In November it’ll be four years since I joined Bertolf Lentink in Carpentras in the south of France where he recorded his third, self-titled record. Filming and witnessing that process I developed even more admiration for his talent. His songs were more personal and more than ever he went for what he wanted to make. Even his band members seemed to be overwhelmed after recording some of the songs. After taking a break from his solo career, doing some collaborations and becoming a father, Bertolf’s back with First & Then, released last Friday.
Read my article about Bertolf below the videos. This session was recorded at the beautiful Museum De Fundatie in Zwolle.
Leading Me Now (The Tallest Man On Earth)
Gold In Them Hills (Ron Sexsmith)
Hank Williams’ Ghost (Darrell Scott)
First & Then
Wrinkles
It was in a phone conversation in the summer of 2012, months after the release of Bertolf that I asked him to participate in an event of Onder Invloed, when he confessed he was done being a solo musician, at least for the near future. The pressure of being a front man, having to deliver on all kinds of levels felt too much. He founded the new band Color Reporters with his long-time friend Bas Wilberink and toured the theatres with Dutch actor, musician and writer Kasper van Kooten.
But, as probably many others and I secretly were hoping, it didn’t take too long before Bertolf started writing songs that were not meant for Color Reporters, but for a future solo record. Earlier this year he recorded them with producer Martijn Groeneveld at the
