Even Bill Frisell is drawn in—Chantal Acda, a singer-songwriter and guitarist from the Netherlands, unveils her latest work after transitioning to a new record label, featuring her voice of quiet intensity and guitar tones accompanied by an exquisite lineup of supporting musicians.
Chantal Acda, a Belgium-based singer-songwriter and guitarist, was born in 1978 in the Netherlands. In 2000, she began her musical activities with the indie-pop group Chacda and made her solo debut in 2013. Her works have included collaborations with Shahzad Ismaily (Beastie Boys, Laurie Anderson, etc.) and Bill Frisell, as well as other prominent jazz musicians such as Marc Ribot, Ches Smith, and more. A live performance with Frisell was released in 2017 as Live at Jazz Middelheim.
Her latest album, Silently Held, features Chantal Acda & The Atlantic Drifters. This release is her first work under the Challenge Records label, known as one of the representative labels of the Netherlands. The contributors include Shahzad Ismaily (piano, keyboards, guitar), Bill Frisell (guitar), Eric Thielemans (drums), Niels Van Heertum (euphonium), Joachim Badenhorst (clarinet), Jozef Dumoulin (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Colin Stetson (saxophone). Their participation plays an important role in enriching the work.
Regarding the nine songs on the album, Chantal says:
“I wanted to embrace and quietly explore the darker aspects of myself and bring them into my work. For this album, I opened myself to the perspectives of others and allowed their influence to shape my creativity.”
Songs like One Day, One Life convey delicate emotions, while pieces such as I Can’t Make You Love Me leave a lasting impression with their unique atmosphere. The instrumental Hear It Out is also worth noting, and Friends Parade highlights Acda’s more straightforward approach with simple arrangements of piano and guitar.
Acda’s ability to collaborate with musicians from both Europe and North America has resulted in an album that not only explores her inner depths but also elevates her art to a new level.
(Written by Hiroki Sugita)
