WAAN – Mirrors

WAAN release new single “Mirrors” – from their upcoming album We Want WAAN

Album out January 23, 2026 via Sonar Kollektiv

WAAN represents the creative synergy between accomplished saxophonist Bart Wirtz and keyboard maestro Emiel van Rijthoven. As two self-confessed tech nerds from the Netherlands, their long-simmering partnership finally manifested in their 2023 debut Echo Echo on Sonar Kollektiv — an album that garnered international radio support, national press acclaim, and two Edison Award nominations (the Dutch equivalent of the Grammys).

To build on that success, the duo retreated to the remote island of Texel in July 2024, where a series of open-ended, freestyle jams sparked the creation of their second album We Want WAAN, due out January 23, 2026.

One of the first tracks to emerge from this creative process is “Mirrors” — a bold, kinetic fusion of experimental jazz, intricate time signatures, and studio wizardry. The track kicks off with Prophet synth stabs and harmonized sax lines processed through a custom effects rig, before launching into a frenetic double-time rhythm driven by Matteo Mazzù (bass) and Mark Schilders (drums), shifting between 5/4 and 6/8 for a ride that’s as complex as it is propulsive.

“Ultimately, we wanted to capture the live energy we’ve experienced over the past year,” says Bart. “So we headed to our regular local bar — De Twee Spieghels in Leiden — where Ben Webster once played his final concert. We performed Mirrors live with a crowd and let them vibe along. It was also a great test case to see if the track really worked. We think it did!”

That live energy — including spontaneous audience reactions and handclaps — became part of the final recording, giving Mirrors its raw, responsive feel. Emiel’s filtered synths and swirling textures then launch the track further into orbit, blurring the boundaries between studio precision and stage presence.

“Mirrors” captures the essence of WAAN’s evolving sound — a project rooted in improvisation and experimentation, emotional immediacy and high-fidelity detail. You can almost hear the crowd chanting the album’s title: We Want WAAN.