Ozark Henry
Ozark Henry is the pen name of Belgian musician, singer and composer Piet Goddaer ( born April 29, 1970 in Kortrijk, Belgium).
The musical style of Ozark Henry can be classified between pop and rock, the songs are characterized by elaborate arrangements and a high melodiosity. Its distinctive singing has a high recognition value.
The beginnings
Piet Goddaer is the son of classical and jazz composer Norbert Goddaer. At the age of six he started to play saxophone and piano. Goddaer got the sixteenth birthday present, an electric guitar and founded with his brother Jan, the rock band Church of the Nemesis.
In the further course Goddaer played in several local Belgian bands. As a rapper in the band Word, which was founded by his brother Jan, 1994 marked Goddaer a cult hit with the song Henry Man - She.
Music career
1995 Goddaer gained the stage name Ozark Henry. The name Ozark is based on a highland plateau in the U.S. ( Ozark Mountains ) and Henry is the name of several characters in novels by William S. Burroughs.
" I thought it would be cool if I had an artist's name did would be Easier to pronounce than my own name - Especially in other languages . I saw an old picture of two children from the Ozark mountain range [ in the U.S. ]. The angle of the photo Focuses on the kitten they're holding, so you can not see Their Heads. I chose the word ' Ozark ' Because, like the picture, my music is about a different way of looking at 's something that is common. ' Henry ' is the name of several characters in William Burroughs' books, Which I read. So He uses it to refer to heroin - but that's not my intention, of course ".
The following year, he released his debut album I'm Seeking Something That Has Already Found Me, which was critically acclaimed, but did not have much commercial success.
Their second album, This Last Warm Solitude was published in 1998 in Belgium and the following year in the Netherlands, Germany and France. 1999 Goddaer received a zamu Music Award as Best Songwriter / Composer.
The next album Birthmarks was released in 2001 and marked the commercial breakthrough for Ozark Henry. The singles and Rescue Sweet Instigator been very successful in Belgium. The album was recorded in Belgium with platinum. 2001 won Goddaer two zamu Music Awards in the categories of best pop / rock and best producer. Due to its great success, Henry now came regularly on television and radio shows.
His fourth album, The Sailor Not The Sea was released in 2004 and reached the following year in Belgium Gold status.
In November 2005, his first DVD, which is titled Easter Sunday / / Live At The Ancienne Belgique appeared. You can see it a about 2 hours long concert of 27 March 2005, the Ancienne Belgique Brussels, which comprises 21 items.
The fifth album The Soft Machine was released in September 2006. Decoupling These Days reached as the first single from Ozark Henry at all the Top 20 of the Belgian Ultratop 50 charts.
To celebrate its tenth anniversary as a solo artist was released in 2007, the Best -Of- Album A Decade.
2009 died unexpectedly Catteeuw Stef, who was a guitarist since 2001 by Ozark Henry. Catteeeuws conspicuous guitar sound was co-determines the musical style of the album The Sailor Not The Sea and The Soft Machine.
2010 appeared the compilation The Essential, which receives all the previously released singles from the years 1996-2006, as well as soundtrack material and rare songs.
In October 2010 Ozark Henry with Hvelreki his sixth studio album. It is the first album by Henry for the record company EMI Music. In Germany it was published on April 15, 2011.
In the spring of 2013 Ozark Henry announced his seventh studio album, Stay Gold, the first single is the duet I'm Your Sacrifice. Expected release date is 19th April 2013.
Goddaer also wrote the music for several theater projects and soundtracks for Belgian television series Sedes & Belli and the Dutch feature film Crusade in Jeans, which is based on a novel by Thea Beckman.
Discography
Albums
Live albums
- 2008: Grace
Compilations
- 2007: A Decade
- 2010: The Essential
Soundtracks
- 2002: Sedes & Belli - The Music
- 2006: Crusade in Jeans
- 2007: To Walk Again