About
'Music with a message [...] profound lyrics. The last sentence of "Something" stays with you as a meandering mantra'
- FESTIVALINFO.NL
'All I can say is wow, for who he is and the way music and words flow through him. An awesome wizard with a beautiful heart'
- Ralph Nelissen (Pad van de man)
'Perfect for late night relaxing mode, harmonious and soothing'
- HAPPINEZ MAGAZINE
'Julien's music is my soundtrack for late night journeys. His voice is so soothing, cradling deep and meaningful words and the lushest of melodies. I find myself losing track of time, peacefully drowning within this musical softness. His music makes me see in the dark'
- Pernilla Kannapinn
'De jury vindt Julien Oomen een rasverteller, ook muzikaal gezien. We waren echt onder de indruk van het eigen chanson over Oncle Pierre. Heel beeldend en dat werd versterkt door het ingetogen stemgebruik. Het maakt nieuwsgierig naar de rest van het album.'
- Clairy Polak (finale Concours de la chanson Française)
'Julien Oomen trekt je meteen op een hele persoonlijke manier zijn wereld in. Vooral van zijn eigen lied Oncle Pierre waren wij als jury zeer onder de indruk'
- Philippe Elan (Concours de la chanson Française)
I'm a Dutch/French, Amsterdam-based musician, unconscious bias trainer and men's circle facilitator.
For my music I draw inspiration from spiritual trainings and ceremonies and from personal stories with their trapdoor to the universal.
In July 2018, I released Oase Sessions I, followed by Oase Sessions II in April 2019.
My full length album Both Sides Of The River was released in December 2020.
For this record, I saved up songs that were specifically inspired by trainings, workshops and ceremonies within the realm of men’s work.
In April 2023 a long cherished project came to fruition: For the first time I released an album with songs in the French language only: Les Cahiers de Marinette.
The album is a collaboration with my mother Marinette Oomen-Myin, who wrote the lyrics.
Most of the songs have a double perspective throughout time, as I asked my mother to write new extra parts to poems she wrote when she was 20-22 years old. The album thus encompasses a time span of more than half a century.
Oncle Pierre was released as a single in February 2023.
Both Sides of the River and Les Cahiers de Marinette were (co-) mixed by Skiggy Rapz.
PAST, FEATURES & LIVE
Before becoming mostly a solo artist I played in various ensembles and bands.
In 2005 I played with Pablo Fagundez at the tribute to Serge Gainsbourg in the "Grote Zaal" of Paradiso, a concert hall where I later also played with my latin band SON5, rock formation Humanos Magicos, singer/songwriter formation Lee Mason and singer/songwriter formation Robin Block, with whom I also played live in the tv talkshow De Wereld Draait Door in 2009.
Along with Nora Fischer I feauture on the Robin Block album Comfort Zones (2011) with bass & vocals. And I feauture on the Diggy Dex album Lange Nachten, Korte Dagen (2010) with saxophone.
For live shows I often team up with my partner Lenneke van Staalen, a master of (northern) Indian classical music on violin, who comps me in my songs as well as playing mesmerising improvisations. Other collaborations include Pernilla Kannapinn and Ecstatic Dance DJ Martyn Zij.
I also perform, arrange and produce as a sideman in the Robin Block formation, playing mostly bass and cuatro. In May 2023 I went on tour with Robin in Indonesia, a special experience after having grown up there as a child (till age seven).
The tour was a big success. Other band members in this formation: Ro Halfhide from the Netherlands; and Hadi Irawan & Wilis Permadi from Indonesia.
Next to music and family life, I devote my time to Refugee Company, A Beautiful Mess and Stichting de Vrolijkheid, three organisations that further the socio-economic well-being of newcomers with a refugee background through art, network, traineeships and soft-skill trainings.
With my colleague and friend Fares Al Qadi, I facilitate trainings on Unconscious Bias & DEI, topics I also facilitate as a subcontractor for Newbees INC.
With my longtime buddy Robin Block, I host a monthly Men's Circle.