mazen al Hamada, the record is incredibly meaningful and introspective, helping listeners walk inward towards their inner consciousness and hidden moral compass. Such an experience is not surprising when referring to Jorge Natalin’s creative work.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Natalin is the musical alter ego of visual artist and photographer Arno Tijnagel. Essentially, Arno is the quintessential example of a gifted, visionary human being, moving wherever inspiration takes him. He witnesses the reality around us with observant eyes, looking for ways to celebrate it or denounce it while amplifying any underlying feelings.
Cryptic, leftfield and atmospheric, ‘De Zonnewende’ EP can be best understood by listening to Tijnagel’s own words; we were lucky enough to catch up with him and learn more about the project… Interview below!
Hey Jorge, how is it going? thanks for chatting with us! Some of our readers might not be familiar with you and your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
Hi Gab, I am Arno Tijnagel, and I am a photographer/musician/conceptual artist from Amsterdam. In my music, I currently mainly operate under the alter ego of Jorge Natalin. I just released my ninth EP.
Your current work is the result of a long journey. What first drew you to making music?
When I grew up, my younger brother, Menno, picked up the guitar, and he was wildly talented. I witnessed him playing the instrument and having such fun doing so. This triggered me to start playing the guitar myself. I borrowed a guitar from a friend and then asked another friend, who played very well, to teach me how. He taught me five open chords and said ‘I’ll see you next week’.
He did not expect that I would actually practice and would be able to play the chords. When I came back to him after a week, I showed him that I had practised and could actually play the chords. He said: ‘Great, now we’ll start a band’! That is how my first band, Kayanda, came into being. And here we are now, some 30 years later, still rocking. I then could not think that this would have become my musical journey.
Your latest release carries a great deal of experimentation and a rather meaningful outlook. I love the space in it, ‘De Zonnewende’ really comes across as quite hazy and spiritual. First of all, you told us that it’s dedicated to Mazen al- Hamada; Was he a close friend of yours? What does the EP mean to you, overall?
Yes, that is correct. My latest EP is dedicated to Mazen al-Hamada. I did not know him, personally. He was a Syrian refugee who found refuge in Holland for a while. He experienced absolute cruelty while he was incarcerated, and he was one of the few who actually dared to speak up about this. Somehow, he was lured back to Syria only to disappear in the prison system again.
A few years later, just after the regime in Syria had fallen, his body was found dead in one of the prisons. He was murdered just the week before the regime fell. I was so shocked by his sad story and could not stop crying for days. I felt the need to write music for him, to create an intimate prayer for him, to record music that honoured his incredible spirit. When I hear the EP, now that it is released, I automatically start crying. I guess I succeeded.
Now, I’d love to delve into the record from an aural perspective. As mentioned, you seem to make great use of reverb and large spaces – what are your main influences on this? Is there a particular goal you are trying to achieve with your music?
As for my influences, to be honest, there are way too many to mention. And also, very diverse in origin. I draw my inspiration from the sound of the wind in the trees and the feeling of the sun on my face. For musical influences, it’s a truly diverse range of music, from Neil Young to Depeche Mode, from Bassekou Kouyate to James Holden, and everything in between. It all depends on the shape I am in. Currently, I am listening to Anouar Brahem.
As for the process of creating, I listen really closely to the initial idea, what does it whisper to me? What does it want to become? This is always like a deep spiritual process for me. It begins in the silence within, then gets channelled and captured in recorded music. I try to let it just be what it wants to be, and give space to the initial idea to come into being in its purest form. For one song this is on the acoustic guitar, for another song it’s with a distorted electric guitar with even more effects.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
I absolutely love the feeling of writing and creating music together with like-minded people. This is a wonderful thing to experience. Where one idea leads to another, and then suddenly there is a completed piece of music. The birth of a composition is truly magical. Currently, I mainly operate solo, and this also gives me much satisfaction. I feel confident either solo, or in a team as well. I know my skills, and I know what I want to convey. That said, there is more freedom in creating solo, and for the time being, that is my preference.
You call Amsterdam your home; are you active in the city’s music scene? Also, do you play live often? If so, are they artsy, quirky performances?
I do play live every now and then. These shows are solo acoustic singer/songwriter shows, but I plan to play with a full electric band somewhere in the future again. My latest show was an evening I organized myself. This show was very special: everybody was silent and attentive and just listening to my songs. This was a truly humbling experience.
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
To be honest, I don’t experience artistic challenges. I find myself in a sweet, ongoing inspirational flow. There is always a new idea being born, something that wants to be created. That is the beginning. Then, after that, it is just hard work. I love it.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
Yes, the future looks bright. As said, I have just released EP #9, and I am currently working on a new album. This will be an instrumental album, just like ‘De Zonnewende’ EP. I also plan to release a long-awaited photo book with images of the heavens soon. There are always plenty of ideas. I embrace emergence. One idea leads to another, and a new creative cycle kicks in. I consider myself a very blessed guy; there seems to be no end to my inspiration.
