NEW ALBUM COMING UP, STAY TUNED!
Silas J. Dirge is the moniker adopted by songwriter Jan Kooiker. With mostly character driven and story based lyrics he explores subjects like death, religion and (lost) love while accompanying himself on a beat up acoustic guitar. He is often aided by musician friends, with Harald de Ruiter and Justin Zandbergen as returning contributors.
Silas J. Dirge's debut album Tales of Woe was released in December 2018. The album was the best selling record on Bandcamp in the alt-country and Americana category for a while. Its song On the Train of Aches was included in numerous Spotify playlists and used as a soundtrack for the USA short film The Final Hour Of Roger Lawrence.
A second album is set to be released early 2021. Two singles, Flowers on her Grave and Devil's in Town, have already been released.
PRESS
'If Devil's Music assigned letter grades, it would get an A+ and that still wouldn't be good enough for this deeply rewarding album.'
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Devils Music
'This was a surprise in the best way, and we can't wait to see what Silas produces in his upcoming sophomore album.'
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Pastel Wasteland
'There it is all Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, or if you want your modern versions, Phosphorescent and Oldham rolled into one.'
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Soundblab
'His songs are vast soundscapes, becoming more layered and rich with each listen.'
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Maximum Volume Music
'Silas J. Dirge makes Faustian pact with the Devil on new single'
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Red Guitar Music
'Kooiker has a warm, ripened voice, that is a perfect fit for this valley of tears'
Read more (Dutch):
Rockportaal
INTERVIEWS AND COLLABS
'I love Carel Willink's paintings, their surrealism and apocalyptic landscapes make me feel slightly uncomfortable.'
Read more (Polish):
Soundrive
'We both have a preference for mystery and suspense.'
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Local Spins
'Ghost Town, as on Silas J Dirge's Morricone-influenced c'n'w parody.'
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Elsewhere
'A wonderful song'
Read more (Dutch):
Luminous Dash
