DiAngelis
The Steely Dan Principle, the Dutch way

Di Angelis is the second studio project of Frank van Engelen. A follow up to the 2020 released album under the moniker Frank Di Angelis. DiAngelis' music is a melodic, funky blend of easy listening and jazzy pop, highlighted by female lead vocals. What sets Di Angelis apart is its approach to writing and recording music. "I've opted for the Steely Dan principle," says the songwriter, producer and musician Frank van Engelen. "For each track, I've consistently chosen the best musicians rather than recording with a fixed lineup."

Frank van Engelen has a rich career in music. Starting at a young age on drums, he later switched to bass guitar at the age of 15. Eventually evolving into a multi-instrumentalist who knows his ways on keyboards and guitar as well. Despite his talent and love for music, he initially didn't pursue a professional career in music. However, when approached by the producer of the Dutch act Gare de Nord, founded by Ferdi Lancee (composer, guitarist) and Barend Fransen (co-founder), he decided to take on the role of bass guitarist. Gare du Nord expanded beyond a studio act with live performances, becoming highly successful with a unique blend of jazz, pop, and lounge. Van Engelen spent eight years with the band, contributing to three studio albums.

The Steely Dan Principle
Though Van Engelen is also active as an internet entrepreneur running various webshops, his greatest passion remains making and recording music. His major inspirations include acts like Toto, Level 42, Boz Scaggs, and artists like Jeff Porcaro and Mark King. The duo Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, better known as Steely Dan, serve as the perfect example for Van Engelen's approach. No fixed lineup, but consistently choosing the best musicians for each individual track. "A fixed lineup doesn't work. At least not for me. That's why I chose the Steely Dan principle, recording the twelve tracks with nearly fifty different musicians. So, different configurations, always considering which musician best suits each song. However, all musicians rehearsed all twelve tracks."
"I first create the demos myself, guiding what I'm looking for. The musicians then contribute based on their expertise. This not only prolonged the recording process for almost two years but also allowed me to meet many musicians I didn’t know before. Initially, the only two I knew well were Jan van Duikeren and Ferdi Lancee from Gare du Nord. Jan played a central role in approaching other musicians. Only drummer Hans Eijkenaar was my own choice, especially because I didn't want to stick too much to a jazz sound. Hans has more of a rock sound but can also play jazz. Moreover, he can blend the two into the robust sound it has become. Additionally, I didn't want this project to rely on one fixed female vocalist. We recorded songs with Dewi. Later in the process, we settled on Lotte Nobelen as the songs in the studio kept evolving, prompting us to rerecord the vocals."

Fine Tuning
Van Engelen began writing new songs during the Corona period. But the album now includes tracks already written in 1995, 2006, 2011, and 2014. The creative process unfolded without a predetermined master plan; "I write what I write, although I'm influenced by the acts mentioned earlier. But how it should sound wasn't clear beforehand. The only thing certain was that it would consist of twelve tracks." Van Engelen initiated the recording process in March 2022 and completed the studio project in December 2023. It was a lengthy process, partly due to the extensive time required for mixing and mastering. "It took a lot of time because working with so many different instruments like strings and brass demands a lot of fine-tuning. And yes, we set the bar quite high. Not that we strive for perfection. As music must remain alive and authentic we look for that point just beyond perfection. I listen to the tracks every day, and still discovering how talented the musicians truly are. What we have now is simply a fantastic record for me."

Content Creation
With all twelve tracks recorded, mixed and mastered, plans for the release are slowly taking shape. "As it stands now, we're opting for 'Don't Wanna Fight' as the first single, scheduled for release in the fall. Over the coming weeks and months, we'll create additional content such as photos and videos for promotion and campaigns, including social media channels. Based on the data we receive from those platforms and streaming services, we'll further define our plan. This also applies to a potential physical release on vinyl and CD. If the data shows significant traffic in a certain region, we'll explore opportunities for live performances. For now, it's just me. There's no band. Once the opportunity arises to play live, we'll simply put together a band. The band has not been formed yet, but for me, it will definitely include Jan van Duikeren with his section, Hans Eijkenaar, Tim Langendijk, Berthil Busstra, and Ferry Lagendijk. But I also need to consider a smaller lineup for acoustic settings, allowing us to perform in a radio studio."

Release
The new DiAngelis album is slated for release in the fall of 2024 on Van Engelen's own Margaux label. "I'm already very satisfied with the end result and the tracks we have. But I owe it to myself to market it. I haven't set any specific goals for it. Setting goals in music is also difficult for me. Whatever comes my way now is welcome. Because ultimately, it's all about the journey, and not the final destination."