HAEVN

about the artist
Like two rivers converging, a pair of distinct personalities flow together seamlessly into the musical universe that is HAEVN. The Amsterdam-based duo of Marijn van der Meer and Jorrit Kleijnen unite their respective skills and experiences in service of a shared higher vision. They are unmistakable proof of the old adage "opposites attract,'' and they've one thing in common: they have both learned how to comfort themselves through music. This is the gift they wish to share with the world.
Cut from the same cloth as fellow outliers London Grammar, Patrick Watson, and Olafur Arnalds, the pair's 2018 full-length debut,…
MoreLike two rivers converging, a pair of distinct personalities flow together seamlessly into the musical universe that is HAEVN. The Amsterdam-based duo of Marijn van der Meer and Jorrit Kleijnen unite their respective skills and experiences in service of a shared higher vision. They are unmistakable proof of the old adage "opposites attract,'' and they've one thing in common: they have both learned how to comfort themselves through music. This is the gift they wish to share with the world.
Cut from the same cloth as fellow outliers London Grammar, Patrick Watson, and Olafur Arnalds, the pair's 2018 full-length debut, Eyes Closed, enraptured listeners and garnered half a billion streams, anchored by timeless songs like "Back In The Water," "Fortitude," "Where The Heart Is," and "Finding Out More." They continued to captivate with the Holy Ground EP in 2022, with favorites like "Trade It For The Night." They received nominations at the Edison Awards and 3FM Awards in addition to appearing at festivals such as Lowlands Festival, Eurosonic Noorderslag, and Indian Summer Festival. As a proven headliner, they've notably sold-out Carré three times and Paradiso twice within a single year while touring in the Netherlands.
On one side of the coin, Marijn resides in the Dutch countryside, preserving a tranquil and simple environment for his family. On the flip side, Jorrit absorbs the energy of central downtown Amsterdam, which he proudly calls home. There he resides, a fruitful composer with a perfectionist's touch and a dreamer's vision. Together, Marijn and Jorrit transform their essential differences into something transcendent. That's why their relationship feels so serendipitously designed, blending cinematic musical landscapes with infectious pop hooks.
"Still waters have deep grounds," observes Jorrit. "That's definitely the case with Marijn. I have learned that the more you give Marijn his time and space, the more he's able to capture and voice the deep and powerful melodies that live deep inside him. Hearing his voice for the first time was the most impactful thirty seconds of my musical life. He has the ability to comfort you and encourage you to find peace within yourself. If I'd never met him, my life would've looked very different, because through Marijn I am learning new ways of looking at life as a human and a musician"
"Jorrit gives wings to everything he believes in, and if that happens he just doesn't stop until what's in his imagination has come to life in reality," smiles Marijn. "He'll always pull me out of my comfort zone and bring me to another place I would've never thought of.''
Now, HAEVN prepare to release their carefully curated album, Wide Awake. "We chose this title because it illustrates a newfound state of mind," Jorrit continues. "A state of mind where we feel we can be more vulnerable in life, because we feel more grounded. If you are rooted, you can open up way more to life." Wide Awake was co-produced with London's acclaimed Tim Bran, who contributed significantly to the sophisticated sounds of London Grammar, Aurora and many more.
"We've matured a lot," Jorrit affirms. "The music reflects our journey of grown self-love, self-reflection, and compassion towards ourselves and others. We have the confidence to make bold choices. Life has challenged and deepened us, and this way showed us more colors, and you can hear them in the songs."
They do just that with the single "One Day." Swells of soft strings give way to a deftly plucked guitar lick and head-nodding bass line. It climaxes on a shimmering refrain: "Give me solitude. Give me time. I will find my way to let go of what's behind."
"It's our most autobiographical piece," Marijn notes. "I was ill for three years in my twenties, and I was in a relationship at the same time. I was not able to get out of bed and move freely. My girlfriend showed unbelievable patience to sit next to that bed for three years and then suffer the disappointment of me getting better and still not being able to stand out, leave my bed, and live. That was the moment she decided, 'I have to break up with you since you're well but you're afraid to live.' I needed that moment. I started traveling alone with my guitar in Europe and playing in train stations. I found a way to live again. You should be grateful for these difficult seasons in life rather than being sad. It gave me the courage I needed, and it's inspired many of these songs."
"Till The Morning" takes us to a really dire time in a relationship where you're yearning for just one more night or moment together. The singer elaborates: "I always think: everybody deserves a second chance at some point, otherwise we all would be alone. Hard times are a part of life and love. Sometimes, one more opportunity is the solution." To this, Jorrit adds, "you're asking the other person to step into the most challenging space: to be vulnerable in the middle of a crisis. Vulnerability is the most fruitful soil for a reboot of a relationship."
Then, there's "Great Mother," a duet the pair wrote together with Mozambican singer Neco Novellas, who is both a friend and past collaborator on stand-out track "Trade it for the Night." As "Great Mother" begins, a rapturous chant heralds in an organic beat punctuated by the chimes of keys before a lush chorus opens, "waiting up for the rain." "I read a quote that said, 'take your time off, because nature also doesn't blossom 365 days a year,'" recalls Jorrit. "I thought we should write a song about this society that's not living at the pace of nature. Most of us are doing the opposite. It creates awareness of environmental problems without pointing a finger. The world is beautiful as it is, so let's tune into its natural pace."
Meanwhile, Marijn's high register reverberates within "Hold On To Your Love," teeming with emotion in a breathy exhale. The song exalts the need for self-love and acceptance: "you cannot receive love if you don't give yourself love," Marijn observes. "Living a good life depends on a good relationship with yourself."
"New Year's Resolution'' threads a danceable bass line through a synth-induced haze as the vocals ring out: "I hope you are living your New Year's Resolution." The funky strut only picks up the pace in the wake of a chantable chorus. "It's more uptempo, but it has a bit of a darker vibe," Marijn reveals. "In the context of the song, two people are in a relationship. One person starts a new year's resolution by telling the other, 'This year, it's going to work for us.' In the end, it may stay the same, but they'll try again." "We all make these resolutions," Jorrit goes on. "They tend not to last, but it's okay. You're trying."
The duo's blended dynamics define "Promise." Piano, deftly finger-picked guitar, and artful strings stitch together a warm sonic backdrop as the vocals practically melt into the production. It culminates with a divine exhale on the hook: "gray clouds come for me, they come for me."
The album 'Wide Awake' is the newest chapter in HAEVN's mission to transport listeners to diverse emotional landscapes, creating a space for inner silence and self-reflection.
With this new album and next chapter, HAEVN opens up the unique union between them to everyone. "Working together was a way of comforting ourselves and digesting life," Marijn leaves off. "We're honest to each other, our fans, and our partners. It's the only way to make a true connection. We believe that music, in this case ours, creates a pathway to resonate with a much deeper emotional layer. We feel like we've done that with this body of work."
"This band, especially, is all about collaboration," Jorrit concludes. "Everything starts with Marijn and me, but is carried so strongly by our band members Bram Doreleijers, Robin van Baaren and Illan Voshol. Together we share an intensive collaboration where respect, boundaries, and sensitivity for each other are key elements and the basis to inspire each other. If we are able to convey the pure essence of a song, as once birthed in the studio live on stage to our audience, it feels like pure magic."
In 2024, their tour will continue with performances at some of the most prestigious concert halls in Europe, including Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, Le Trianon in Paris, and Admiralspalast in Berlin. "Traveling across Europe and performing our music in such renowned venues is an incredible privilege and a dream come true."