Here is a new composition about the simple fact of loving.  Once again I could find many reasons to Hate, but I choose Love.  It's more pleasant.

Voici une nouvelle composition sur le simple fait d'aimer.  Je pourrais encore une fois trouver de nombreuses raisons de Haïr, mais je choisis l'Amour.  C'est plus agréable.

Embrace the Winter

Improvisation - live from New Year's Eve on 01.01.2025

We will never know (...the outer space)

*** A Foundational Song ***

We can make our dreams reality 
inasmuch as we make reality our dream. 
Let's first find truth, then build on it. 
Whatever we build on the  rock of truth will  stay. 
Whatever  we build  on the sand of  lies will crumble.
That's simple enough. 
And yet there is more to it.

I remember grandma, she used to  tell me:
"Don't you lean your  head out of the window
so you won't fall down to the street and die, 
as many other children died. 
Remember: Your head is heavier,
so much heavier than your body!"

I could tell this was a clear exaggeration.
But I'm glad I never challenged the wisdom
of those loving lies, intended to keep me alive.
There's no need to rush our happy way to heaven
proudly waving the standard of truth
while falling down to the merciless ground.
Words will always be approximations.

But love and kindness will cast out sorrows, 
will bring forth dreams, astounding  science, 
speeches and poems quoted by angels
throughout eternity. 
Remember:  Love and kindness is the only road to eternity.

Foundational Song

Ode to Gabriela Mistral © 2025 Pamela Illanes - Tatsuoka, All Right  Reserved
Piano: Pamela Illanes - Tatsuoka

Ode to Gabriela Mistral (Live)

I never met my paternal grandfather.  He died from a brain tumor at the age of 57, before I was born.  My father never talked about it, but my mother did.  In recounting my grandfather's illness and the family history she knew, she told me that when my grandfather was very young, he and his friends would go play in a number of nearby orange groves. Those groves were beautiful, spacious, and the oranges were free for the taking. Unfortunately, they were also heavily sprayed with pesticides during that time period. My mother believed that my grandfather's exposure to those pesticides most likely played a role in the cancer that took his life many years later.  At the time of his death, there was little attention paid to the notion that pesticide exposure could impact one’s health and longevity, so there was no discussion of the matter when he became ill.

I have often thought about his life, as well as my mother's words. While we'll never completely know what happened, we'll remember my grandfather and this chapter in his story.  There are lessons to be learned from it, as well as similar stories from others.  Our environment should not be harmful to health but should protect it.

This improvised composition was written to remember my grandfather's story.

The Orange Grove

Here's a sneak peak at our new album with the second song on there called SALOME'S DANCE!

After seven years since the release of our debut album, The Hypersonic Factor are grateful to share "Benevolent Beasts," a collection of tracks that reflects both our development as a band and the experiences that have shaped us along the way.

The journey to this album has not been without its challenges. We open with "Groove for Danny," a tribute to our late and original drummer, Danny Handler, in his memory we have made this track, honoring his incredible spirit and influence. Rest in Peace, Danny…

Throughout this album, we draw from a range of inspirations, some of which stemmed from the unusual times we all navigated during the COVID pandemic, happening right at the start of writing the album. "Proximity Dance" , for example, emerged playfully, reflecting the strange dynamics of distance and connection that defined our lives during that period.

Musically, "Benevolent Beasts" explores the many facets of fusion and progressive rock. With some acoustic pieces woven in and funk grooves threading through the sound, we aim to create a varied listening experience. Each original member contributed their unique style and compositions: the melodic and catchy riffs from our bassist Mirko Borach, Dan van den Berg’s eclectic electric and acoustic guitar work, and the warm, rich rhythms provided by our new drummer, Tom Hipskind, all converge into a collective sound that feels organic and inviting. Jason Rubenstein, our keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer has, next to his very diverse playing, skillfully guided the whole process, ensuring that the diverse ideas we brought to the table found a cohesive home.

We’re pleased to feature guest keyboardist William Paasche on "The Simurgh." His contributions add an intensity to the track that we appreciate deeply.

"Benevolent Beasts" is a culmination of years of collaboration, creativity, and reflection. We hope to offer something that resonates with all who enjoy instrumental fusion and progressive rock, inviting listeners into our world while echoing the journey we've taken together.

Thank you for taking the time to explore our music. We hope it brings you joy and connection in its own unique way.

With gratitude and passion,

The Hypersonic Factor

credits
released April 19, 2025

Tom Hipskind - Drums and Percussion
Mirko Borach - Bass
Jason Rubenstein - Keyboards
Dan van den Berg - Guitar

Additional keyboards by Dan on a few tunes.

Special guest on "The Simurgh": keyboard solos by William Paasche

Salome's Dance | The Hypersonic Factor

On April 15, the last remaining hospital in Gaza was destroyed. To date, 50,000 civilians have died, of which 15,000 are children and another 34,000 children have been injured. (source: Unicef).
Due to the almost total displacement of the population in refugee camps where food and water are scarce, the lack of hygiene, of medical facilities, it is predicted, with a very conservative estimate, that in the end the civilian deaths related to the conflict will be four times as many (source: Lancet).

Thanks to my dear friend @Rosindust at violin.
Here the other collaborations with Tatiana: soundcloud.com/francescocartocci/sets/grazie-tatiana

Composition and all arrangements: Francesco Cartocci

Who cares - with Rosin dust

desert dream

From the heartfelt original composition À Milli by Anastasiya Ihnatovich, included in our Piano Whispers 01 compilation with arrangements by Bruno Sanfilippo, we now present À Milli Reworked, delicately reinvented with real strings by composer Felipe Lima. The piece now carries a cinematic, melancholic beauty. Each note unfolds with grace, inviting the listener on a peaceful and pastoral journey. With this release, we warmly welcome two new talents to the ad21 family: Anastasiya Ihnatovich, a neoclassical pianist from Minsk, Belarus, whose music speaks with honesty and emotion. Felipe Lima, a Brazilian composer focused on film, series, and visual storytelling, bringing deep sensitivity and atmosphere. A luminous collaboration that celebrates subtlety, emotion, and the power of reinterpretation. ad21

À Milli Reworked

Listen

Let's get real cheesy for two of my favourite people in the world.

Happy 30th anniversary Liz and John!

Lionel Richie 1982

I hope you (all) enjoy 😃

Truly (Lionel Richie Cover)

Light and Shade

This track has different sides, a lighter and darker side. Optimism, unease and melancholy can be found in four different parts, coming together as in life... Light and Shade.
As always my music is centered around the guitar as main instrument, my trusted companion in expressing my moods and feelings. This time the electric guitar. Because it can howl, growl and weep.

I hope you will enjoy this music and as always I really enjoy your likes, comments and shares.

-Dan

All music, instruments, drum programming, arranging, mixing and mastering by Daniël van den Berg, November 2018
Guitar: Fender Elite Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker
Bass: Fender strat with octave effect
Recorded using Amplitube and AURIA for iPad
Mixing in AURIA, mastered with Final Touch
Samples and string section using Sampletank
Drum samples using Amplitube, arranging in AURIA

Electric Contraptions

Light and Shade

Light and Shade | Dan van den Berg

THE NEW ALBUM OF MY BAND THE HYPERSONIC FACTOR  CALLED BELEVOLENT BEASTS IS OUT NOW!  AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES!
featuring:
Jason Rubenstein - Keyboards, Piano, compositions, arrangements and producer
Mirko Borach - Bass and compositions
Tom Hipskind - Drums
Dan van den Berg - Electric and Acoustic guitars, compositions, arrangements, synthesizers
https://thehypersonicfactor.bandcamp.com/album/benevolent-beasts



Check my SOLO Album here! https://danielvandenberg.bandcamp.com/album/short-tales-for-three-guitars

This site is for my musical avatar or alter ego. Architect/partner/company owner by day, I find myself playing guitar and writing these tracks in afterhours, at nights, evenings, when in need of a dose of guitar sounds. You will find a wide range of guitar oriented music, ranging from Jazz to Blues, Flamenco to Classical, Rock to Fusion. And many collaborations with some great musicians.

I have been playing guitar since I was 11 years old, largely self-taught and have tried different styles and instruments: Renaissance lute, flamenco guitar, classical guitar, steel string guitar and electric guitar with which I have been playing in styles ranging from rock and metal in my early years to classical music, some American Folk music, jazz rock, prog rock, flamenco nuevo and fusion.

It’s been a splendid time here so far, in collaborating with a lot of brilliant musicians on SoundCloud and sharing ideas and the passion for music. 
My collaborations are with musicians that I have a deep respect for and have a mutual appreciation for real instruments, and musical styles that focus on letting the instruments “shine”. 

Here is some technical data:
Currently I am using Amplitube and Auria on an iPad as DAW with Final Touch for mastering. For acoustic recording I use an Apogee microphone.

Guitars are:
Fender AMERICAN ELITE STRATOCASTER® HSS SHAWBUCKER, 2016
Fender Stratocaster Squire (first edition: JV-series)
Ibanez JS100, Joe Satriani model
Evh Frankie Striped MN Relic R/W/B

EVH 5150 Series Standard Stealth Black EB guitar
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster HSS Olympic White RW
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH 2PT CM Mahogany Natural
Paulino Bernabe, Taller de Guitarras, Model-50, 2001, classical concert guitar
Marín, Modelo Estudio /9 Calidad, 1997, Malaga, Spain, flamenco guitar
Joan Cashimira, modelo 145, spruce top w/ cocobolo sides and back, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), 2015

I hope you will enjoy my music.

Daniël van den Berg
DanArchX