The project
“It was not enough to write the songs about Van Gogh, or to Van Gogh.
We realized early on that the only way to truly experience the life of this great
artist would be to sing as Van Gogh. Informed by the passion and fire in his artwork
and the wealth of information in his letters to his brother Theo."
"This album tells the story of the most artistically productive years of his
life as seen through Vincent's own eyes. The resulting book-CD is a blend of
art and music that draws listeners into Vincent’s world,
reating a powerful emotional understanding and bond.”
(Diederick van Eck)
With the cooperation of two renowned songwriters -- Los Angeles-based Pamela Phillips Oland and Tom Harriman - Van Eck was able to realize his dream. The unique music Of Van Gogh by Van Eck, produced by Harriman and gloriously packaged by Grammy-winning artist Andy Engel, is the perfect expression of van Eck’s dream.
Included with the music CD is a 44-page luxury art book with full-color illustrations provided by the Van Gogh Museum (and others). Also included are Oland’s liner notes, providing even more insight into Vincent's motivations and fascinating inner world.
Pamela Philips Oland
Together with Diederick van Eck, Tom Harriman and Pamela Phillips Oland created a series of songs, which they (sub) titled “A Musical Journey into the Heart and Soul of Vincent van Gogh.” Twelve of Vincent’s artworks–each a milestone in the artist’s development—guided the songwriting, enabling the telling of Vincent’s story as if spoken by the artist.
Pamela Phillips Oland is a renowned and respected songwriter. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Selena, the Jacksons, Reba McIntyre, Anne Murray, Earth Wind & Fire, Seiko Matsuda, and Gladys Knight have recorded and performed over 400 of her songs.
Pamela Phillips Oland uses her talent to write songs in a wide range of contrasting genres, also authoring 2 popular music industry books, “The Art of Writing Great Lyrics” and “The Art of Writing Love Songs.” Her work includes themes for such films as 102 Dalmatians, Coming to America and Burglar as well as songs for TV-series such as JAG and The Sopranos. In partnership with Tom Harriman, she heads the production company TOPA Music. For this album, she penned lyrics and liner notes.
Tom Harriman
Tom Harriman lives and works in the United States and signed his first recording contract while he was still in school. Since then, he has become a much sought-after producer, songwriter and musician whose musical talents have served such companies as Warner Bros., Paramount Television, Goldwyn Studios, Lorimar and Disney, to name just a few.
During his career, he has worked with artists such as Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, Richard Carpenter and David Lee Roth, also contributing music and under score to such shows as Baywatch, Popular, Bratz, West Wing and Diagnosis Murder. Tom Harriman and Pamela Phillips Oland head their own production company TOPA Music. Their work together includes music for the successful series The Sopranos, among others. Tom arranged and produced this album.
Oland and Harriman are currently co-developing two stage musicals with the Entertainment Content Factory, Netherlands. One is based on the Oscar-nominated film, “Soldier of Orange,” (book by Edwin deVries). The other is derived from this album, and is based upon the life of Vincent van Gogh.
