Closer To The Edge - LP preview

Vera is the beating heart of the album. A subtle blend of timeless pop-rock and atmospheric textures, the track captivates from the very first notes and never lets go. Driven by a powerful chorus, an emotive vocal performance, and arrangements of rare clarity, it has all the makings of a future classic. With an intentional nod to Fizz’s "Close One", Vera weaves a connection between contemporary influences and Esplanada’s own distinct sonic identity.

Vera

In "Black Tainted Heart", Esplanada delivers a tense and mesmerizing track, where the guitars cut like flashes of lightning and the bass pulses like a heart on the edge. The impassioned vocals explore the shadows and light of a scarred soul that still stands tall. Balancing rock intensity with emotional depth, it’s a song that strikes as much as it soothes, leaving a lasting mark in its wake.

Black Tainted Heart

With "Temporary Souls", Esplanada offers a musical meditation on fragility and impermanence. Between ethereal layers, a warm bass, and a muted groove that at times recalls the rhythmic elegance of Fleetwood Mac, the track moves forward like a lucid dream, carried by introspective vocals and arrangements that favor space and nuance. A piece that lingers in suspension long after its final note.

Temporary Souls

When progressive rock plays along with a blazing Tcha Tcha Tcha.
Sensual rhythm, razor-sharp guitars, dramatic build-up: Esplanada invents the groove you never saw coming.
Get ready to dance… but on shifting ground.
With "Queen Of Fire", Esplanada delivers searing rock that is both sensual and cutting. 

Queen Of Fire

"Closer To The Edge" is a masterful build-up of tension, where Esplanada plays with the listener’s nerves as much as with their emotions. Razor-sharp guitars, a hypnotic bass, and relentless drums — everything drives the listener toward a breaking point. Carried by a passionate vocal and controlled energy, it’s a track that moves forward without looking back, right up to the very edge promised by its title.

Closer To The Edge

"In A Flick Of An Eye" captures the moment when everything can change. With crystalline arpeggios, a warm, enveloping bass, and controlled tension, Esplanada delivers a track that is both fragile and intense, with emotion unfolding in stages until the final note.

In A Flick Of An Eye

Esplanada is a French-Dutch project produced in Paris (France).

Born from the meeting of three musicians with complementary backgrounds, Esplanada has developed a distinctive sonic identity: immersive, melodic, and cinematic alternative rock.
The band is made up of:
•	Ray Van D — Vocals and guitars, lyricist, a compelling performer with a voice instantly recognizable.
•	Philippe M — Composer, multi-instrumentalist (bass, guitars, keyboards), and the architect of the band’s soundscapes.
+	Tony Morra — Drums and percussions, master of organic groove and rhythmic precision.
+	Killian Cruiser: Keyboards
Their music flows between the emotional depth of The National, the atmospheric boldness of Radiohead, and the progressive power of Porcupine Tree, while retaining its own distinct identity. Each song unfolds like a story, with a carefully crafted dramatic arc, precise arrangements, and a focus on nuance.
With their second album, the trio affirms a universe where tension meets serenity, shadow meets light, and energy meets contemplation — an invitation to immerse oneself in a sonic journey that leaves a lasting impression.

New album: Closer to The Edge (09/2025)
New single: Lapsus (12/2024)
New single: Temporary Souls (08/2024)
New album: Burning Bridges (06/2024)

Recorded in Paris, Warsaw, Algarve, Nashville, Miami
Mixed by Przemek Daniłowicz at Quality Studio, Warsaw
Master: ColorSound Studio, Paris
Lyrics: Ray Van D (NL)
Music: Philippe M. (FR)
contact: philippem@artsypop.net