Bart laughs and pauses for a moment, thoughtful. “I just love silence and emptiness because they detach me from all the noise around me. When I’m making music, I completely throw myself into it. Sometimes, I even forget basic things, like eating or going to the bathroom. That focus is beautiful, but it also takes energy, especially alongside all of life’s obligations. If I’m not careful, it can drain me. I really need to go back to nature, without any goals or agenda. It brings me back to myself.”

Today, I’m talking to Bart Hanswijk, better known as BARTH., a composer and producer who, through his work, seeks to convey a sense of stillness and calm. His compositions invite listeners to let their own thoughts and emotions breathe.

“BARTH., your music is rooted in nature, peace, and silence. How did these themes come into your work?”

“I totally get that! Speaking of staying true to yourself, I read in another interview that you sometimes question whether pursuing a career as an artist is the right choice, given all the world’s problems.”

“Yes, I have questioned that. It can be tough. There are plenty of people who risk their lives to make the world a better place, and I sometimes think: what am I contributing with my music? But I try not to dwell too much on those thoughts. Being in nature helps me to let go, zoom out, and see that music is also a way to bring value and connect with people.”

“In your recent mini-documentary, you’re walking through the forest, practically inhaling nature. The documentary has this recurring theme of struggle, almost as if it feels like a millennial clash. It feels like you’re trying to improve yourself, maybe even reconsider certain things. What were you re-evaluating? And who is the new Bart compared to the old?”

“Yeah, that’s a great question. For me, it was about discovering how the world actually works and what my place in it should be. How do you move well in this world? That’s something I think about a lot. And what’s funny about that question is that it implies there’s a right way to do it, as if there’s a manual. At that time, I was really asking myself: why am I here? Why am I following this musical dream, and why not spend my time on something that has a more direct social impact, like working with refugees? It was like I’d built a kind of scale to weigh everything’s importance. But in the end, I realized that, through music, I am trying to have a positive impact. And in my own way, I hope to inspire others and give them something beautiful.”

Do you think your music adds to a better world?

“I’d like to believe that, but it remains somewhat indirect. If someone gives a food package, the goal is immediately clear. With music, I don’t always see that impact directly. I have a folder on my phone where I keep screenshots of messages from people who’ve been helped by my music. That reminds me that it does contribute something.”

“That tech side with all those streaming numbers also makes it all feel abstract, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, exactly! It can be a nice validation when you see your streams go up, but I sometimes doubt whether I’m really making a difference. When someone tells me how my music helped them through a difficult time, it becomes tangible again. And that’s truly special.”

“Speaking of the your initial career, you started out as a bassist at the Utrecht Conservatory, but you’ve gone in a completely different direction. What led you to take that path?”

“I just wanted to make music, without too many expectations. In my third year, we had lessons with Morris Kliphuis, who assigned us to write something every week but with constraints. I’d come up with music that I personally loved. That creativity felt like an exploration; I loved working like that.”

“You studied within the Jazz/Pop department. Did you bring any of that influence into your own style?”

“Not really, no. My music became quite minimalistic. I stopped working with my band and began writing more from my own perspective. Using the piano as a base, that style developed naturally.”

“I read that you still have other projects, but you seem to be focusing primarily on your own work now.”

“Yes, those other projects were fun, but I’m now fully committed to my own music. I’m trying to approach it as purely as possible.”

“What is your way of composing?”

“Usually, I just sit down and let things happen. Sometimes, nothing comes, sometimes everything arrives all at once. It’s an intuitive process. If something doesn’t feel quite right, I keep working on it until it does. The music has to align with my emotions.”

“From your podcast episode with Keihard Klassiek, I gathered that you sometimes record ideas on your phone to revisit later. I do that myself, so I’m curious how that process works for you. How do you piece it all together?”

“Honestly, I don’t have a set method. Sometimes I try to sit down and write, but nothing happens. It feels like I’m trying too hard, and that blocks the flow, you know? But if I’m working on something and think, ‘this feels right,’ I try to follow that feeling as intuitively as possible. It’s about that sense of ‘this is it.’ If I work on something that feels just ‘okay,’ but doesn’t quite resonate, I let it go. For me, it’s all about that feeling; nothing is put on paper unless it truly feels right.”

“Do you ever find yourself slipping into clichés?”

“Definitely! With piano music, it’s easy to create something that sounds ‘pretty’ but lacks depth. And I think that’s the distinguishing factor: depth and a certain vision. There’s a lot of music that just sounds… nice, but without that extra layer. I want my music to offer more than that.”

“You’re often labeled as ‘neoclassical.’ How do you feel about that?”

“Hmm,” Bart says, pausing for a moment. “That label doesn’t really matter to me, honestly. It’s a tag, I get that, but I’m just happy if my music resonates with someone.”

I bring up a perspective he took a year earlier in an interview with Diewertje Blok, where he expressed he was fine with his music being used as background music. “On one hand, it seems you’re okay with people using your music as background, but on the other, we all want people to intentionally put on our music and listen intently. It’s almost like a form of respect for the creator. Do you still hold the same view as a year ago?”

“I’m fine with people playing it to relax or study. If it brings calmness, that’s a valuable function. Of course, I want people to actively listen and come to my concerts based on that experience, but the music provides something that people need either way.”

Based on that answer, I’m also curious about his future plans. “Do you think about that sometimes?”

“I’m letting it grow organically right now. As long as each new project has more depth or reach than the last, I’m on the right track. It’s good to keep dreaming, of course. If I could one day do a European tour, that would be amazing.”

You just received your first vinyl record; congratulations! What’s Who I Am about?

“Thank you! The record is about my search for who I am. The past year and a half was pretty intense, filled with questions about what I value and what I stand for. That journey, that ‘return to myself,’ shaped a lot. I also have put the phrase ‘What are we going to do with all this future’ prominently on the album cover, which captures the essence of the whole album. The album feels like a journey back to who I was as a child, unrestrained and without expectations. I’m also building on the single Finding Peace that I recently released. The first single from the new album is already out; it’s called a glimpse of beauty.”

Do you feel you’ve found that ‘old’ Bart again?

Bart shifts slightly, continuing, “I’m trying, yes. It’s confronting, sometimes. As a kid, I did things without judgment, spontaneously. Now, I often want things to go perfectly right away. I’m trying to rediscover that playful approach, that attitude of just trying and seeing where it leads me. It’s a bit like the ‘Pippi Longstocking effect,’” he laughs.

“Sounds like this album is your most personal work to date.”

“It definitely is. Every piece on this album means something to me; out of the 30 tracks, I only kept those that truly resonated. It’s less about what fits well on a playlist, more about what I find beautiful.”

“A bit of a ‘fuck-it’ mentality regarding playlists and maybe even your earlier work. Just really focusing on what you find beautiful, without the hassle of maximizing streams.”

“Exactly! In 2022, I had that song Beautifully Broken that suddenly blew up, with about 3.8 million streams. Then you think, ‘Oh yeah, I need to do this again; this works!’ But then I made an EP with just piano music, thinking it would fit nicely in those playlists. Well, it got some attention, but nowhere near as much as that first single. And then I started thinking. I hadn’t written that song, Beautifully Broken, with the idea that it would fit into playlists or that it would do well. I wrote it because I really had something to say.

So I asked myself: why am I so focused on those streams? Why don’t I just make what I want to make, something that truly comes from me? That’s when I decided to continue in that direction. It’s a bit scary, though, because it feels like none of the new album fits in those playlists anymore,” he laughs. “But you know, it feels much more unique and honest, and it’s really closer to who I am. That is incredibly valuable to me. And I hope, of course, that the audience can hear that and recognize what I’ve gone through in that writing process.”

“Interesting. When can we expect it?”

“I’m working towards the album one single at a time, but if people want to buy the record, they can do so at my concerts. And of course, they can also send me a message on social media.”

A man who wants to create space for calmness and self-reflection with his music – an inspiring mission in a world that keeps rushing by. “A true ‘true to yourself’ album, beautiful! You’ve clearly been on quite a journey. Thank you, Bart, for giving us a glimpse into your world.”