Bart Laan
Bart Laan - Skylake
Photo's Arthur Haggenburg
Bart Laan is young Dutch band Skylake's guitarist, flute player and cellist. And he sings! Skylake just produced an amazing new album The Deep Dive. Bast also mixed and mastered this masterpiece. Time to talk!
Arne: Could you introduce yourself and Skylake? Tell us all about it, and introduce the band members!
Bart:I play guitar (mainly) in Skylake. We also have Suzan van den Engel on vocals and harp, my brother Arjan Laan on drums, and Charlie Feld on bass guitar. We’re releasing our second album called The Deep Dive. After 7 years in the oven, we’re thrilled to finally share these 8 prog tracks with everyone.
Arne: It's a wonderful new album ! If you had to describe the album in just three words, which would you choose and why?
Bart: Thanks a lot! Three words to describe the new album: I’d say dynamic, energetic, and layered.
- Dynamic, because it transitions between intimate moments and full-on prog metal. I love it when heavy music has contrast—I think it gives it so much more impact.
- Energetic, because groove is essential to us; I hope you can’t resist tapping your foot along!
- Layered, because this time around we took extra time for production and arrangement. For example, there’s more harp, cello, flute, synths, mellotrons, and ambient guitar layers to fully enrich the sonic spectrum.
Arne: What was the biggest source of inspiration for this specific album?
Bart: There wasn’t a single source of inspiration for this album—we drew from various personal experiences and stories.For example, Haunted was inspired by a tragic horror story that really stuck with me. Most of the other tracks are more personal, like Wide Open, which is about a hiking journey Arjan took. Musically, our biggest inspirations for this record were Anathema, Haken, Karnivool, and Porcupine Tree.
Arne: How does the songwriting process usually work for you? Does a track start in a jam session, or does it begin at home in a home studio with a voice recording on a phone?
Bart: Usually it starts when someone comes up with a few musical ideas that fit together, records them at home, and sends them over. Sometimes the demo already looks a lot like the final song; other times we have to work hard to get it right. It’s probably more efficient to throw those "problem songs" in the trash, but I’m too stubborn for that, haha! We also meet up frequently to work on the tracks together, especially to brainstorm lyrics.
Arne: You're a multi-instrumentalist. What do you play? What is your absolute favorite instrument to play and is there a special story behind it?
Bart: That’s right! Since our last album, I’ve learned to play the flute and cello. I was stuck in a bit of a rut with my guitar playing—I didn't really know where to go or how to grow. Learning new instruments was a great way to find fresh inspiration: a whole new world opens up, and it’s rewarding to see rapid progress. Most of all, it’s great to expand my musical palette.
That said, right now I’ve fallen back in love with the guitar—it’s just so versatile! My favorite instruments are my headless Strandberg guitars; they are extremely lightweight and comfortable to play.
Arne: If we go back to the very beginning: what or who inspired you to pick up an instrument in the first place?
Bart: When I was 11, I was watching a live music video with my dad—I don't even remember which band it was! But I was so amazed by the guitarist's speed and dexterity; I couldn't imagine ever being able to do that. Naturally, I wanted to try!
Arne: Many musicians combine their music with jobs or studies. What does your day-to-day life look like when you're not making music?
Bart: I have a chronic illness that prevents me from working, so the energy I do have goes straight into making music! Aside from that, I love to read (novels, thrillers, fantasy) and to game (Zelda, Metroid) when I am able to.
Arne: How do you balance the energy needed to create music and perform?
Bart: That’s definitely a challenge. Taking our time really helps—that’s part of why we spent so long on this album (though an unhealthy dose of perfectionism was also involved!). We all have the luxury of not relying on music to make a living, so there’s no external pressure to rush.
Arne: Where do you hope you and your music will be in five years? Are there specific venues, festivals, or countries you dream of playing?
Bart: I’d love to play festivals like ProgPower, Midsummer/Midwinter Prog, or Be Prog!. And of course, De Boerderij!
Arne: Which artist (living or legendary) would you love to collaborate with in the studio or share a drink with?
Bart: I’d love to meet Adam "Nolly" Getgood. I really admire his mixing work. Although our music isn't quite as heavy as the material he usually works on, his tutorials were a massive help in getting the mix right on our album. He also seems like a genuinely humble guy, and he’s a fantastic guitar player too!
Arne: What’s the weirdest or funniest thing you’ve ever experienced during a show or in the studio?
Bart: It’s always funny when the pitch shifter pedal gets accidentally left on when it shouldn't be!
Arne: What hidden gem (a relatively unknown band, movie, or book) do you think my readers absolutely need to check out?
Bart: I don’t think you can really call it "hidden," but if you enjoy a good horror story, I highly recommend The Haunting of Hill House. That was actually the inspiration behind our track Haunted!