Robin Kester share new single 'An Hour Per Day' and announce new tour dates

Dutch alt-rock specialist Robin Kester releases new single ‘An Hour Per Day’ - taken from forthcoming new album ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ (pre-order here) - out September 12th via Memphis Industries (The Go! Team, Field Music, POLIÇA).

Carving out her unique sound that’s at once minimalist yet gorgeously rich and warm, Kester’s influence from the likes of Talk Talk, Air and PJ Harvey can be seen throughout her new material. New single ‘An Hour Per Day’ further proves this.

It found its origins in a moment of writer’s block, and a subsequent mantra which proved artistically affirming. Kesterexplains: “I was stuck in my head and struggling to write. So, I followed some simple advice: spend one hour a day doing something you love. For me, that became working on this song. What started as a guitar-based demo and a piano noodle grew into a layered, mostly instrumental track shaped by intuitive improvisation, tension, and happy accidents.”

Owing to this primary focus on the instrumental aspect of the track, each part is given room to breathe and evolve as the song slowly unwinds. The underlying piano pulls in and out of view, and Robin’s vocals are all the more affecting in their restraint and reserve.

‘Dark Sky Reserve’ marks the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Honeycomb Shades’, which was unflinchingly honest in its reflections on her father’s cancer diagnosis and the relatively early death of her uncle.

Kester has since taken another risk with her second LP. Recorded abroad for the first time in Bristol, it afforded the musician artistic clarity she hadn’t experienced before, with her partnership alongside esteemed producer Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, Yard Act) - as well as fellow artists Rozi Plain and Adrian Utley (Portishead), who appear on the album - proving incredibly inspiring.

With support growing throughout the press landscape (Stereogum, Paste, Dork, Rough Trade, Shindig!), as well as across the BBC 6 Music airwaves (Huw Stephens, Emily Pilbeam, Nemone), Kester recently performed acclaimed sets at The Great Escape Festival and has a performance at Green Man and more as her album release draws closer.

Live Dates

• June 20: Zuiderpark, The Hague, NL (supporting The Boxer Rebellion)
• June 21: Metropool, Enschede, NL (supporting The Boxer Rebellion)
• 14th-17th Aug: Green Man Festival, Cricklehowell, UK
• Nov 28: Café Café, Hasselt, BE
• Nov 30: TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, NL
• Dec 4: De Oosterpoort, Groningen, NL
• Dec 5: Rotown, Rotterdam, NL
• Dec 10: Arenberg, Antwerp, BE
• Dec 11: Hall of Fame, Tilburg, NL
• Dec 13: Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL
• Dec 14: Paradiso Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, NL

LISTEN HERE

• 28 November Live @ Café Café, Hasselt
• 10 December Live @ Arenberg, Antwerpen