Valentine’s Day is that time of year when lovers give each other some extra attention. The day and night are often full of romance. So much so that we would almost forget that love can also be a mean bitch, causing plenty of sorrow and heartache.
On Valentine’s Day 2020, singer Kristof Buntinx is launching his beautiful song “Out Of Love” to hearten everyone who is suffering from heartbreak. Buntinx came up with the lyrics and the melody himself during a jam session with the Irish-Italian guitarist Ian Rigillo. Johan Schots produced the song, which sounds like a warm eighties ballad. The story is about a broken relationship, but at the same time it’s a song of consolation. It provides comfort to those who need it, which is a typical characteristic of Kristof’s music.
People who are seeking relief from the pain of a broken heart, or who would like to discover a song that radiates the warmth of a crackling fire, should definitely listen to "Out Of Love".
Lyrics & voice: Kristof Buntinx
Music: Ian Rigillo
Arrangements, bass, percussion, drums, Fender Rhodes, organ & production: Johan Schots @Studio Kite
Brussels is known as a creative centre and one of the most original, talented and driven people who lives and works there is Kristof Buntinx.
As a fashion designer, he is a unique, high-profile phenomenon. However, this multifaceted and artistic all-round creative has a lot more to offer. For example, Kristof shows that he adds value to the current social media landscape with his own YouTube channel. And when it comes to music, there’s no stopping him. His alter ego “The Singing Fashion Designer” released a second single on the eve of Armistice Day and scored a bull’s eye!
Blue Bubblegum boasts captivating and seductive lyrics to a catchy tune, which will take over your brain in a flash. Before you know it, you will be humming this little number.
But as in all of Kristof’s creations and projects there is an extra layer under the surface and an unmistakeable message. The Blue Bubblegum lyrics tell the story of a boy from the Bronx who after having stolen a stick of chewing gum, gets shot by the storeowner. The consequences are disastrous: the boy dies, the storeowner is prosecuted and the victim’s close family is left behind grieving.
Buntinx who wrote the lyrics himself, is a true story teller. He was able to describe this story so authentically and aptly that you visualise it as in a film. In his own words: “The lyrics came to me at some point and I wrote down the words in one go. To me Blue Bubblegum is a modern slave’s song. A negro spiritual, which I interpreted in a contemporary way together with my musical soul mates Goedele Van Kerkhoven andJoëlGrignard. I am very pleased with the result as the song provides solace in addition to a topical message.”
With Blue Bubblegum Kristof Buntinx implores us to handle fire arms with extreme caution. “Did you know that more than 300 million rifles and pistols are in use in the trigger-happy United States and that an African American is 12 times more likely to be killed by a fire arm than a white person? This is truly mind-blowing! That is why I came out with this song on the eve of Armistice Day.”
Kristof Buntinx, or “The Singing Fashion Designer” as in his stage name, can be justifiably proud of this single. This number also comes with a striking and trendy video animation.
A brilliant song and an amazing clip, that is what Blue Bubblegum represents. A number that will undoubtedly stick for a long time.
There is silence on the part of Kristof Buntinx, the Brussels-based fashion designer who is known for his current, edgy and controversial designs. A silence that one can only assume is the proverbial calm before the storm, more particularly a musical whirlwind referred to as “The Singing Fashion Designer”.
Singing is something Buntinx excels at! His musical heroes past and present include Nat King Cole, Roxette, Sinead O’Connor, the Righteous Brothers, Sam Smith and Ellie Golding. Music has been part of Buntinx’ life for a long time. “I come from a musical family,” he states. “My father directed the church choir and I sang in his choir together with my mother.”
Urge to design
Singing continued to intrigue and heal Buntinx even later; “music therapy gave meaning to my stay in Kortenberg so that I continued to pursue music even after that dark period.” He even took extra lessons, with David Davidse, among others. “Just like designing to me music is a process that has a healing as well as a tonic effect,” according to the singing designer. “I suffer from some kind of urge to creat, which forces me to stay active.” “Quite a few singers branch out into fashion – just think of Jessica Simpson who makes millions with her fashion brand – I just do it the other way around.”
Today Buntinx primarily associates musically with the director of the VUB choir, Goedele Van Kerkhoven and producer Joël Grignard (Rubens Studio). The latter has already produced two songs for The Singing Fashion Designer and together they hope to be able to produce a complete album, which will be made up of original numbers of which ten have already been penned by Buntinx. “Just like designing, writing songs is something quite natural to me, it feels more like a creative process or the channelling of something or someone, than something to which I contribute myself.” For example, he wrote his first number, ‘Where are you now’ (without question mark) in 30 minutes. That first single and the matching cinematographically inspired video, will be presented to the public on 11 September, through the world’s first mobile record company amuse.
Where are you now
The release date is no coincidence as Buntinx drew inspiration for“Where are you now” from the events of 9/11, the day on which, in his own words, he lost his innocence and discovered fear and hate. It is this very loss that he sings about in an allegorical story about a lost love, one you only realise was true love when it is too late. “With this number I wanted to stress the feeling that the world will never be the same,” says the singer.
Sadly that feeling is now relevant more than ever, even in Europe. Yet his first single is above all a song that aims to offer solace, according to Buntinx.
Those who look forward to finding that solace in a live performance by The Singing Fashion Designer, will have to wait. “For the time being I want to focus on writing songs, live appearances is something I still find daunting.” Perhaps Buntinx will make an exception for a TV appearance or a show in a “cosy, smoky jazz club” – even if we have to make do without the smoke these days. “It is primarily the setting that is important to me, if it is OK, maybe I can be persuaded” (smiles).
More about Kristof Buntinx, The Singing Fashion Designer, can be found on his social media accounts.
