READERS' CHOICE PART 4

A broad and eclectic sonic treat

Kurated No. 234
Readers’ Choice 2024
Part 4

PLAYLISTS
• Jan Vochten: Part 1 of 3 : 32 songs (2 hrs)
• Full List: 95 songs (6 hrs 15 mins) on Spotify

TRACK LIST
• 32 titles and artists

Classically-trained, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Iskander Moon hails from the Belgian city of Ghent

CONTRIBUTOR

Belgium’s Jan Vochten knows more about music of all genres than anyone I know. He was a key inspiration when I started Kurated in 2018. I had just discovered YouTube and excitedly started exchanging music videos with him accompanied by brief blurbs about the artists. Jan is my cousin and the two of us have been discussing music for more than 50 years via air mail and email. This online streaming magic put a whole new spin on “sharing music”.

His playlist contributions to Readers’ Choice have always been slightly epic in length. This year’s offering has been trimmed to 95 titles because he left out the classical section.

His introduction is below but first I want to highlight four compelling artists – Belgian, Dutch, French and English – who appear on today’s playlist.

• Iskander Moon is one of a dozen Belgian musicians featured on Jan’s playlist. The classically trained 22 year-old multi-instrumentalist and producer had a hit in 2024 with Saturday Silence. He told New Times magazine “People who have seen me perform here in Belgium probably associate me musically with more complex projects, but I’ve always seen myself primarily as a songwriter and storyteller. I enjoy playing a piece like Prelude in C Minor by Bach, but at the same time, I can wholeheartedly appreciate a good Taylor Swift song.”

• Chantal Acda is a Dutch-born singer living in Antwerp recording since the late 90s’. Her Spotify bio says her most recent album, Silently Held (2023), “continues her journey of introspection, focusing on themes of stillness, fragility, and healing.” Her song The Friends Parade features a collaboration with US guitarist, Bill Frisell.

• Zaho de Sagazan, is a 25 year-old French singer who’s come a long way in a short time. As a teenager in 2015 she started posting videos on Instagram. Her debut 2023 album La Symphonie des éclairs (The Symphony of Lightning) has rocketed her to fame, record sales and awards in her country of origin. The pure clarity of her voice and precise phrasing are something to behold. She credits UK singer Tom Odell as a major influence.

• Tom Odell is an English singer-songwriter recognized for his 2013 hit Another Love who leans towards the sensitive singer-songwriter side of music. The approach is working as his 30 million followers on Spotify will attest. “I don’t think there’s much room for the drunken, misogynistic male in music any more,” he says.

The 7th Annual Readers’ Choice

One of Kurated’s aims is to share music with you. In turn, readers often mention new music, upcoming concerts, offer musical opinions and more. Once a year you’re invited to act as guest curators to highlight music that’s caught your attention during the last year in the annual Readers’ Choice series. Anything musical is welcomed whether its new, an old favourite, something self-composed and more. Thanks to all of you contributors for participating!

Kurated is a music sharing project.

11 January 2025

Her first album in 2023 vaulted 25 year-old singer Zaho de Zagazan to fame in her native France.

Part 1 of 3

A BROAD AND ECLECTIC SONIC TREAT

by Jan Vochten

I’ve been listening to music for more than 60 years and continue to actively search for beautiful music in an eclectic and totally personal way.

I had some health problems in 2024 hence the more melancholy songs in this year’s list. Once again, the playlist is long at 95 tunes, (but much shorter than the original version!) A couple of songs were chosen by my daughter Hanne.

She and I went to Anoushka Shankar’s concert together and, to my surprise, she really liked it. I have always enjoyed Shankar’s music and I hope she’ll release some live recordings from her tremendous 2024 tour. It would be wonderful to listen to this marvellous music again (and again).

Famous French chanteuse Françoise Hardy died this year at 80. I’ve been a fan going back to the 60’s – also her more recent work. I’ve included the first song I ever heard by her on the playlist – 1962’s Tous les garcons et les filles.

A surprise discovery this year: American Tucker Zimmerman is a singer-songwriter from the 60’s whose music I never knew before. I selected two songs by him. His new album released this year – Dance of Love – has given him new found fame. He moved to Belgium in the early 70s with his Belgian wife. His comeback has been made with the support of the US folk group Big Thief featuring Adrianne Lenker. Now 83, his first concert in years sold out immediately and he has a series of shows coming up in the next few months.

It’s been a good year for music in Belgium. A number of new Belgian bands made it on my list. Just a few I want to point out: Bluai, Iskander Moon, Oscar and the Wolf, Pierre de Maere, Calicos and Haunted Youth.

I want to give a special mention to Chantal Acda for her work with Bill Frisell. I’ve always liked her voice but, with Frisell’s collaboration, her music reaches another level.

Isolde Lasoen: she’s the drummer in the famous Belgian band Daan and released her debut album, Oh Dear, in 2023.

Gus Viseur: born in Lessines, Belgium in 1915 (during the First World War). He started learning the accordion from his father at the age of eight. In the 1930’s he played the streets of Paris and joined several jazz bands and also played with Edith Piaf. In my list is his interpretation of Nuages, my favourite song by another Belgian-born jazz legend, Django Reinhardt.

Isaac Roux: a nom de plume for Louis De Roo. Newly discovered songwriter. He studied songwriting at LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded by Paul McCartney).

Ise: this new 18 year-old singer got rave reviews for her early concerts. She was the youngest performer ever to join the line-up at Rock Werchter, Belgium’s biggest annual festival.

Swedish singer-songwriter Daniel Norgren has been recording since 2008

New discoveries in 2024

Daniel Norgren, Tom Odell, Harp, Zaho de Sagazan, Mick Flannery and Sasha Alex Sloan.
Raye, Rosé + Bruno Mars are both tips from my daughter.

Since my list is so long, I decided to drop all the classical music this year.

About Jan Vochten: I’m a 75-year-old music enthusiast from Belgium. While I’m at times critical of Spotify, there’s no denying how much its vast library has shaped my listening habits. When I was young, discovering new music was a challenge – I remember having to save up pocket money for months just to afford albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Today, it’s become incredibly easy to explore and listen to music and make customized, personal playlists. Further, I also get the occasional excellent tip for a good song from my 20 year-old daughter Hanne!