Vriend studied piano, music theory, and composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory. In Paris, he attended a class on the “formalisation of music” with Iannis Xenakis, and worked at the GRM at Radio France. He founded the Asko Ensemble and also served as its conductor and member of the artistic committee for a time. Notable works include Heterostase (1980) for flute, bass clarinet, and piano; Toque (1981) for two guitars; Albedo for tape; and Vectorial (1983) for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, tuba, harp, and piano, written for the Asko Ensemble.