Van Risseghem
Hear it Now
Singer-songwriter Van Risseghem writes and records fresh and melodic pop-rock songs that flow from your speakers straight from his homebase in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This fall he released his latest single from his second full-length album, Passenger, which will debut this spring. Coincidentally, his single "The River" was improvised in a way very much like its name, when he strummed guitar riffs that seemed to stream the song lyrics. "That was a really unique song," said Risseghem in an interview. "It was a free flow when it came to me."
For Risseghem, it seems many talents spring up for him in addition to songwriting -- photography, graphic design and the ability to play a variety of instruments. When he was nine he began learning piano and later he taught himself guitar, and began "tinkering" with other instruments from the bass, to the accordian. Risseghem's home schooling gave him the freedom to be creative, while still engage in team sports like soccer and tennis.
As for his influences, Risseghem counts Keane, Tim Rice-Oxley, Paul Simon and Kansas as inspirations. "When I was in high school I listened to Linkin Park and other modern music, but when my dad took me to see Kansas, it changed my perspective on music." He also grew up in a musical household. His mom sang and played the piano. Eventually Risseghem's passion for music brought him to a realization. "When you learn an instrument," he explained, "you are always going to be a musician, whether you are dancing around the house, or selling platinum albums."
For a long time the one man band was wearing many hats as he gathered publicity, booked his tour and played all of the instruments in the studio. As he prepares for the release of his music video for "The River" and the March 2010 release of Passenger, which you can preview below, he will get back the basics. Over the next couple of months he will continue to write "a slew of songs," play a few shows, keep up with his fan base and "focus on just being an artist."
—Christa Fletcher
For Risseghem, it seems many talents spring up for him in addition to songwriting -- photography, graphic design and the ability to play a variety of instruments. When he was nine he began learning piano and later he taught himself guitar, and began "tinkering" with other instruments from the bass, to the accordian. Risseghem's home schooling gave him the freedom to be creative, while still engage in team sports like soccer and tennis.
As for his influences, Risseghem counts Keane, Tim Rice-Oxley, Paul Simon and Kansas as inspirations. "When I was in high school I listened to Linkin Park and other modern music, but when my dad took me to see Kansas, it changed my perspective on music." He also grew up in a musical household. His mom sang and played the piano. Eventually Risseghem's passion for music brought him to a realization. "When you learn an instrument," he explained, "you are always going to be a musician, whether you are dancing around the house, or selling platinum albums."
For a long time the one man band was wearing many hats as he gathered publicity, booked his tour and played all of the instruments in the studio. As he prepares for the release of his music video for "The River" and the March 2010 release of Passenger, which you can preview below, he will get back the basics. Over the next couple of months he will continue to write "a slew of songs," play a few shows, keep up with his fan base and "focus on just being an artist."
—Christa Fletcher
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