Jozzonet

We met Joz Knoop at a music and poetry event where we both performed. We became fascinated by the jozzonet: a poem that mirrors itself in the middle line, thus beginning and ending with the same sentence. Not an ideal shape for traditional songwriting. ‘How exciting’, we thought, ‘let’s figure this out!’.

We challenged ourselves to think differently about song structure, resulting in songs built up from soundscapes of acoustic guitar, mostly bowed double bass, electronic effects and intertwined vocal melodies. Melodic sound poetry, if you will.

To make sure that the wonderous shape and meaning of the jozzonets are well represented, we asked (video) artists to express themselves visually. The result: multi-medial releases consisting of music, poetry and visuals.

Joz Knoop: www.jozknoop.nl

 

Pact of steel

On the edge of water and air
two people forever afloat
in their watertight egg.
Since the first encounter
he sought himself only in her.
As she lost herself in him
the cocoon closed about them.
As she lost herself in him
he sought himself only in her.
Since the first encounter
in their watertight egg
two people forever afloat
on the edge of water and air.

Video: Edwin Willemen

 

Empty day

The longer now
on the clock of
immaculate patience
must be a moment of
spun out silence
caused by
this sea of minutes.
This day off
seems endless.
This day off
this sea of minutes.
caused by
spun out silence
must be a moment of
immaculate patience
on the clock of
the longer now.

 

Heavenly Eyes

Earth
revolves round the
sun; the moon
shines like the
glance that
feeds on your
attention for him, he
feeds on your
glance that
shines like the
sun; the moon
revolves round the
earth

 

Video: AURARA

Video: Kaj & Linn Jessen

Spacecaptain

Bedoel je misschien dat
we niet op aarde zijn?
Het lijkt dan ook alsof
we leven in de ruimte
tussen golvende manen.
In het sterrenbeeld Leeuw
zoek ik naar de aarde
door jouw betovering heen.
Eens kom ik met wilskracht
door jouw betovering heen 
zoek ik naar de aarde
in het sterrenbeeld Leeuw
Tussen golvende manen.
We leven in de ruimte.
Het lijkt dan ook alsof
we niet op aarde zijn.
Bedoel je misschien dat?

Spacecaptain

 

Mist
die mij
iemand brengt
als de nevel toch weer
optrekt. Dat zal lukken
als mijn eigen mistbank
optrekt. Dat zal lukken
als de nevel toch weer
iemand brengt
die mij
mist.

 

Video: Sonja Hopmans

Photo: Richard Beukelaar