{
    "ok" : true,
    "artist" : {
        "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
        "page" : "rompaey",
        "description" : "passionate Eastern percussion",
        "location" : "Antwerpen, Belgium",
        "bio" : "Ruben van Rompaey (1978, Bergen op Zoom, Holland) became well known for his cd trilogy \"Eastern Expressions\" within the international musical scenes of World music and Bellydance.\n\nAs a solo artist and workshop leader he performed at a variety of national and international Jazz and Bellydance festivals, which brought him to countries like USA and Japan.\n\nRuben is winner of several awards, such as the Tama Drummer's Award (1999), Erasmus Jazz Award (2001) and a special Scholarship (2001). After having obtained his master degree cum laudeat at the conservatory, Ruben taught there for several years, before finally founding his own Eastern Expressions International School of Drums & Percussion in Rotterdam, with the notorious slogan: \"Be Yourself\" as the school's vision.\n\nBesides his active career as a solo artist Ruben currently has six albums released. He also is the author of three methods for darbuka, which has been translated into various languages. Recently Ruben's own signature cymbals have been released by Turkish Cymbals Istanbul.\n\nYou can watch Ruben perform the piece \"Moon Dance\" in this recently produced educational video on darbuka.",
        "photo" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/img/rompaey1.jpg",
        "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/rompaey/",
        "albums" : [{
            "sku" : "rompaey-eastern3nv",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 3 - Asahi (vocals removed)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2026-10-23",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals removed",
            "moods" : ["playful","exotic","energetic","hypnotic","quirky","spiritual"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","meditation or yoga","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","solo percussion","body noises","arabic-influenced rhythms"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A solo Eastern percussion album with Arabic influences, playful and hypnotic rhythms, ideal for travel videos, documentaries, and meditation backgrounds.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%203%20-%20Asahi%20(vocals%20removed)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-eastern3nv/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-eastern3nv",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-eastern3nv"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-easternexpressions5nv",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 5 - Amazonia (vocals removed)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2026-10-23",
            "genres" : ["World","Electronica","Instrumental Electronica","Instrumental World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals removed",
            "moods" : ["spiritual","mysterious","dreamy","ethereal","meditative","exotic"],
            "uses" : ["nature documentary","travel","meditation or yoga","spa or massage","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 3,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","organic electronic beats","string instruments","flutes","didgeridoo","detuned bird sounds"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A spiritually atmospheric blend of Eastern percussion, organic electronics, and acoustic world instruments with detuned bird sounds, ideal for nature documentaries, meditation, and travel content.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%205%20-%20Amazonia%20(vocals%20removed)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-easternexpressions5nv/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-easternexpressions5nv",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-easternexpressions5nv"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-jadenv",
            "name" : "Jade (best of more than 10 years of Eastern Expressions) (vocals removed)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2026-10-23",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals removed",
            "moods" : ["spiritual","exotic","hypnotic","sensual","mysterious","meditative"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","emotional storytelling","spa or massage"],
            "energy" : 3,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","acoustic and electronic instrumentation","tribal grooves","instrumental"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A spiritually evocative, exotic instrumental world music album with hypnotic Eastern percussion grooves, ideal for belly dance, yoga, travel, and documentary projects.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Jade%20(best%20of%20more%20than%2010%20years%20of%20Eastern%20Expressions)%20(vocals%20removed)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-jadenv/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-jadenv",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-jadenv"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-miragenv",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 4 - Mirage (vocals removed)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2026-10-23",
            "genres" : ["World","Electronica"],
            "vocals" : "vocals removed",
            "moods" : ["exotic","spiritual","hypnotic","mysterious","energetic","dreamy"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","vlog","meditation or yoga","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","organic electronic hip hop beats","jazz harmonies","tabla","guest world instruments"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "Dynamic Middle Eastern rhythms fused with Far Eastern atmospheres, organic electronic Hip Hop, and mesmerizing Jazz—ideal for evocative travel, documentary, or meditative storytelling.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%204%20-%20Mirage%20(vocals%20removed)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-miragenv/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-miragenv",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-miragenv"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-mozaicnv",
            "name" : "Mozaic (vocals removed)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2026-10-23",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals removed",
            "moods" : ["exotic","sensual","hypnotic","energetic","playful"],
            "uses" : ["travel","lounge or bar","fashion or beauty","cooking or food","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","arabic-influenced melodies","vocals"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "An energetic, exotic, and sensual Arabic-influenced world music album with passionate Eastern percussion and vocals, ideal for travel, lounge, fashion, and emotional storytelling.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Mozaic%20(vocals%20removed)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-mozaicnv/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-mozaicnv",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-mozaicnv"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-easternexpressions5",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 5 - Amazonia",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2019-12-14",
            "genres" : ["World","Electronica","Instrumental Electronica","Instrumental World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["spiritual","mysterious","dreamy","ethereal","meditative","exotic"],
            "uses" : ["nature documentary","travel","meditation or yoga","spa or massage","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 3,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","organic electronic beats","string instruments","flutes","didgeridoo","detuned bird sounds"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A spiritually atmospheric blend of Eastern percussion, organic electronics, and acoustic world instruments with detuned bird sounds, ideal for nature documentaries, meditation, and travel content.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%205%20-%20Amazonia/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-easternexpressions5/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-easternexpressions5",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-easternexpressions5"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-jade",
            "name" : "Jade (best of more than 10 years of Eastern Expressions)",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2016-02-05",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["spiritual","exotic","hypnotic","sensual","mysterious","meditative"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","emotional storytelling","spa or massage"],
            "energy" : 3,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","acoustic and electronic instrumentation","tribal grooves","instrumental"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A spiritually evocative, exotic instrumental world music album with hypnotic Eastern percussion grooves, ideal for belly dance, yoga, travel, and documentary projects.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Jade%20(best%20of%20more%20than%2010%20years%20of%20Eastern%20Expressions)/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-jade/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-jade",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-jade"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-mirage",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 4 - Mirage",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2014-09-08",
            "genres" : ["World","Electronica"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["exotic","spiritual","hypnotic","mysterious","energetic","dreamy"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","vlog","meditation or yoga","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","organic electronic hip hop beats","jazz harmonies","tabla","guest world instruments"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "Dynamic Middle Eastern rhythms fused with Far Eastern atmospheres, organic electronic Hip Hop, and mesmerizing Jazz—ideal for evocative travel, documentary, or meditative storytelling.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%204%20-%20Mirage/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-mirage/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-mirage",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-mirage"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-djembolale1",
            "name" : "Djembolale - Fills and Drills",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2009-07-25",
            "genres" : ["World","Loops"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["exotic","sensual","energetic","hypnotic","playful"],
            "uses" : ["travel","gaming","vlog","documentary","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","arabic-influenced vocals","drum patterns","vocal chants"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "Passionate Eastern percussion with Arabic-influenced vocal chants and rhythmic djembe fills, ideal for travel videos, fitness content, or energetic documentary scenes.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Djembolale%20-%20Fills%20and%20Drills/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-djembolale1/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-djembolale1",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-djembolale1"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-djembolale2",
            "name" : "Djembolale - Grooves and Moves",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2009-07-25",
            "genres" : ["World","Loops"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["groovy","exotic","sensual","energetic","hypnotic","playful"],
            "uses" : ["travel","vlog","cooking or food","fashion or beauty","podcast background"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","djembes","bendir","male vocals"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A collection of Arabic-influenced Eastern percussion grooves with male vocals, ideal for travel videos, cooking shows, and yoga or podcast background music.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Djembolale%20-%20Grooves%20and%20Moves/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-djembolale2/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-djembolale2",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-djembolale2"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-mozaic",
            "name" : "Mozaic",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2009-07-04",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["exotic","sensual","hypnotic","energetic","playful"],
            "uses" : ["travel","lounge or bar","fashion or beauty","cooking or food","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","arabic-influenced melodies","vocals"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "An energetic, exotic, and sensual Arabic-influenced world music album with passionate Eastern percussion and vocals, ideal for travel, lounge, fashion, and emotional storytelling.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Mozaic/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-mozaic/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-mozaic",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-mozaic"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-eastern3",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 3 - Asahi",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2009-03-06",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "vocals",
            "moods" : ["playful","exotic","energetic","hypnotic","quirky","spiritual"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","meditation or yoga","podcast background","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","solo percussion","body noises","arabic-influenced rhythms"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A solo Eastern percussion album with Arabic influences, playful and hypnotic rhythms, ideal for travel videos, documentaries, and meditation backgrounds.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%203%20-%20Asahi/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-eastern3/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-eastern3",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-eastern3"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-eastern",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2008-07-26",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "instrumental",
            "moods" : ["exotic","mysterious","spiritual","hypnotic","meditative"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","nature documentary","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 3,
            "instrumentation" : ["eastern percussion","arabic-influenced melodies","vocal chants"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "An Arabic-influenced world music album featuring passionate Eastern percussion and vocal tracks, ideal for travel, documentary, and meditative projects.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-eastern/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-eastern",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-eastern"
        },{
            "sku" : "rompaey-eastern2",
            "name" : "Eastern Expressions 2 - Gomera",
            "artist" : {
                "name" : "Ruben van Rompaey",
                "page" : "rompaey"
            },
            "release_date" : "2008-02-05",
            "genres" : ["World"],
            "vocals" : "instrumental",
            "moods" : ["energetic","groovy","sensual","exotic","hypnotic"],
            "uses" : ["travel","documentary","emotional storytelling"],
            "energy" : 4,
            "instrumentation" : ["middle eastern percussion","dumbeks","riqqs","finger cymbals","tablas","udus"],
            "sounds_like" : [],
            "summary" : "A passionate, rhythm-driven world music album featuring diverse Middle Eastern percussion, ideal for belly dancing, tribal dance, travel content, and evocative documentary scenes.",
            "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Ruben%20van%20Rompaey/Eastern%20Expressions%202%20-%20Gomera/cover_400.jpg",
            "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rompaey-eastern2/",
            "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rompaey-eastern2",
            "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rompaey-eastern2"
        }]
    },
    "license" : {
        "music_license" : "Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 1.0)",
        "music_license_url" : "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/",
        "listening" : "Stream the free previews, or buy an album for $8 to download it in MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, OGG or WAV. 100% of the price goes to the musician.",
        "non_commercial" : "Non-commercial projects may use the music under CC BY-NC-SA 1.0: credit the artist and Magnatune, and share alike.",
        "projects" : "Magnatune members may use any Magnatune music in their projects, commercial or not (videos, films, podcasts, games, apps, websites, adverts), including work for clients, under the Magnatune Project Licence. Projects released while a member stay licensed for good; new projects need an active membership. Credit is required. TV or radio broadcast, cinema, and background music in shops, restaurants or on-hold lines are not included: license those from the musician. Membership: $10/month, $99/year or $299 lifetime; agents can buy one themselves with MPP at /api/member-pass ($10 month, $99 year, $299 lifetime, one-off).",
        "projects_status" : "available",
        "projects_signup" : "https://magnatune.com/member/signup",
        "royalty_free" : "Membership is royalty-free licensing: no per-video, per-download or per-view fees, for every project created and released while a member.",
        "youtube" : "YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts: members may use the clean songs in monetized videos. Members register their YouTube channel (the set_youtube_channel MCP tool, or their account page) so YouTube's Content ID doesn't claim their videos. The free versions carry a spoken Magnatune voice and are non-commercial (CC BY-NC-SA), so they're not for monetized channels or client work.",
        "details" : "https://magnatune.com/info/licensing",
        "how_to_credit" : "Name the artist and \"Magnatune\", with a link to the album's web_url."
    }
}