Ken Kunita Hosts - Single Release-Tartarus Ensemble

TARTARUS Ensemble mixes different elements of jazz, contemporary, classical, electronic and even metal by weaving them into a full album-long story.

Adriaan Lips, the bandleader, composer, pianist and accordionist of TARTARUS, came up with the idea during a musical discussion with his composition teacher at Codarts that music should come from the "underworld". This referred to a completely authentic and shameless sound, something that is completely disconnected from external expectations. That is the origin of the name TARTARUS, the ancient Greek term for the underworld.

This resulted in a hodgepodge of influences that have rarely been mixed together before, such as electronica, jazz, classical, metal and opera.

This is also reflected in our instrumentation, which consists of vocals (Hanna Aïlane), (bass) clarinet (Nuno Cuñha), cello (Lluïsa Paredes), El. guitar (Leonardo Franceschini) and drums (Owen Puijpe) and electronics. This combination of instruments and sounds creates a refreshing and innovative sound, where each individual can add his/her own musicality. This is especially evident in more improvised parts (in which interaction is central) that alternate with written work.

In addition to this philosophy, TARTARUS also believes in storytelling. This combination of styles is ultimately used to tell the story of a powerful but friendly AI that is born, gains consciousness, experiences loneliness, decays and is finally released. Each piece in this concert (called The Omnipotent Orphan) is a chapter from his story.