Get to know the Musical Background
Vincent Van Doren, also known as Devince, is an always-curious individual who has seamlessly balanced his passion for both music and science. Despite studying science-maths in high school, he never strayed away from his love for music and continued his musical education alongside. This dedication to music led him to study at the academy of Wilrijk where he received training in music theory, piano, and piano accompaniment. With his piano tutor, Viviane, he was able to refine his skills and explore new creative avenues.
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In 2017, Vincent concluded his studies in high school, together ending his curriculum at the Academy of Wilrijk, but that did not mark the end of his musical journey. He continued to play the piano, improvise and compose songs, many of which were never released, until he finally released his first neoclassical piano song "Horizonte" in 2020. The inspiration behind this piece came from his Erasmus in Lisbon, where he was able to admire the breathtaking sunsets. This was just the beginning, as he continued to slowly but steadily release more songs such as "Névoa" and the "Nebula" Part I and II, a collaboration project with talented guitarist and cellist friends. In February, he released his latest improvisation: "A New Dawn". In 2022 he concluded his studies of Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven, embarking his professional career, as well as his persuit for releasing more songs.
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With a portfolio that continues to grow, Vincent's musical background is a testament to his dedication to both his passions. Despite pursuing a demanding career in science, he has never let go of his love for music, which shows in his compositions.
CV
Development and Musical Career
Sept 2009 - June 2013
Music Theory (1st grade) at the Academy of Wilrijk (AMV)
I started my journey in music theory at the Music Academy of Wilrijk where I was introduced to various elements of music including theory, melodic dictation, Italian notation, rhythm, and singing. Although my singing was not the best to say the least, I found the other components to be aligned seamlessly with my aptitudes and abilities. These later turned out to be highly beneficial for my creative process. The skills I learned at the academy have played a significant role in shaping my musical abilities and understanding
Sept 2013 - June 2016
Music Culture (2nd grade) at the Academy of Wilrijk (AMC)
The Music Culture program at the Academy of Wilrijk comprised of a well-rounded curriculum encompassing both general music history and elective courses. I was particularly drawn to the elective course in music notation using Musescore, an open-source software for writing sheet music. The course was mostly self-directed, but I was able to grasp the concepts quickly and utilized the playback function to hear my compositions. This was my introduction to "music production", and I was even able to export some MP3 files to share with my friends. Another elective course I took was in Garageband, a beginner-friendly digital audio workstation. This allowed me to experiment with electronic elements in my music and led me to purchase my first MIDI keyboard, marking the beginning of my journey in music production. This eventually led me to upgrade to Logic Pro, further enhancing my musical capabilities
Sept 2010 - June 2017
Piano Training (1st - 2nd- 3rd grade)
My Piano Training at the Academy of Wilrijk began with a focus on classical repertoire, which I found uninspiring at first. Despite my love for classical music, I was more interested in playing popular songs and improvising on my own. This changed when I switched teachers and was introduced to Viviane, who became not only my Piano accompaniment instructor, but also a mentor in my creative process. With her guidance, I was able to tackle challenging pieces that I was passionate about, instead of just playing the mandatory Bach and Mozart. Viviane's supportive and encouraging approach allowed me to grow and develop my skills on the piano, and I will always be grateful for the impact she had on my musical journey
Sept 2013 - June 2017
Piano accompaniment training (2nd- 3rd grade)
My Piano Accompaniment Training at the Academy of Wilrijk was guided by the talented and insightful Viviane as well. She provided me with fresh perspectives and inspired my creative process. In each lesson, she presented original and thought-provoking challenges that pushed our group to come up with innovative musical solutions. This could range from a collaborative four-handed piano piece to composing our own music based on a specific theme, such as "Over the Sea". This last one stuck with me, since it was such a pleasure to play our song on 2 piano's at the magnificent Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS) in Antwerp. Viviane's unique approach to teaching not only honed my accompaniment skills but also sparked my imagination and encouraged me to think outside the box.
Sept 2017 - Present
Music Releases through Amuse.io
Despite having to leave the Music Academy in Wilrijk for my studies in Bioscience Engineering in Leuven, my passion for music never faded. I continued to play the piano and experiment with improvisation, composition, and production, creating numerous songs that were only shared with friends through private links. Eventually, after much consideration, I mustered up the courage to release my first neoclassical piano piece, "Horizonte," under the pseudonym Devince in 2020. This marked a significant milestone in my musical journey, as I was previously self-conscious about sharing my creations. However, the positive reactions I received were overwhelming and gave me the confidence to release more works, such as "Névoa", the two-part "Nebula" featuring Guitar and Cello, and "A New Dawn". My goal is to continue releasing new music every 4-6 weeks, building a robust portfolio in the coming years.
1999 - Present
Musical Influence and Inspirations
I have been influenced by a range of musicians and people who have left a lasting impact on my musical taste. My musical journey started at an early age with my love for rock music, which was introduced to me by my father, and later my big brother. My brother remains a significant influence on my musical taste as we often exchange new tracks, and I consider him to be the living jukebox of our family. Through looking up to him as a kid and my own explorations later on, I discovered other artists who have since become some of my favorites. My younger sister developed her own unique style over time, which I have come to appreciate as well. We have evolved a special musical relationship too, often exchanging new songs we discover and sharing our musical interests.
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Some of the "rock" artists (but not nearly all) that have been part of my musical background, include: Linkin Park, Green Day, Sum41, Rage Against the Machine, and Evanescance. In addition to those heavy guitars, the contemporary artists such as 20syl, Two Feet, Flume, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Netsky, Tom Misch, and Stromae have been an important part of my musical journey.
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Over the years, I have developed my own musical niche I most enjoy, which is film scores and piano songs. They hold a special place in my heart, as I became fascinated with the emotions they evoke. When it comes to creating my own music, I take my unique approach, avoiding the temptation to imitate others and instead forging my own path. This has been a journey of trial and error, as I experimented with different sounds and styles on the piano during my improvisations, while I probably should have been practicing the mandatory pieces. This has led to the creation of my own composing methods and theory, strongly based on my background at the academy and own experiences.
Nevertheless, it is no secret that I have been influenced by greats such as Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi, Ramin Djawadi, James Newton Howard, Nils Frahm, Dirk Maassen, and Yiruma. Their musical mastery has left a lasting impression on me, and while not intended, their influence might be heard through my own work, which I consider it the highest of compliments. Their music continues to inspire and motivate me as I continue on my own musical journey, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and creating something truly unique.