Sound/Check gives budding musicians a taste of the business

This week, Poppunt, the Flemish contact point for musicians and DJs, is hosting Sound/Check, the follow-up to Muzikantendag (Musician’s Day). The goal is still to give information – primarily to young and new musicians – about all things related to making music, from a cool cover design to a solid promo plan, but the scope of the event is wider than before.

“We teach people that it all comes down to telling a story,” says Wim Thijs, the programmer of Sound/Check. “This is informed not only by the music, but also by things like the video clips they make or the visuals they use.”

Sound/Check gathers some 130 music professionals, who will give advice at seven places in Ancienne Belgique in central Brussels. In the Soundlab, Black Box Revelation will play some songs and talk about how they began. Budding musicians can also have a variety of professionals evaluate demo recordings, or find out about the latest trends in the business.

Most of the music professionals are Belgian, but Sound/Check also presents a few big shots from abroad, like the innovative German musician Nils Frahm or Justin Gerrish (pictured), the producer of Vampire Weekend. Thijs: “Convincing people like that is not a matter of remuneration. What’s more important for them is whether they can freely share their vision.” And of course they can.

In the lobby of Ancienne Belgique, you’ll find an instant vinyl booth. You want to cut a unique vinyl copy of your demo? Do it here for free. Beware, there’s only time to make four or five recordings per hour, so you might have to queue. But it sounds worth it, as is the whole Sound/Check event.

21 November, Ancienne Belgique, Boulevard Anspach 110, Brussels