“Would you be interested in doing something with a poem of mine? (reciting or singing, or both, for experimentation)… You in Dutch with a poem of mine, I think it could give off sparks!” It began with a tentative instagram message but now Alex Deforce and Charlotte Jacobs share an endless stream of email.

The two had known each other for quite a while. Deforce had even done two paintings for the EP and single covers of Jacobs’ musical project ‘SEIREN’. She moved to Brooklyn shortly after that, he devoted more time to poetry. Yet (and fortunately), their paths crossed again. Their collaboration is a story of one of good prompts, what if’s, and how about’s. For a long time they exchanged mails full of poems and flashes of inspiration. Eventually, these would culminate in a series of improvised live performances.

After one paltry rehearsal in Deforce’s painting studio, the duo debuted at the low-key open-mic night De Sprekende Ezels in Brussels. There, they got a taste for more. A few months later, Deforce and Jacobs presented their first single at Jazz Middelheim: 'Zij' was released on 7” vinyl by Brussels-based Lexi Disques. They streamed their way through the pandemic and are currently working on a full live set. Charlotte handles the music production, Alex the poetry.

At the AB Salon, they will perform work they developed during a multi-day residency.