Eran Har Even
Eran Har Even is an Edison-nominated guitarist, composer, and music educator based in Amsterdam. Widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking voices in the Dutch jazz scene and across Europe, Eran is driven by a deep passion for innovation - constantly exploring new intersections between jazz, pop, electronic music, performance art, and technology. Over the years, he has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Jamal Thomas, Benny Golson, Ziv Ravitz, Hermine Deurloo, and Gilad Hekselman, contributing to a wide range of acclaimed projects across genres and borders.
At the heart of his artistic journey lies a growing fascination with immersive 3D audio and virtual reality. For Eran, these technologies offer more than just new tools—they open up entirely new worlds of expression, interaction, and storytelling. “By integrating my deeply rooted musical experience with emerging technologies like immersive audio, I strive to craft a multidimensional journey - where sound becomes space, and music becomes a world the listener can step into.” This vision fuels his ambition to reshape the future of jazz and improvisational music - expanding its reach through creative dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and immersive performance formats.
Eran’s latest projects reflect this bold direction. He co-leads Hypnosphere, an experimental collaboration that blends hypnotic ambient textures with real-time electronic improvisation and integrated VR environments. In this project, the stage and mixing desk become a single expressive instrument - creating deep grooves, evolving soundscapes, and spatial audio that invite listeners into a dreamlike state of sonic exploration.
His most recent album, Shorter Days, reimagines eight compositions by Wayne Shorter and has received international acclaim for its genre-fluid approach and innovative sonic palette. Now, he’s stepping into the next chapter: immersive 3D audio and virtual reality experiences that resonate in entirely new dimensions.
Alongside his creative work, Eran has been a dedicated faculty member at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam for over 15 years and is a sought-after educator and performer, regularly giving masterclasses and workshops at festivals and institutions around the world. He teaches guitar, ear training, music theory, ensemble coaching, CvA Online, and master’s research across both the Pop and Jazz departments. He also leads the Conservatory’s pioneering Remote Hybrid Ensemble - a visionary group using advanced technology to explore the future of remote musical collaboration and real-time performance.
What has previously been your approach to guitar?
I’m somewhere on the spectrum between jazz and contemporary music, although my general approach to the guitar has changed drastically over the years. As a teenager, I started as a metalhead who never turned off the distortion knob. Later, around 16, I became a bebop head, with a hollow-body guitar and amp as my go-to setup. In the past decade or so, I’ve started to free myself from “stylistic boxes” and embrace music as a whole. By that point, I already had a strong sense of my personal taste, along with a solid guitaristic foundation in improvisation, theory, and composition. The past years have been dedicated to developing my “fortes” and creating art.
How do you use the SubSix?
I’m currently using the SubSix with a computer, specifically in Ableton. I find it to be a versatile platform for exploring sound design and immersive audio. In my ongoing research, I create my own presets for the SubSix and think of them as “masks” I place on the guitar. Each mask is then studied until I feel comfortable improvising with it. I especially love modifying sound parameters in real time using a MIDI foot controller (Blackstar Live Logic & AKAI APC Mini), opening an infinite path for shifting dynamics and modulation. It’s been a trip so far.
What influence has the pickup had on your creative process or workflow?
Wow, where to start…Using the SubSix has opened a world of possibilities, both in sound design and in actual guitar playing. My deep interest in guitar polyphony has taken on a new dimension thanks to the SubSix’s ability to characterize and pan individual strings. If you’re into guitar polyphony, you probably know how technically challenging it is. One of the biggest challenges is giving each voice a distinct timbre. In my opinion, the SubSix invites the next creative step in guitar polyphony.
What have been the surprising discoveries in the time that you've been using it?
Honestly, almost every session leads to new discoveries. What surprises me most is how user-friendly the pickups are. It’s really a “plug ’n’ play” technology, and the isolation and tracking are superb.
Do you plan on using it in any other projects and if so what ideas to you have for its future use?
I’m already using the SubSix live as part of my setup, and the research and experimentation are constantly evolving. I recently started documenting my work in a new series called SubSix Diaries | Sound-Driven Improvisations. All of this feeds into my main project at the moment, Hypnosphere, a duo with my mentor and good friend, sound architect Attie Bauw. Our mission is to create live, improvised immersive music that takes the listener into a new spatial experience.
How do you use it in a live setting?
By now, I’ve built a collection of Ableton projects that I control with my feet and hands. I stream my channels to Attie using Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS), which he maps to an immersive sound system using Dolby Atmos or SPAT Revolution.
What is your favourite gear? Hardware, software, pedals, anything…
I’m a big fan of the Line 6 Stomp. Over the past two years, it has gradually replaced my analog pedalboard. Since I started using Ableton as a “multi-effect,” I’ve become a bit addicted. I also love the HOG from Electro-Harmonix. The list goes on.
What in your current arsenal has been the most inspiring/interesting to use with the pickup?
Besides everything I already mentioned, I’m really inspired by combining the “clean” guitar channel with the pickup, dynamically blending the SubSix into my main sound. It opens up a lot of doors.
How has having multiple guitar outputs changed how you use these?
The SubSix is a powerful tool for creating live immersive music. Each channel or group can be assigned to different speakers, allowing real-time panning and moving localization.
What equipment would you most like to see developed as a companion to Submarine Pickups?
More dedicated software, plugins, and patches.
Have you got any tips for other Submarine users?
Take it slow. In my experience, the approach to the guitar changes quite a bit, since it often stops being the guitar you “know.” Each preset requires a period of study. I’ve learned not to be too judgmental in the first 20 minutes or so. Let the sound grow on you, and at the same time, develop a guitaristic approach to playing it.
What are you currently working on?
These days, there are a few exciting projects on the table. I’m currently releasing a new live album with my acoustic trio: Eran Har Even Trio – Live at Jazz Café Alto. At the same time, I’ve started channeling my work as an educator into online platforms, including a Patreon dedicated to creative studies (Eran’s Creative Music Space). After 16 years of teaching at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam and giving guest workshops at various universities around the world, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the possibilities of remote learning.
You have a workshop gig coming up at Eindhoven's Bridge Guitar Festival on May 30 — can you tell us a bit about that?
This workshop is especially exciting, as it will be the first time Attie and I present and demonstrate our work with the SubSix in public. We’ll share our workflows, from setup and spatial audio movement to presets, communication, and musical cues within the band. If you’re interested in these possibilities, don’t miss it.
Lucian can be found on instagram @eranhareven head to eranhareven.com for forthcoming dates and further info. You can also watch Eran's SubSix Diaries on our SubMariners page here
A Deep Dive With... is an ongoing series where we interview Submarine users, explore their creative process, share tips, and hopefully inspire you to discover new ways to make the most of Submarine's creative potential.
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