A Violin Without Boundaries
From the concert hall to festival stages, Damien Chierici has crafted a career where the violin is more than an instrument—it’s a storyteller.
Born in 1986 and trained under Gilbert Theys and Martin Pirard, Damien quickly developed an unconventional approach to the violin, blending classical precision with amplified textures, electronic effects, and the energy of live performance.A versatile and genre-defying artist, his sound is rooted in classical, cinematic, folk, and contemporary influences, making him a sought-after musician in Belgium.
OOOTOKO, KOWARI & DAN SAN
OOOTOKO – A Visionary Orchestral Fusion
In 2022, Damien spearheaded OOOTOKO, a large-scale orchestral project born from "Parallaxe", bringing together 18 musicians in an immersive, boundary-pushing performance. Officially unveiled at Botanique in May 2024, the project was hailed as a cinematic and deeply emotive sonic experience.
KOWARI – Between Neoclassical and Electronic Soundscapes
With Louan Kempenaers, Damien co-founded KOWARI, a neo-classical and filmic music project. Their compositions blur the line between orchestral grandeur and electronic experimentation. Their second album, Memento, was released in April 2024 in a sold-out Ancienne Belgique, and their performances at Dour Festival, Les Nuits Botanique, and major Belgian festivals have cemented their reputation in the contemporary instrumental music scene.
In February 2024, KOWARI’s music was orchestrated by Dirk Brossé and performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, a milestone bringing Damien’s cinematic compositions into a symphonic realm.
DAN SAN – Melodic and Atmospheric Pop
Parallel to his instrumental explorations, Damien is a member of Dan San, one of Belgium’s most celebrated dream-pop and indie-folk bands. As a violinist and keyboardist, he has helped shape their delicate and textured sound, balancing melancholy, melody, and intricate arrangements.
World Music and Cultural Crossroads
YULE – A Meeting of Celtic Voices
Fascinated by Celtic music, Damien joined YULE, an ambitious project that unites four iconic voices from the Celtic world:
Liam Ó Maonlaí (Ireland) – Frontman of Hothouse Flowers, known for his deep, soulful interpretations of Irish tradition.
Uxía (Galicia, Spain) – A key figure in Galician music, blending folk with Atlantic and Lusophone influences.
Marthe Vassallo (Brittany, France) – A master of Breton singing traditions, exploring both ancient and modern vocal techniques.
Joanne McIver (Scotland) – A singer and multi-instrumentalist known for her poetic storytelling.
This project showcases Celtic heritage through the violin, intertwining ancient traditions with modern arrangements.
100 VOLTAS – A Galician-Belgian Connection
Continuing his passion for cultural exchange, Damien collaborated with Veronica Codesal (Ialma) for 100 VOLTAS, a project that blends Galician folk traditions with contemporary composition. Rooted in history yet forward-thinking in execution, it highlights the emotional depth of traditional melodies in a modern setting.
Damien first made his mark in Yew, a high-energy folk-rock band that merged violin with raw rock intensity, setting the stage for his exploration of amplified strings.
In DUPLEX, alongside Didier Laloy, he delved into the intricate interplay between violin and accordion, crafting an acoustic dialogue rich in texture and movement.
Film Scores, Collaborations & Multidisciplinary Works
Film & Television Scores
Damien’s ability to evoke emotion through music naturally led him into the world of film scoring. His compositions have shaped the sound of:
PANDORE (Belgian TV series) – A political drama where Damien’s music underscores tension and emotion.
#UNDERDOGS – A raw and intimate look at human struggles, enhanced by Damien’s evocative violin-driven score.
Other projects spanning documentary, theatre, and short films, bringing cinematic depth to storytelling.
Collaborations with Pop & Rock Artists
A versatile session musician and arranger, Damien has contributed to projects by: My Little Cheap Dictaphone (MLCD) Roscoe, The Feather, Hollywood Porn Stars, Pale Grey, Aucklane or Grandgeorge – indie-rock and alternative pop bands in Belgium,
Glen Hansard – Sharing the stage with the Irish singer-songwriter
ARDENT – A Multidisciplinary Spectacle
In 2022, Damien co-created ARDENT, an augmented cine-concert tracing the decline of Belgium’s steel industry through music, visuals, and theatre. This large-scale production blurred the lines between historical narrative, cinematic music, and immersive performance.
A Visionary Violinist at the Crossroads of Sound
From cinematic compositions to Celtic traditions, symphonic orchestrations to alternative rock, Damien Chierici’s career is a constant reinvention of what the violin can express. Through OOOTOKO, KOWARI, YULE, and countless collaborations, he continues to push the boundaries of contemporary violin performance, creating soundscapes that resonate far beyond genres.
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