What do Antwerp, the Netherlands, and Berlin have in common? At first glance – nothing, except the Schengen zone. But looking more closely, a curious trio emerges: a pragmatist, a diplomat, and an eternal teenager. It’s precisely in this triangle – between Flemish aesthetics, Dutch drive, and Berlin boldness – that Trans Atlantic J. creates. Behind the pseudonym stands a musician, producer, and “architect of sound.” The origins of Trans Atlantic J. are in Antwerp, but his music was formed by roads. The Dutch indie scene became the impetus, it was here that the sound first found direction. Berlin gave the project freedom, rawness, and the boldness of experiment. Hamburg contributed industrial precision, production discipline, and cold structure. And yet it’s precisely Antwerp that remained the internal center – a place of balance and personal identity. The multi-point, “transatlantic” axis is embedded in the project’s name – a path between spaces, states, and sounds. As for the music, Trans Atlantic J.’s is predominantly instrumental and is built on: hypnotic, self-contained bass loops, motorik rhythms inherited from classic krautrock, slowly unfolding synthesizer layers, minimalist but physically tangible groove.
His compositions, continuous forward movement – a road without a destination, I would say, rhythmic trance. “Circus” (EP) – the central release of the project at the moment. The recording was made in Berlin, and mixed and produced in Hamburg together with Gregor Sonnenberg. According to the author, “‘Circus’ is conceived as a cyclical structure: minimal patterns, micro-variations, and a clear pulse that constantly readjusts.” The name “Circus” itself is undoubtedly a metaphor – not a spectacle, but circus as a system: a place where order and madness coexist and maintain a fragile balance. There are only five tracks on the EP, but no more is needed: in 21 minutes you manage to enjoy the signature sound of Trans Atlantic J. The first track “New Air” and it can’t be called particularly melodic, but it impressed me: staccato sounds reminiscent of splashes of waves crashing into rocks. The elastic rhythm and soft percussion hold attention until waves of other sounds appear. Meanwhile, the second in the tracklist, “Strong,” offers power in guitars, grooves, and unforgettable rhythms of drums and bass. It sounds stunning, I advise listening to it on repeat to more clearly feel its mood.
Moving further, the song “Bucket” acquires a more restrained mood: the melody slows down slightly, the author simplifies the sound and illuminates musical elements. The repeating arpeggiated guitar melody shines against the backdrop of a light steady beat and warm swaying bass. The guitar solo in the composition plays the role of “first violin.” For Trans Atlantic J., music is a way to explore transitional states, zones between “before” and “after,” between calm and impulse. On the EP tracks it’s noticeable the author doesn’t strive for classical culmination. Instead, he unfolds the theme through repetition, micro-shift, and gradual changes, which brings the listening to a state of liminality. Simply put, something between movement and stillness. As for the fourth track “Versatile,” it’s built evenly, without sharp dynamic surges. After the fast rhythms of previous tracks, it gives space for perception. The mood is slightly melancholic – it’s achieved through lingering, insinuating synthesizer pads and the muffled rumble of drums, which suppresses light bass passages. Toward the finale, the synthesizers build density, diluting the melancholy and adding tension to the theme.
Perhaps especially good is the last track “Loose” – here the artist allows himself maximum freedom. Percussion comes to the forefront: complex polyrhythmic structures, layering, resulting in a kind of controlled chaos. Synthesizers work in dense layers, filling the mid-frequency range and creating a massive sound wall. Guitars burst in with bold, ragged passages, and textural splashes add rawness. The result is the EP’s culmination, where all elements sound at the limit of intensity.
In the EP “Circus” by Trans Atlantic J., duality is noticeable and the desire to go beyond its boundaries. In the sound there is constant tension between control and chaos, rhythm manifests as a bodily form of meditation, and repetition as a method of transformation. Worthy work of a worthy musician and composer.
Published in partnership with SubmitHub
Voxwave Magazine: Music, Culture, Interview, Fashion 