Netherlands artist Robin Kester is set to release her most spellbinding creation to date, the forthcoming mini album This Is Not A Democracy. Created with producer Marien Dorleijn (of Dutch band Moss) in his studio set deep within a vacant former psychiatric institution, the album’s seven songs combine Kester’s gentle beguiling vocals with the duo’s experimentations with retro guitars, vintage synthesizers and an antique vibraphonette. The result is a dreamy luscious production drawing inspiration from 70’s pop, with touches of Sufjan Stevens’ enigmatic heartbreak lullabies, the chamber-pop of Cate Le Bon, the dreampop of Beach House, and the enveloping, ethereal and otherworldly beauty of Weyes Blood. 

Kester cites Westworld (TV series) as a heavy influence on This Is Not A Democracy, with both exploring themes of freewill and self-determination (or the lack thereof).  This theme is most explicit on Empty Head’s musing of, as Kester explains, “The feeling that our thoughts and behavioural patterns are the unfolding effects of our genetic material and not the result of self-determinism and self-awareness.”

On the beautifully hazy Cigarette Song, which features brass arrangement courtesy of Conor O’Brien of Villagers,  the more personal matter of a broken marriage is tackled.  Although preferring her music to take on the subjective interpretations and re-imaginings of the listener,  much of This Is Not A Democracy plays with more abstract concepts mirroring the album’s often majestic multi-instrumental dream-like soundscapes, and Kester’s own bewitching delivery. Nightmares, escapism, and shifting mental states are explored, such as in the ghostly Portals which sonically captures the feeling of a looming depression with its mysterious strings. On the tracks Sweat and Fright and Day Is Done two sides of the same sleepless coin are explored, the synthesised melody of Sweat and Fright, which recalls the soulful psych-tinged electronica of Broadcast, is an ode to nightmares, whilst the kaleidoscopic Day Is Done is described by Kester as “a lullaby for insomniacs.” 

Robin Kester hails from Utrecht, Netherlands. In 2018 she released a series of singles and her debut ‘Peel The Skin’ EP. Her debut single ‘Lost For A Day’  was included on Spotify’s Viral Chart and was named ‘Track of the Week’ in de Volkskrant.  Appearances on high-profile TV and radio shows in the Netherlands  followed, including a session for TV show Vrije Geluiden, and interviews and sessions for the country’s lead radio shows 2 Meter Sessies (NPO 2 Extra), Nooit Meer Slapen (Radio 1) and 3voor12 Radio (3fm). Culminating in 2019, in Dutch journalist Gijsbert Kamer (Volkskrant, Radio 1) naming Kester a ‘Talent to Watch’. 

Throughout this period Kester was invited to support the likes of Villagers, Bent Van Looy, Alela Diane, Laura Gibson, The Bony King of Nowhere and Haley Heynderickx on their Netherlands tours,  as well as being invited to perform at leading Netherlands festivals such as Here Comes The Summer, Motel Mozaique and Tweetakt.

Earlier in 2020, Kester teased out two tracks from the forthcoming mini album This Is Not A Democracy, Remove and Delete, which American DJ and tastemaker Chris Douridas included in the KCRW playlist and got plays by Elbow's Guy Garvey on BBC 6 Music. Another track, Day Is Done, was chosen to feature in upcoming American indie film Press Play later this year.

This Is Not A Democracy will be the first release on new independent label AT EASE, released on 11th September on vinyl, CD and digitally. 

It is written by Robin Kester, and recorded and produced by Marien Dorleijn in his studio, located in a former psychiatric institution. It was mixed by Pieter Vonk and mastered by Darius van Helfteren. It features Maarten Vos on cello and modular synths on Sweat and Fright, Day Is Done and Portals. With Conor O’Brien of Villagers performing the brass section on Cigarette Song.

Robin Kester - This Is Not A Democracy

The Dirt

Robin Kester - The Dirt

Robin Kester - Remove And Delete

Robin Kester - Empty Head

Netherlands artist Robin Kester returns with new single Sweat And Fright, a rhythmic, soulful slice of spectral psych-tinged electronica recalling Broadcast which she describes as “an ode to nightmares.”

The single’s subject matter is indicative of Kester’s forthcoming mini album This Is Not A Democracy  (11th Sept, AT EASE) as a whole, with its abstract exploration of nightmares, escapism, free will, and shifting mental states. 

Kester’s sound is equally as dream-like with its blending of her gentle beguiling vocal and experimentations with retro guitars, vintage synthesizers and an antique vibraphonette. Produced by Marien Dorleijn (of Dutch band Moss) in his studio set deep within an old psychiatric institute, the production style draws on inspiration from luscious  70’s pop, with touches of the dream-pop of Beach House, the otherworldly, ethereal qualities of artists such as Weyes Blood and Sufjan Stevens and a nod to the chamber-pop of Cate Le Bon.

Sweat And Fright is the fourth single taken from This Is Not A Democracy, following last month’s Cigarette Song, a dreamy collaboration with Conor O’Brien (Villagers), Remove And Delete which is currently being championed by Guy Garvey (BBC 6 Music) and was included in American DJ and tastemaker Chris Douridas’ KCRW playlist, and Day Is Done which will feature in upcoming American indie film Press Play out later this year.

Back in the Netherlands Kester is a much-acclaimed emerging artist, last month she recorded a legendary 2 Meter Session following in the footsteps of the likes of Radiohead and Nirvana. This follows a series of accolades following the release of early singles and her debut ‘Peel The Skin’ EP (2018),  including a spot on Spotify’s Viral Chart, appearances on high profile TV and radio shows including Vrije Geluiden, Nooit Meer Slapen (Radio 1) and 3voor12 Radio (3fm), a ‘Track of the Week’  slot in de Volkskrant, and the kudos of being named ‘Talent to Watch’ by Dutch journalist Gijsbert Kamer (Volkskrant, Radio 1). 

Kester has toured with the likes of  Villagers, Bent Van Looy, Alela Diane, Laura Gibson, The Bony King of Nowhere and Haley Haley Heynderickx in the Netherlands,  and  has performed at leading national festivals such as Here Comes The Summer, Motel Mozaique and Tweetakt.

Sweat And Fright was written by Robin Kester, recorded and produced by Marien Dorleijn, mixed by Pieter Vonk, and mastered by Darius van Helfteren. It features Maarten Vos on cello and modular synths. It is released as a digital single on 28th August, with Kester’s min-album This Is Not A Democracy following on 11th September via AT EASE.

Robin Kester- Sweat and Fright

Robin Kester - Portals

Robin Kester - Day Is Done

Robin Kester - Cigarette Song

It's real, it's a label, it's artist management, it's a platform, it's complicated, as always... but it's going to be fun. It's AT EASE.