Meet Dennis van der Sanden | Music Producer | Artist | Session Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dennis van der Sanden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dennis, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
When it comes to music production, an aspect often overlooked is the multifaceted role of a music producer. Typically, a music producer composes the foundation of a song, creating harmony in the form of chords, layering melody, and adding rhythm. After the song has its basic structure and sound, it’s time to go to the studio to write and record with the artist. Then, the right vocal and musical performances have to be compiled into the final composite track. Only when these steps are complete, and all of the foundational musical elements are there, does the real music production start. This stage of the production is much like a puzzle; arranging the instruments in an additive and subtractive way, creating transitions, and adding depth and ear candy. There are many different techniques to achieve these elements, and every song requires its own unique approach.

This intricate blending of musical elements is also crucial for session musicians. Every musical genre carries its distinct characteristics, which require its own unique approach. This is incredibly important, especially now that popular music encompasses a more diverse pool of genres than ever before. For that reason, it is important that session musicians embody a musical library, capable of producing an extensive array of sounds and textures to fit these diverse musical landscapes.

I believe there are many overlaps between music production and being a session musician. Attention to detail and a critical ear are incredibly important to have as both a producer and a session musician. Both jobs require balance, not adding too much, or having too little. They also require knowledge of music; music is transcending and emotional, but it is also subject to patterns and theory. Knowing music theory and playing a variety of instruments are incredibly helpful tools when producing music, as you can quickly go through many different textures of sound without having to guess for the right answer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Over the past few years, I have gotten to write music with some incredible musicians. I’m beyond excited to announce that this music is now in the final stages of production, and will be released into the world very soon. The music covers a wide variety of genres and includes musicians from all over the world. Each time I get to work with these amazing musicians, I am blown away by the beautiful culture and musical heritage.

Working with so many ethnically diverse musicians inspired me to experiment with different instruments, unraveling a completely different universe of music and production. I have since been on a mission to master instruments like the Arabic ney, Armenian duduk and blul, oud, violin, and others. I find great joy in the progress of learning a musical instrument and discovering similarities and differences between them. They all bring a unique voice to the table, something I can no longer see my productions without.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Firstly, I absolutely love the sea, so I’d take them to the beach to go for a swim. I would say the beaches in Los Angeles are definitely worth a visit! I would then take them to one of the many incredible taco trucks around the city for some tacos al pastor. I would also take them to the classics, like the Getty Villa, and the Santa Monica Pier.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I’ve learned from, who have supported me, who deserve credit in my story. From a young age, my parents have always supported and facilitated my curiosity for music, for which I am so grateful. My family, the friends I have back home, and the dear friends I have made at Berklee all form an important part of my character. Another important person in my life has been Tommy Emmanuel, CGP, who I’ve had the privilege of calling my musical mentor and friend. Lastly, I would like to thank the incredible people at Berklee, both faculty, as well as the financial aid department from the bottom of my heart for making this incredible journey possible.

Website: www.DennisvanderSanden.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennisvandersanden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennis.vandersanden.7/

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cX4bDU9OlIqJPb1oucshh?si=b8lTiDG9TNGsBjqioDLlXg

Image Credits
Leo Do / Amal Irgashev