Jaap Blonk

Jaap Blonk is a self-taught composer, performer, and poet. Since the 1970s, the voice has been his primary means for the discovery and development of new sounds. For the past decade Blonk has also worked with electronics, at first using samples of his own voice and then extending the field to include pure sound synthesis. With the use of live electronics the scope and range of his concerts has acquired a considerable extension. Besides working as a soloist, he has collaborated with many musicians and ensembles including Maja Ratkje, Mats Gustafsson, Nicolas Collins, Joan La Barbara, the Ex, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, and the Ebony Band. He has premiered several compositions by Carola Bauckholt, including a piece for voice and orchestra. The Donaueschinger Musiktage commissioned a solo voice piece in 2002. 

Blonk has performed in many European countries, as well as in the US and Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, and Latin America. He was the founder and leader of the longstanding bands Splinks (1983–1999) and BRAAXTAAL (1987–2005). He also has his own record label, Kontrans, featuring a total of fifteen releases to date. His radio and television credits include several commissioned radio plays, and he makes larger-scale drawings of his performance scores, which are exhibited in galleries. Blonk has also collaborated with visual computer artist Golan Levin.