Domen Cizej (b. 1996, Jesenice, Slovenia) is a percussionist and composer currently residing and actively creating in Amsterdam. Born into a musical family, he began developing his musical ear at a very young age, exploring various instruments such as flute, cello, clarinet, and eventually gravitating towards percussion. After completing his undergraduate studies in jazz drums at Codarts University in Rotterdam, he earned his master's degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2022. Collaborating with the .abeceda institute under the mentorship of Dré A. Hočevar has played a significant role in his holistic development and the cultivation of his artistic vision. In June 2023, he released his five-album debut titled "Introducing Domen Cizej" through Clean Feed Records, showcasing the foundations of his artistic vision and its future potential.
As Joe Morris puts it in the liner notes, “This grand recording erases competing issues of history, influence, and methodology in today's improvised music culture by combining them seamlessly, thereby alleviating the listener of the burden of obsolete analysis. Instead it offers new music that entices them to enjoy the surprise and pleasure of deciphering an exciting sonic puzzle.”
With his creativity and dedication to music, he strives to push the boundaries of percussion music and create unique musical experiences for his audience.