When I write music, it has a very visual place in my mind. It has a place full of characters, colours and landscapes
Lilian Hak is an independent producer, songwriter, composer and vocalist from The Netherlands. Her music flows seamlessly through cinematic pop, jazz, indie, and avant-garde electronica, enriched by bold instrumentation and imaginative arrangements. Whether composing for theatre, film, or her own albums, her sound is rich, playful and powerful, bringing to life the many creative facets she embodies.
Hak composes by using a combination of acoustic and electronic instruments and resampling techniques. Her musical interests extend across a wide range of genres. She loves old movie soundtracks and is influenced by scenes from Bacall and Bogart film noir.
She has performed across Europe, appearing at festivals, theatres, and renowned venues in The Netherlands, both as a solo artist and alongside her band, a string quartet, and even a full orchestra. She has shared the stage with acts like M83, The Kills and Kashmir, earning media attention and features on prime-time Dutch television and radio, as well as a radio live performance on New York’s WFMU.
With four full- length albums, multiple singles, and remixes to her name, Lilian has collaborated with artists such as Ozark Henry, Wouter Hamel, T.Raumschmiere, Matthew Herbert, Scanner, Pitto, iET and LHISPR. Aside from her own projects she composes music for TV commercials, documentaries, film or other media and works as a voice-over actor.
In 2022 she has co-written, produced and mixed the album ‘Little Torch’ of jazz singer Wouter Hamel. The song ‘Lucky Streak‘, a duet they wrote, has been featured in a TV commercial since 2022.
Last year she released her indie urban love song ‘City Is My Home‘. She co-produced it with Marien Dorleijn (Moss). In March, she released her single ‘Under The Wire‘ and in May, she released her third single ‘No Control’. Both indie-pop tracks, written and produced by herself and a co-production with Paul Willemsen. ‘Last Song’, she released on July 5th. It sounds jazzy and cinematic, conjuring up bossa nova anthems with an accordeon featuring of the virtuoso Dutch jazz musician Bert van den Brink. ‘Mother’, released on November 10th last year, was inspired by the grief and loss of her mother. For both tracks she collaborated in the studio with producer Ward Henselmans.
Drawing inspiration from artists like PJ Harvey, Michael Kiwanuka, Lana del Rey, Portishead, Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin and the French atmosphere of Gainsbourg. Lilian Hak continues to expand her creative horizons with her fifth studio-album RESET.
RESET has just been released, blending indie, soultronic, pop, and cinematic influences. RESET launched with a sold-out concert at TivoliVredenburg and is receiving glowing reviews. Where Hak, in her earlier work, drew inspiration from film genres like film noir and spaghetti westerns, this time her own life takes center stage. The result is a deeply personal album.
A few first press quotes from The Netherlands and the UK.
“Hak’s weelderig lome stem staat aantrekkelijk op de voorgrond in nogal nostalgische chansonachtige composities.” – NRC
“Perfect gezongen, gespeeld en geproduceerd.” – Lust For Life Magazine
“Het is een gevarieerd album. met een James Bond-achtige vibe in I Will Ever Be Your Head, het hitgevoelige Under The Wire, bossanova in Last Song en een fijn koortje in The Best Is Yet To Come.” – OOR
“Op RESET zijn de filmische invloeden uit haar twee voorafgaande albums nog geregeld te horen, maar het album springt tegelijkertijd over naar jazz en soul, wat een interessante mix van genres oplevert.” – 3voor12
“Een indrukwekkend album: in muzikaal opzicht zit het allemaal weer razend knap in elkaar en ook de zang van Lilian Hak is weer van hoog niveau.” – De Krenten Uit De Pop
Hak composes by using a combination of acoustic and electronic instruments and resampling techniques. Her musical interests extend across a wide range of genres. She loves old movie soundtracks and is influenced by scenes from Bacall and Bogart film noir.
She has performed across Europe, appearing at festivals, theatres, and renowned venues in The Netherlands, both as a solo artist and alongside her band, a string quartet, and even a full orchestra. She has shared the stage with acts like M83, The Kills and Kashmir, earning media attention and features on prime-time Dutch television and radio, as well as a radio live performance on New York’s WFMU.
With four full- length albums, multiple singles, and remixes to her name, Lilian has collaborated with artists such as Ozark Henry, Wouter Hamel, T.Raumschmiere, Matthew Herbert, Scanner, Pitto, iET and LHISPR. Aside from her own projects she composes music for TV commercials, documentaries, film or other media and works as a voice-over actor.
In 2022 she has co-written, produced and mixed the album ‘Little Torch’ of jazz singer Wouter Hamel. The song ‘Lucky Streak‘, a duet they wrote, has been featured in a TV commercial since 2022.
Last year she released her indie urban love song ‘City Is My Home‘. She co-produced it with Marien Dorleijn (Moss). In March, she released her single ‘Under The Wire‘ and in May, she released her third single ‘No Control’. Both indie-pop tracks, written and produced by herself and a co-production with Paul Willemsen. ‘Last Song’, she released on July 5th. It sounds jazzy and cinematic, conjuring up bossa nova anthems with an accordeon featuring of the virtuoso Dutch jazz musician Bert van den Brink. ‘Mother’, released on November 10th last year, was inspired by the grief and loss of her mother. For both tracks she collaborated in the studio with producer Ward Henselmans.
Drawing inspiration from artists like PJ Harvey, Michael Kiwanuka, Lana del Rey, Portishead, Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin and the French atmosphere of Gainsbourg. Lilian Hak continues to expand her creative horizons with her fifth studio-album RESET.
RESET has just been released, blending indie, soultronic, pop, and cinematic influences. RESET launched with a sold-out concert at TivoliVredenburg and is receiving glowing reviews. Where Hak, in her earlier work, drew inspiration from film genres like film noir and spaghetti westerns, this time her own life takes center stage. The result is a deeply personal album.
A few first press quotes from The Netherlands and the UK.
“Hak’s weelderig lome stem staat aantrekkelijk op de voorgrond in nogal nostalgische chansonachtige composities.” – NRC
“Perfect gezongen, gespeeld en geproduceerd.” – Lust For Life Magazine
“Het is een gevarieerd album. met een James Bond-achtige vibe in I Will Ever Be Your Head, het hitgevoelige Under The Wire, bossanova in Last Song en een fijn koortje in The Best Is Yet To Come.” – OOR
“Op RESET zijn de filmische invloeden uit haar twee voorafgaande albums nog geregeld te horen, maar het album springt tegelijkertijd over naar jazz en soul, wat een interessante mix van genres oplevert.” – 3voor12
“Een indrukwekkend album: in muzikaal opzicht zit het allemaal weer razend knap in elkaar en ook de zang van Lilian Hak is weer van hoog niveau.” – De Krenten Uit De Pop
A few reviews of Lilian Hak’s previous albums
The songs are too good, too original in a modern way, produced with the latest technology – Volkskrant (Dutch daily newspaper)
Very attractive and theatrical combination of Lilian’s dramatic vocals and caricaturised, orchestral accompaniment of violins and horns – NRC (Dutch daily newspaper)
Old Powder New Guns is burlesque, theatrical and with the grand gesture – OOR (Dutch music magazine)
Lust Guns & Dust is a great pop album which Lilian Hak once again proves her versatility as a producer- VPRO 3voor12 (Dutch alternative music platform)
You don’t hear a rehash of musical themes, but creative ingenious songs, expressive as an audio play- Platomania (Dutch record store platform)
The songs are too good, too original in a modern way, produced with the latest technology – Volkskrant (Dutch daily newspaper)
Very attractive and theatrical combination of Lilian’s dramatic vocals and caricaturised, orchestral accompaniment of violins and horns – NRC (Dutch daily newspaper)
Old Powder New Guns is burlesque, theatrical and with the grand gesture – OOR (Dutch music magazine)
Lust Guns & Dust is a great pop album which Lilian Hak once again proves her versatility as a producer- VPRO 3voor12 (Dutch alternative music platform)
You don’t hear a rehash of musical themes, but creative ingenious songs, expressive as an audio play- Platomania (Dutch record store platform)
