PEAX
PEAX creates a whole new universe using a synthesis of musical styles. Ties Mellema and Barry Jurjus’s profound love of musical diversity leads to compositions that resonate with the contemporary world.
Having been trained as classical musicians, Barry and Ties decided it was time they made their own music. Music unlimited by the boundaries of the concert hall, yet still deeply rooted in classical structures. PEAX, a formation with a global perspective, finds its inspiration in the multifaceted nature of modern society. Seamlessly blending the essence of minimal music with the contagious energy of dance, adding African beats, Latin rhythms and the electric vigour of drum and bass, PEAX both invigorates the listener and provides them room for reflection.
PEAX either plays their music with high energy, featuring an immersive sound and infectious grooves, getting the audience up on their feet, or tranquilly explores musical colours and emotions, beautiful melodies, positioning intensity versus contemplation in a more contrasting performance. Or else PEAX curate an experience called ALL EARS, providing a personalised perspective on events that vary significantly in terms of sound, emotion, acoustics, and direction, evoking the sensation of being in a dream.
PEAX’ latest album NU - NEW UNIVERSE- was hailed as one of the 25 best new releases of 2023.
Ties Mellema has an Eppelsheim bass saxophone on loan from the collection of The Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation.
PEAX is: Ties Mellema - saxophones, electronics, keys/Barry Jurjus - vibraphone, bells, percussion, drums, electronics
Ties presents PEAX’ debut album
Photograph by Khaled Huseen
Photograph by Corbino
PEAX in the press:
"Debut album Reset growls and rattles with determination - this is what we want to play: fat riffs, raging breakbeats and trippy soundscapes." (NRC)
“When you see PEAX play is when it really gets interesting! [...] Mellema is the real deal” (Villa d’Arte)
“Fascinating from the beginning to the ending”, “international top quality”, "amazing without exception." (Parool)
“A breath of fresh air in a world that really needs it” (SAXIANA)
"This is mature music, full of real energy, deep and layered: In which there is always more to discover on re-listening." (Jacob ter Veldhuis)