BIOGRAPHY: Headphone

To achieve massive radio airplay and positive feedback on both your first 2 singles in your home country as a new starting band ; it’s not often that comes around. Both ‘Ghostwriter’ and ‘She Is Electric’ did just that on Studio Brussel, Belgium’s leading alternative radio station. So the debut album from Headphone, also called ‘Ghostwriter’, was the obvious next step.

Before this debut album it has been Ian Marien (vocals, guitar) who put together where Headphone needed to go musically. It was with the collaboration of Nico Steenkiste (drums), Jan Goossens (bass), Tom Barbier (guitar) and Gerd Van Mulders (keyboards) their own peculiar sound was created, pretty unique for not only Belgium, but abroad.

Based in Ghent, which is pretty much the center of the Belgian music scene with offsprings as Soulwax, Das Pop and Goose, Headphone was inspired by music in general and not just in little Belgium. Lofi pop songs but with a club scene twist (Lidocaine and Ghostwriter), sophisticated electronica (Skinner) and rock songs (In White Rooms and Nothing’s There) got them the brand new label ‘indietronica’.

It is this fascinating mix of ‘indie’ and ‘catchy’ that makes Headphone one of a kind : an intriguing dynamic that evolves, but never predictable. The basis of the songs start with a kept breath, a tension that reminds you of film noir movie scenes; the plot looming, actors whispering, something waiting to happen ...

This atmosphere also comes from the intriguing lyrics by lead singer and front man Ian Marien. He sketches refined portraits with irrational twists of the human psyche. His cryptic scenes invite you to create your own story.

‘Ghostwriter’ switches effortless between grand wall of sounds and chilly minimal precision. It freewheels between sophisticated subtlety and simple pop music. Headphone is not just the ‘catch of the day’. Headphone is a band with a very promising future, not afraid to travel new roads with any compromise.

The album 'Ghostwriter' is now available in Belgium and pretty soon in other European countries