As the frontman of Bombataz, Brussels based guitarist Vitja Pauwels plays with Naima Joris, Cram Ration, Lara Rosseel, Woolvs, Warm Bad, Mobilhome, An Pierlé and Bony King of Nowhere. In between, he is carving out a solo career for himself.
After the previously released Day at Half Speed (2019), a live recorded concert that later came out as a release, Vitja Pauwels will release his first full album on November 4, 2022.
Drift by / Sink in sounds like a sound bath in which Vitja's guitars are the main focus. However, in terms of approach, style and instrumentation, each song is very different. On the album you can hear not only his familiar guitar, but also pedal steel guitar, all kinds of resonator and 12-string guitars, an arsenal of effects, samplers, synths, drum computers and all kinds of electronics. He also sings on three of the eight songs.
Vitja draws inspiration from different types of music ranging from Americana to Latin American, singer songwriting to cinematic Lynch. Stillness in music attracts him. Artists close to his heart are Daniel Lanois, Marc Ribot, Mark Hollis, Thom Yorke, James Blake, Connan Mockasin, ...
For recording, Vitja worked together with Koen Gisen at studio La Patrie in Ghent. In Gisen's studio everything takes place in one room and that ensures a natural acoustic blend. They carefully placed all sound sources in the room so that Vitja's multi-layered music was expressed in relief. Although it is Vitja's first studio album, it was not the first time the two worked together. The Daniel Johnston tribute record by Naima Joris, her upcoming own album (which will also be released on November 4th) as well as Warm Bad were all recorded by Koen with Vitja. The two became good friends and find each other in taste and an unbridled fascination for sound.
