The Influences is a music video project and YouTube channel that captures intimate live performances exploring the musical craft and key influences of some of the most compelling artists from around the globe.
Created and curated by Dutch journalist and filmmaker Matthijs van der Ven in 2008, The Influences has now filmed over 400 separate artists in many unique settings, creating a substantial musical archive of over 1200 videos.
The project has recorded numerous award winning artists including several Grammy winners / nominated artists. Notable contributors include Damien Jurado, The Tallest Man On Earth, Courtney Marie Andrews, Tim Knol, Anaïs Mitchell, Molly Tuttle, The Staves, John Paul White, Daryll-Ann, Ian Noe and Villagers.
The Influences has established a reputation amongst both musicians and their audiences for videos that show honesty and faithfulness to the artist, the setting and the song. The channel now has 25 thousand subscribers and is approaching 15 million views.
The Influences
❤️🖤
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
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The Influences
Get 50% off your first month if you become a paid Patron for The Influences now. Discount valid on all tiers, until the end of August. Help keep this musical archive running!
Visit patreon.theinfluences.com
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
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The Influences
❤️ @Niamh_Bury & @TheBeatles
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The Influences
Irish musician @Glenhansardmusic has died, aged 56. Last year in Kilkenny, his friend @ZoeHayter recorded this cover of @TheSwellSeason8's 'In These Arms' for theinfluences.com. Zoe and I felt today is a fitting day to publish this raw, emotional tribute to one of the finest musicians there ever was.
Hayter: "I have been singing this song since I was 12, whether I was busking on the streets, in-front of a crowd or all alone in my room. It’s always given me a feeling of comfort and strong emotion. It’s such a powerful piece of music and words, in what I would expect nothing less, since it’s written by the songwriting masters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Right now more than ever, this song means so much to me. This one’s for you, Glen."
1 month ago | [YT] | 4
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The Influences
After almost 18 years of this project, I can almost always feel it when a recording is going to be interesting. And when @joachimcooder4856 and his Italian guitarist @adrianoviterbiniguitar entered our set at TakeRoot festival in Groningen, there was no doubt in my mind. Two musicians who truly feel the music they’re playing; who sit down and just let it happen. Well, it happened. They recorded Hold The Woodpile Down – a traditional American folk song often associated with banjo player Uncle Dave Macon, recorded as early as the 1920s.
6 months ago | [YT] | 1
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The Influences
For the first time in our 17-year journey capturing intimate live performances, The Influences is opening its doors to community support through Patreon. Join me in shaping the future of this music video project. Created and curated by me, Dutch journalist and filmmaker Matthijs van der Ven in 2008, The Influences has now filmed over 400 separate artists in many unique settings, creating a substantial musical archive of over 1200 videos.
The Influences has always been funded by myself personally, but now I’m launching this Patreon page so that you can support the future of this project. So that you can keep enjoying these videos and all that are to come for free.
patreon.theinfluences.com/
9 months ago | [YT] | 0
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The Influences
Spinvis covers 'Everything Goes' by Solo for The Influences, as part of the tribute 'Solo, by other people'
www.theinfluences.com/solo
Erik de Jong (Spinvis): “We have toured with Solo in The Netherlands and Belgium for quite some time. I would wait in the dressing room, except when this song came on, because I would stand in the wings on the side listening, every night. It’s a perfect song. And its meaning now… no one could have imagined that. I translated the song, and for that you really must dive into the lyrics and dig up its meaning. And yes, it’s all terrible. But it’s also very beautiful.”
“That time with Solo was really very nice. Lucas, my pianist, was also there. We experienced this together. Michiel has always had such a drive, you know? That has always intrigued me. But not only this song, all those songs with Simon Gitsels on piano. They made a lasting impression. But yes, everything goes, it’s just a matter of time. That’s it.”
11 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1
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The Influences
"This song has always been cathartic to me. It feels like a sanctuary for the vocation which also happens to be mine. You have music and the music industry and, more often than not, their interests are at odds with one another. Maybe that’s why it feels so good to be reminded of what’s essential behind the everyday capitalist reality of continuing a career in music: the magic that is music is in fact uncorrupted and free."
"Sadly, the streaming business has made the song’s title true in another sense as well: if the entire music history is available for 12,99, then music is rendered virtually worthless. I worry about that less when I hear a song like Everything Is Free."
11 months ago | [YT] | 4
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The Influences
Silver Lining played a cover of 'One Little Song' by Gillian Welch for The Influences.
11 months ago | [YT] | 2
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The Influences
@johnmartynmusic's Over the Hill, by @caoidebarra
11 months ago | [YT] | 0
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