I am Oak: show in Obdam

Dutch musician Thijs Kuijken bring his indie folk project I am Oak to 't Brakenkerkje in Obdam on October 26, a good opportunity to see him perform songs from his latest album Time Drifts: "The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shenanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world."

» iamoak.com

HCTF review of Time Drifts

I am Oak: UK tour dates

Thijs Kuijken's indie folk project I am Oak are playing four shows in the UK to promote the new album Time Drifts: "The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shenanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world."

Hako, I am Oak, The World of Dust: Three Friends of Winter

Three underground indie artists teamed for a collaborative single. Dutch musicians Stefan Breuer (The World of Dust), Thijs Kuijken (I am Oak) and Japanese artist Emiko Hachiki (Hako) set up a digital meeting of minds and created Three Friends of Winter, an introspective avant-folk song enhanced by noise and electronics.

It is released via Tiny Room Records. Don't sleep on the 7" single. Only 50 copies are made of the transparent square lathe cut.

» iamoak.com
» theworldofdust.nl

I am Oak: "On Claws" reissue on vinyl

On Claws, the break-through album by Dutch indie folkies I am Oak, is reissued on vinyl. Originally released in 2010, it hit the shops again in expanded format on CD in 2013. The same bonus tracks are included on this reissue: "Kuijken's songs will comfortable next to the recordings of The Low Anthem and Wovenhand. He uses a banjo as his weapon of choice, an instrument with a dry sound that is softened by adding layered vocals, acoustic guitar and a bit of trumpet every now and then. An album that sneaks up on the listener, just like the tiger on the cover. And like that big cat, it should be cherished and handled with care."

I am Oak: on tour in Germany, Switzerland & Italy

Thijs Kuijken's indie folk project I am Oak have added a bunch of shows in Germany, Switzerland and Italy to promote the new album Time Drifts: "The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shenanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world."

I am Oak: tour dates

Thijs Kuijken's indie folk project I am Oak will be on tour in The Netherlands to promote the new album Time Drifts: "The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shehanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world."

I am Oak: "Dreamt of You" live video w/ The New Choir

The new line-up of Thijs Kuijken's indie folk project I am Oak recorded a live version of Dreamt of You @ EKKO in Utrecht. Tammo Kersbergen (drums), Nick Jongen (bass), and Clasine Haringsma (guitar) were joined by The New Choir from Rotterdam. It is a track from the new album Time Drifts: "The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shehanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world."

Dutch live dates:

• 04/24 EKKO, Utrecht
• 05/23 Der Aa-Theater, Groningen
• 05/24 Hedon, Zwolle
• 05/25 Mezz, Breda
• 09/13 Popmonument, Bergen op Zoom

» iamoak.com

HCTF review of Time Drifts

I am Oak: Time Drifts

Dutch indie folk artist Thijs Kuijken has been the torch bearer for slowcore since 2010. I am Oak started out as a band, but now it is just him, playing all the instruments on his new album, Time Drifts. Clasine Haringsma stepped up to the mike, supplying an extra layer of vocals on most of the songs and Eline Toebes added cello to Oath (Ride). He is an introspective mood, contemplating about how to deal with getting older as well as reassessing his hopes and dreams (The Way I See I It).

The pandemic put an end to the usual grind of album > tour > album > tour grind of being a recording artist. Left to his own devices, he had the opportunity to rethink his music and lyrics. The crumbling social cohesion shines through some of the new songs. Those are, although still highly personal, also dealing with the shenanigans and clusterfucks happening in the outside world. Kuijken makes a case for trying to heal things without pontificating. Time itself might come to the rescue (Past and Future, A Sight Unfolds), once people realise that shouting at each other (or worse) won't get them anywhere.

I am Oak: No Known Known

Dutch indie folk artist Thijs Kuijken, who goes by the stage name I am Oak, takes a look at knowledge and the mind that plays tricks on us with memories that tend to change over time or get lost in the void. He took up playing the cello during the pandemic and he puts it to good use on this track.

Tiny Room Records: crowdfunding campaign for "Foundlings Vol. 1 & 2" 2xLP

Dutch underground label Tiny Room Records, specializing in lo-fi, indie, slowcore, and bedroom folk, was founded 10 years ago. Label manager Stefan Breuer has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Voordekunst.nl to cover the costs of releasing a double album, Foundlings Vol. 1 & 2, with 25 unreleased tracks.

I am Oak: Dreamt of You

Dutch indie folk artist Thijs Kuijken, who goes by the stage name I am Oak, mixes things that are real and imaginary on Dreamt of You, a love song wherein anything is possible. Singer-songwriter Clasine Haringsma helped him out with the vocals, giving an extra shine to the lyrics.

I am Oak: "The Way I See It" video

Thijs Kuijken has made a video for The Way I See It, the new single by I am Oak project; "a slow moving song, filled with melancholy as he tries to come to terms with false expectations and trying to find an open ear for his point of view. The delicate interplay of acoustic guitar and muffled drums is spot on as always".

I am Oak: The Way I See It

Dutch indie folk artist I am Oak, nom-de-plume of Thijs Kuijken, has released a new single. The Way I See It is a slow moving song, filled with melancholy as he tries to come to terms with false expectations and trying to find an open ear for his point of view. The delicate interplay of acoustic guitar and muffled drums is spot on as always.

I am Oak: on tour in Japan

Dutch indie folk act I am Oak returns to Japan in September for a string of intimate shows, courtesy of their label Sign-pole records. The tour kicks off in Fukuoka on September 2nd.

I am Oak: tour dates

Dutch indie folk band I am Oak have a couple of shows lined, playing club in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy in May.

Live dates:

• 05/04 Gaskessel, Bern, Switzerland
• 05/05 Kreuz Kultur Keller, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 05/06 Les Caves du Manoir Martigny, Switzerland
• 05/10 Tambourin, Seregno (MB), Italy
• 05/13 NUN Kulturraum, Karlsruhe, Germany
• 05/14 Die Wohngemeinschaft, Köln, Germany

» iamoak.com

I am Oak: The Passage

Dutch indie folk band I am Oak have expanded their musical palet a bit on their new single, The Passage, going for a qmbient slowcore approach wiht a prominent role for synthesizers, plus a sprinkling of saxophone and strings. Band leader Thijs Kuijken sings about trying to find a way to move forward at a time when the world has grinded to a halt.

I am Oak: "Horizon" video

Dutch musician Thijs Kuijken has posted a video of him playing Horizons, another track from his new album with songs reimagined songs from his back catalogue with his slowcore/alt-folk band I am Oak. He revisited 50 songs by the end of the project. A selection of these home recordings - plus one new song That’s That - were collected for a new album Odd Seeds, due for release on December 18th via Snowstar Records.

I am Oak: new album "Odd Seeds" 12/18: + stream "Furrows"

Dutch musician Thijs Kuijken started recording songs from his back catalogue with his slowcore/alt-folk band I am Oak in the early months of the lockdown, a project that became exercise with 50 songs by the end of the project. A selection of these home recordings - plus one new song That’s That - were collected for a new album Odd Seeds, due for release on December 18th via Snowstar Records. Lead single Furrows is a new version of the track from the Ols Songd album.

The World Of Dust & I am Oak: on tour in Japan

Two of Holland's finest indie folkies team up for a short tour in Japan. Stefan Breuer (The World of Dust) and Thijs Kuijken (I am Oak) both have the knack to play softly for audiences who can handle left-field meandering and storytelling.

Note for collectors: the new I am Oak album Osmosis will be released in Japan (with 2 bonus tracks) on September 29th by Sign-pole Records. Samsara, the latest album by The World of Dust, will be released on MOORWORKS on October 1st.

I am Oak: Osmosis

photo: Martina Malchionno

Dutch indie folk band I am Oak added the piano to their tool set for the new album Osmosis, an instrument that perfectly fits their dreamy songs. Band leader Thijs Kuijken has a sharp eye to explore before the outer and inner world, incorporating the landscapes he came across during his ceaseless travelling into soft-spoken songs. His reflections are captured in poetic vignettes, turning personal reflections into something with universal appeal.

Kuijken is well aware of the fact that his observations can be deceptive and memories can be false. But a good story is good story and fact checking might ruin it. Hidden Cove, a tribute to Andrei Tarkovsky's sci-fi movie Stalker, sums it all up. Seeing things that other people don't is a big plus from an artist's perspective. With Osmosis the band's ability to blend in and create something new has reached a new peak.