Nina Rompa - Hoog (2026) [Hi-Res]

Dreamy, comforting, and enchanting. Nina Rompa’s new album ‘Hoog’ (High, as is up in the sky) is atmospheric, compelling – and she sings in Dutch. An unconventional lineup of vocalist, jazz trio, and violas moves effortlessly between different styles and embraces the aesthetic.

‘Hoog’ captures the imagination. It is about the infinite space above us and the longing for something in the distance. About dreaming of something intangible, the search for freedom. “I realized that over the years, I had incorporated the word ‘hoog’ into almost every lyric I wrote,” smiles Nina. “Apparently, I am drawn to everything that takes place far above us. Endless skies and plains, lunar landscapes, celestial bodies, and deafening silences.”

Nina says she is always fascinated by seeing old footage from space travel. “For example, from the old Cosmos series by Carl Sagan; this provided inspiration for text and titles such as Apollo, Maanman (Moon Man), and IJsreus (Ice Giant). The mysterious and incomprehensible nature of space inspires me. But nature does too. And especially the small details: rippling water, wind rustling through the trees, warm air shimmering in the distance.”

To capture the sound that goes along with these images, Nina went in search of new timbres and textures and arrived at an unusual instrumentation: vocals, guitar, clarinet, double bass, and three violas. The result are a dozen compositions that playfully move between modern jazz, classical music, and contemporary pop. And: with poetic lyrics in the Dutch language.

Nina Rompa – vocals
3VIOLAS* – viola
Mo van der Does – clarinet
Gijs Idema – guitar
William Barrett - double bass
*Geerten Feller, Hessel Moeselaar, Floris Faber
Gast: Anna Serierse – backing vocals (2, 7, 9, 10, 11)