YVI

Compared to YVI’s rather traditional debut album ‘A Few Words Of Comfort’ (2019), ‘control’ is a lot more produced and contemporary. The violin and the band vibe reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Damien Rice and Glen Hansard has made way for synthesizers, drum computers and arrangements in the style of Bon Iver and Radiohead. 

Without realising it, Diederick Brandsma – alias YVI – spent the past year seeking perfection. This resulted in sleepless nights, doubts, stress about choices and a lengthy process in the studio during which he was constantly confronted with himself. “I kept going back to the studio full of good intentions, but every day after a few hours my head would start overflowing, I would feel insecure about every little detail and I’d totally lose sight of the bigger picture.” With support from his band, his friends and with professional help, YVI managed to let go of his need for perfection and to understand that what he had achieved was more than enough. “I still sometimes panic while I’m arranging, mixing, mastering – actually at every step along the way to producing a record. Except when I’m writing, funnily enough. Meanwhile I’ve come to accept that this insecurity is just part of who I am. I’ve learned to have faith that things will work out and that what we’re making is good enough. After all, I’ve never actually seen or heard anything that was perfect. I’ll probably never achieve that, because it simply doesn’t exist.”

Although his songs all seem to be about different topics (love, loss of a loved one, sleepless nights), Diederick has created – unintentionally, and influenced by his current life stage – a concept EP about perfection, insecurity and control. Three words which are inextricably linked.

Latest news