Released today via Bandcamp and full to the brim with mesmerising metallic mantras, Holy Water is a solo project from former Heat and Dust guitarist, Jasper den Hartigh. We wanted to hear more about what inspired Jasper’s very original soundscapes, and asked him to choose five records that have been hugely influential on his music.
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration: ‘Stripped’
I’ve been a big fan of Depeche Mode since late childhood, but before starting work on Holy Water, I got very interested in the Black Celebration album, especially ‘Stripped’. I love the layered melodies that give way to a transcendent chorus. A feeling I would love to achieve in my own way.
MARE – Mare: ‘Anisette’
The Mare self-titled LP is an all time favorite. Especially when it comes to sprawling and emotional doom. I would put the entire album on here, but had to narrow it down to a song, so I picked the opener. It may not be a super obvious influence, but I can definitely feel it there, from the open song structures, to the dynamic range, to some of the guitar tones and parts.
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless: ‘Sometimes’
This is another evergreen influence that I haven’t been able to shake since hearing it in my youth. ‘Sometimes’ sounds like a warm blanket, using noise and distortion in the background to achieve the effect. I’ve strived for that feeling time and again when making my own music.
Raspberry Bulbs – Privacy: ‘Light Surrounds Me’
This is an influence on the album that can be felt in a few places. From the production, to the feel of the music. I love how this falls right in the middle of a bunch of genres, and still keeps the identity of those genres intact while making something new. This sounds like a simple task, but it isn’t. Raspberry Bulbs are able to do this, seemingly effortlessly, and are among the few that pull it off.
Various Artists – Queen of the Damned (OST): ‘System’
It was difficult to pick a favorite song from this soundtrack. These were originally all sung by Jonathan Davis from Korn, but on the album are replaced by various other singers of the time. In this case Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. I would count this among the strongest influences for the feel of the album we ended up making.
