Evert Aalten

“Evert is a treasure-digger, a sort of archeologist in search of special music. As an anthropologist he worked out a system in which he is able to capture that.” -Mathijn den Duijf

As a keyboardist, guitarist, teacher at the HKU (music production), studio engineer, and producer at Omni Recordings, I have a deep love for vintage instruments. Think Hammond organ with Leslie, a pimped Wurlitzer paired with a Fender Twin, a Juno-60, and a good old Fender Rhodes. That warm, authentic sound from dusty machines and old gear is what drives me, both in performance and in the studio.

My recordings reflect this passion for vintage tone. I aim for depth, soul, and character, qualities best captured through a blend of analog warmth and creative recording techniques. The biggest challenge in any session? Capturing the emotion behind the music and getting it onto tape. It all started in 1996 with a simple four-track cassette recorder, which taught me to be inventive. These days, I work with professional hybrid gear that combines the best of the analog and digital worlds, but my urge to experiment remains undiminished. Most of my work now happens at my studio in Amersfoort or on location around the world.

Over the years, I’ve played in a wide range of bands and collaborated on projects like Alexander McKenzie, Jackie Please, Chef’Special, Harold K, Delouise, Linda Kreuzen, Sioe Tio, Göksel Yilmaz and many others. Also, I spent three months in Kingston, Jamaica, recording reggae with legends like Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Sly & Robbie, Sugar Minott, Cedric Myton, and Kiddus I (you can hear the full story in this podcast episode).

For Boot Recordings, I drove around and recorded singer-songwriters straight to stereo tape from the boot of a VW van. In 2013, I spent eight months in Northern Uganda recording traditional music, an experience that led to the creation of Wandering Songs.

I also work as a sound recordist for documentaries and compose soundtracks, always looking for new adventures!

✔ Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (HKU), Master of Music Production
✔ Conservatory of Rotterdam (CODARTS), keys
✔ Minor ‘Musicology and Ethnomusicology’ at University of Amsterdam (UvA)
✔ University of Utrecht (UU), BA Cultural Anthropology