Sebas Honing - Blue Spheres

Sebas Honing - Blue Spheres

Independent

Sebas Honing may not yet be a household name to everyone, but he is undeniably one of the Netherlands' elite guitarists. Blending technical mastery with a keen melodic sensibility, he proves his prowess once again on his new album, Blue Spheres.

Blue Spheres is an intensely personal journey. Across 12 flawlessly produced tracks, Honing tackles themes of depression (‘Happy’ Person), fatherhood, family dynamics, rocky relationships, self-doubt, and spirituality. Unsurprisingly, his guitar playing is phenomenal, but he also takes charge of the keyboards and occasional bass lines. He is joined by a tight group of musicians: Stefan Maas on drums, Robbin van de Bor, Alex Canion, and Percy Hoff on bass, and Jeroen Goossens on flute. Keyboard wizard Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater) even drops in for a searing synth solo on ‘I See It Now’. Vocally, Sebas holds his own brilliantly, complemented by his wife Petra on select tracks and a full choir (featuring Romy Ouwerkerk) on the powerhouse opener ‘Happy’ Person.

While Blue Spheres delivers plenty of heavy, guitar-driven muscle, it also knows when to breathe. A prime example is the breathtaking ‘What You Gave Us’, elevated by Rick Witkam’s guest vocals.

This record is an emotional tour de force into which Honing has poured every drop of his soul. Beautifully executed and passionately sung, it builds up to a finale that explores vulnerability and insecurity. But if Blue Spheres proves anything, it’s that Sebas Honing has zero reason to doubt himself. This album is a stunning testament to his artistry.