Robin Kester

Robin Kester – Sweat and Fright

Krautrock influenced new track Sweat and Fright is the final single of forthcoming mini-album This Is Not A Democracy – Release September 11 on AT EASE.

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 final 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 Elbow’s Guy Garvey on BBC 6 Music, with plays on RTE 2 FM, BBC Radio Ulster, Amazing Radio 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.

 

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 (catalogue number ATEASE001).

TRACKLIST:

  1. Sweat and Fright
  2. Cigarette Song
  3. The Dirt
  4. Portals
  5. Remove and Delete
  6. Empty Head
  7. Day Is Done

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.