| he group Treble was formed in 1995 by Caroline Hoffman (30) and sisters Niña (20) and Djem van Dijk (18). The sisters had met Caroline that year at a concert in the far south of the Netherlands, where the three of them still live.
Caroline has been involved in music from an early age. She was four years old when she first played the piano and not much older when she joined the local choir. She has been writing lyrics since she was a child, instead of mastering a foreign language. To accompany her singing, she played the piano, but also learned to play the guitar and djembé as well. Niña and Djem’s parents were so enthusiastic about the trio’s musical and personal collaboration that they asked Caroline to teach both sisters music. This formed the basis of Treble. A close-knit group was born, starting with performances on street concerts where they sang and played the acoustic guitar and djembé. Their harmonised and contagious African rhythm soon attracted a lot of attention. But what makes Treble so special is their own very special Treble language in which they sing. As they put it: “In order to get emotions across, music does not always require an understandable language.”
Ramaganana
With the Treble language as their brand, the trio perform not only in the Netherlands, but abroad as well. In 2002, accompanied by their djembés and guitar, they travelled to Italy and Greece, mostly playing on the streets so that other cultures could appreciate their music as well. Within a few years, thanks to their musical wanderings, Treble has managed to win over many music lovers. This did not go unnoticed by major record labels and in 2003 CNR Entertainment signed Treble, where they remain to this day. At the end of 2003 the girls recorded their debut single ‘Ramaganana’, which turned out to be the major breakthrough for them. After a number of weeks in which the trio entertained the public, bringing their catchy music to Dutch shopping centres, as well as television shows, ‘Ramaganana’ reached the number one slot in the Dutch charts.
In June 2004 their first album ‘No Trouble’ was released, on which Niña, Djem and Caroline prove their expertise in writing breathtaking compositions and memorable lyrics all which originate from their own creativity and skills. They know how to mould a vast variety of styles into Treble’s authentic and international sound: stirring pop music with an exotic shade. “Our songs show who we are. We try to create as many ambiances as possible, which is why the album is as diverse as it is,” says Caroline. The album is a mix of harmonised pop songs with a catching chorus, beautifully quiet ballads and exotic sounding tracks, all sung in a mix of English and Treble.
Second album
But first, the success of the first album was rewarded with a tour of theatres and festivals in the Netherlands and Belgium. Here, Treble were accompanied by a three-man band. Buoyed by their domestic success, Treble decided to pursue their dream and aim for an international breakthrough. They are all about action and in 2005 they spontaneously flew south to join the Midem international music fair in Cannes, the central meeting point for the record industry and a hot bed of influential people. Treble set up in the hotel lobby and played their songs for the record moguls staying there. Warren Wyatt and Julie Hines of the American Worldsound Management were very impressed and after a meeting about Treble’s international ambitions, they decide to sign Treble there and then. This resulted in plans for a second album. Under the guidance of renowned producer Keith Olson (among others Fleetwood Mac, Santana, Emerson Lake and Palmer), Trio recorded twelve new numbers and named the album, ‘Free’. In April 2006 the new album will be released as a worthy successor of ‘No Trouble’. The tracks are diverse, from quiet ballads to swinging numbers. Ten out of twelve songs are written entirely by Treble. From a musical point of view, one can hear that the singers have continued to develop since their first CD. The title ‘Free’ coincides perfectly with the Treble theme: the freedom to fulfil dreams. On ‘Free’ the girls fill the air with a sound that unmistakably shows that they are ready to spread their wings and to conquer the world.
Eurovision Song Contest
If it was up to Treble, they would conquer the world during the 51st Eurovision Song Contest in Athens. On 12 March 2006 their overwhelming victory at the National Song Contest in Amsterdam made them the Dutch representatives. During a live television show, their song ‘Amambanda’ was chosen as the best by 72% of the viewers. This song, sang partially in English and partially in the Treble language, is written entirely by Treble. The song encapsulates the essence of Treble: translating human emotions into music. The English verses explain why you don’t always need an understandable language to express emotions. As with many Treble songs, the warm percussion accompanies the harmonised vocals. For their performance in Amsterdam, the girls requested the assistance of Tim Noble, choreographer for, among others, Kylie Minogue.
Treble cannot wait to swamp the Greek capital with the Treble language. “We are honoured to be representing the Netherlands at the 51st Eurovision Song Contest. What could be better than being on stage, performing our music to more than 150 million people? The last time the Netherlands won the Eurovision Song festival was in 1975. After 31 years, the time has come to put the Netherlands back on the musical map once again. Let’s do it! Athens, here we come!” |
