Brennt Vanneste

Anyone familiar with Brent Vanneste as the raw, primal force behind STAKE and Klakmatrak will likely blink in surprise and prick up their ears upon hearing his latest solo release, released as Brennt, with two “N”s, Vanneste. Collection of Goodbyes – Escapades I, II & III offers a glimpse into the soul of a creative wildcard with a heart of gold, a work that, emerging from stillness and isolation, links raw emotion to inspiring beauty. Originally conceived as a single work comprising 58 tracks and over 4 hours, streaming limitations compelled Vanneste to split his work into three parts, which nonetheless flow seamlessly into one another. Escapades III is the last part set to be released soon.

Escapades I is a musical journey by a versatile and charismatic artist with an exceptional gift for moving and touching the soul. Vanneste bares his soul in a medley of styles and genres: post-rock, soundscapes, neo-psychedelia, jazz, folk, ambient, trip-hop, singer-songwriter, downtempo, lo-fi, ... With lush, ethereal, and refined textures, Vanneste creates emotional depth, in French (Prends-moi Dans Tes Bras), English (Like A Train), or instrumentally, and even ventures into Dutch (Ik Laat Je Niet Meer Los). A prominent role is reserved for his sister Janne Vanneste, with contributions from Pelle Mächs and pianist Celine Gilles. New tracks sit alongside reworkings of music for film and TV (2dezit, My First Highway); there are old songs he finally had the courage to record; and when Vanneste, during a trip to Palestine to compose music for a documentary, had to take shelter from the advancing Israeli army, that experience added unbearable tension and human resilience to his music.

More than just about isolation, Escapades is about transformation. It’s about how we transition from one stage of life to the next, and how moving forward also means saying goodbye to people, relationships, friendships, and parts of our own personalities. Growth requires sacrifice, and Escapades bears the weight of those choices: at times painfully nostalgic, yet also with the quiet determination to carry on, even when it hurts. Time and again, Vanneste reminds us that even in the darkest times, hope and healing are possible, and he hopes his music can be a source of support for those who need it.

Collection of Goodbyes – Escapades I, II & III is a cinematic journey that inspires, transforms, and resonates deeply.