On the 16th April Dutch alt-rock specialist Robin Kester will announce her new album ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ (LP) (pre-order here), which is set for release on September 12th via Memphis Industries (The Go! Team, Field Music, POLIÇA), and share the latest track ‘Happy Sad (It’s A Party)‘, which features guest guitar work from Adrian Utley (Portishead).
Marking the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Honeycomb Shades’, 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) proving incredibly inspiring.
Carving out her unique sound that’s at once minimalist yet gorgeously rich and warm, Kester’s influence from the likes of Talk Talk, Adrian Utley (Portishead), Air and PJ Harvey can be seen throughout her new material. Much of the music specifically concerns her relationship with herself, something which is touched upon in ‘Happy Sad (It’s A Party)’ – written in one night leading up to her Bristol studio sessions.
Speaking ahead of its release, Kester stated: “Looking back at the lyrics, I realise I was talking to myself, almost like in a dream. I felt I was going somewhere at high speed, about to lose control, and had already passed the point of no return. A lot of this song carries that looming sense of anxiety. Consciously I kept trying to tell myself ‘Don’t worry, you should enjoy what’s ahead’, but at a deeper level I hadn’t convinced myself at all.
This disconnect between the two versions of ‘me’ seeped back in the lyrics. So, to me this song is about this inner struggle about finding the guts to stay on track and go someplace unfamiliar and put yourself to the test.”
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 is primed for a run of European dates this spring, followed by UK appearances at The Great Escape Festival and Green Man over the coming months as her album release draws closer.
Robin Kester’s ‘Happy Sad (It’s A Party)’ is out on 16th April via Memphis Industries and available on all digital platforms.
Live Dates
- 17th Apr - Cactus, Brugge, BE
- 22nd Apr - Het Depot, Leuven, BE
- 23rd Apr - HA Concerts, Gent, BE
- 16th-17th May - Great Escape Festival, Brighton, UK
- 14th-17th Aug - Green Man Festival, Cricklehowell, UK