Cover art and design by Ramona Vangrinsven
OUI089 : Ever Present / alledaagse gedachten
Ever Present is a musical imagination of everyday life, as perceived by Tobias Volckaert. Ideas sprung from recurring scenes in familiar environments and on the road, but equally influenced by ongoing musings and reflections on our living world. Everyday thoughts that are sometimes light, playful and hopeful. Then again searching, reluctant, doubting. With this project, Tobias hopes to share the interweaving of impressions and thoughts in a wordless way with those around him.
Tobias' compositions have a strong melodic character and deliberately take the time to develop in an organic way. Analogous to the influence of daily impressions on our thoughts, melodies are constantly presented in a different light through changes in harmony, tempo and dynamics. This creates a coherent but ever-changing soundscape that evolves throughout the album from mysterious and questioning to cheerful and driving.
Tobias Volckaert: Saxophone and clarinet
Nicolas Van Belle: Guitar, effects and voice
Emanuel Van Mieghem: Double bass
Robbe Broeckx: Drums and percussion
All compositions by Tobias Volckaert
Recorded and mixed by Dries Van Ende at Zinnema, October 2025
Mastered by Frederik Dejongh at Jerboa Mastering
Cover work and design by Ramona Vangrinsven
Tobias, Nicolas, Emanuel and Robbe
Band members:
Tobias Volckaert:
Tobiasexplores different musical landscapes through a variety of woodwind instruments. After graduating as a jazz saxophonist, he started playing clarinet and flute to broaden his sound and textural possibilities. He developed his sound in different genres, being part of projects such as Abel Ghekiere and the Hnita Bigband, with which he had the opportunity to play in AB, Botanique, Eurosonic, Gent Jazz and Hnita Jazz Club among others.
Besides playing as a sideman, Tobias also explores his own artistic vision and compositional skill with two projects of his own. The music of Ever Present, played together with Nicolas Van Belle, Emanuel Van Mieghem and Robbe Broeckx, is influenced by folk, song-writing, free jazz and ambient. We, Lovebirds, with Suzan Peeters, Orlan Ghekiere and Ramona Vangrinsven, is an audio-visual project composed around birdsong and focused on live interaction with sounds that constitute the landscape.
Emanuel Van Mieghem:
Emanuel Van Mieghem is a Belgian double bass player and composer, primarily active in jazz and improvised music. He has performed at notable festivals such as the Jaffa Jazz Festival and Gent Jazz Festival, and has studied under various renowned musicians. In 2023, he won the ‘Prix de la meilleure composition’ at the Avignon Jazz Festival for his project Mojo Jojo. He has performed at prestigious events like the Flagey Jazz Festival, Brussels Jazz Weekend, and many other European venues. Now based in Brussels, Emanuel is a sought-after bassist in the jazz scene.
Nicolas Van Belle:
Nicolas is a guitarist and composer, active in sound-improvised music, jazz, rebetiko, noise rock. He completed his master’s degree 2019 from ‘The School of Arts’ Ghent, studied one year at the Royal Academy of Music, Denmark and also met different Norwegian artists in Oslo which led him to develop his own music palette. Nicolas seeks unconventional playing possibilities, resulting in compositions that capture specific sound colours. As a sideman, he is involved in various projects such as Suura, Erem,, Yarès, Ever Present, Baljuw and others. His work combines acoustic and electronic music, experimental sounds, and influences from various genres, often using effects to bring his sounds to life.
Robbe Broeckx :
Started playing drums at an early age and in 2003 graduated cum laude from the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, where he also received the Playright+ price.
Currently Robbe is an active sideman and is fortunate to play and be part of a wide variety of bands, projects and collaborations.
Open to experiment and exploration, Robbe has got the chance to work with musicians from different musical backgrounds in different genres and musical worlds. Current bands and projects are, amongst others: Noa Lee, The Radar Station (winner de nieuwe lichting 2020), Chimaera (an interdisciplinary ensemble by dancers from P.A.R.T.S, a classical string quartet and two improvisers), a duo with classical pianist Brecht Valckenaers, folkcollaboration 'Trail Up North', Enara Navaira, Lars van de Voorde trio, Tobias Volckaert ‘Ever Present’, Nero Vergaert ‘Tiny Orchestra’,...
A vinyl will be available via Tobias at: tobias@volckaert.mobi
Digital release on the 2nd of October 2026.
Track listing:
1: Eerst
2: We, Here
3: Much Room
4: Vervolgens
5: Teruggeven, wat je nooit had 2
6: Overgroeid
7: Teruggeven, wat je nooit had 1 (this one is not on the vinyl, only digital release!)
8: En verder...
9: Flight of the Plastic Seagull
Apple Music, Itunes, Deezer, etc.:
And on Bandcamp:
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