Roel Meelkop
Roel Meelkop (1963) studied visual arts and art theory at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. During a post-graduate course at the same academy he decided to dedicate his work to sound and music.
His musical activities date back to the early eighties when he performed in the experimental synth-rock group Club Rialto, and recorded solo noise under the pseudonyms Mailcop and Happy Halloween. He also started THU20, together with Jac van Bussel (aka DMDN, and leader of noise-rock band Lewd), Peter Duimelinks, Jos Smolders and Guido Doesborg. THU20 have released several tapes and CD’s and performed regularly in Europe. The working method of THU20 included many discussions about how to compose and why. This period was crucial in forming his ideas and concepts about sound and how to organize it, but it was not until the mid nineties that he was able to fully realize these ideas. The purchase of a sampler and later a computer radically changed his possibilities of working with sound, offering infinitely more control and freedom.
Since then, he has worked steadily on a body of work under his given name, most of which was received enthusiastically in the small but dedicated world of sound art. His other activities include working with Kapotte Muziek, Zebra (a duo with Frans de Waard), and minimal pulse/techno group GOEM and organizing sound events, mostly in Rotterdam. Along with Goem members de Waard and Duimelinks, Meelkop helps to run the techno label Audio.nl.
Aside from releases, Meelkop also creates site-specific sound installations and performance pieces in collaboration with other artists.
