User:Wiki4music/sandbox

Robin Kester is a Dutch musician, producer, composer, songwriter and vocalist, currently living in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Kester's musical style has been described as a mix of pop, electronic music and psychedelia, writing songs about past impressions and wandering reflections, often inspired by specific moments and landscapes. Referenced genres include dream pop, indie pop, and alternative rock.

She released a series of singles, an EP – Peel The Skin (2018), a mini-album – This Is Not A Democracy (2020), and a full length album – Honeycomb Shades (2023). Some of the musicians Kester collaborated with are Marien Dorleijn (Moss), Conor O'Brien (Villagers), Emily Cross (Cross Record, Loma), Clean Pete, Maarten Vos, and Kaap. Robin Kester and her band toured with Villagers and Moss, and also opened for Muse,, Intergalactic Lovers, Laura Gibson, and Alela Diane.

Kester was born in the city of Groningen, the Netherlands, but soon after traveled all over the Netherlands, lived in Dublin, Ireland while studying and returned to the Netherlands, starting her musical career.

2018: Peel the Skin
Robin Kester debuted with the release of the single Lost for a Day (June 1st, 2018) on the AT EASE label. The single, with a video directed by Moon Moon Moon's Mark Lohmann, immediately charted in Spotify's Viral 50 in the Netherlands and was named track of the week in De Volkskrant. The track is taken from the now deleted digital EP Peel the Skin, released december 8, 2018.

2020: This Is Not A Democracy
In 2020 Robin Kester released the mini-album This Is Not A Democracy, which has been well received by the Dutch press, including a four-star review in De Volkskrant. Outside of the Netherlands Kester received airplay from London to LA, were named track of the week on stations like Radio X (United Kingdom) and Amazing Radio, have been featured by KEXP Seattle, have received multiple plays on BBC 6 Music (by Lauren Laverne and Elbow (band)'s Guy Garvey) in the UK and landed on the playlist of the influential KCRW (USA). Her music has also received airplay in (Northern) Ireland on RTÉ 2fm and BBC Radio Ulster.

Robin Kester was invited to play festivals such as Motel Mozaique, Le Guess Who?, BIME Bilbao, Crossing Border, Here Comes The Summer, Naked Song, Valkhof, Bruis and ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag).

Villagers frontman Conor O'Brien contributed to the mini album (he made and performed the brass arrangement in Cigarette Song). Live shows, reviewed by NRC and De Volkskrant, received 4 stars. Robin was nominated by her colleagues for a Zilveren Notekraker. The album was named best album of the year by 3VOOR12 Utrecht.

Robin Kester played four shows at SXSW 2022 in Austin, TX and has been included on the soundtrack for American film Press Play (film), together with artists like Slowdive, Japanese Breakfast and Father John Misty.

2023: Honeycomb Shades
In 2022 Robin Kester started releasing a series of singles, two of them premiered on Lauren Laverne's morning show on BBC 6 Music and charted at number one in the popular chart of the Hype Machine. Kester and her band supported bands like Muse and Intergalactic Lovers. Robin Kester returned to Groningen for a showcase at ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag).

Robin Kester released her full length debut album Honeycomb Shades on February 24 via AT EASE. The album was produced by Robin Kester and Marien Dorleijn (Moss), mixed by Ali Chant. The latter is also responsible for post-production on the singles. The album was mastered in New York by Joe Lambert. The album is featured in national newspapers in the Netherlands (De Volkskrant, Trouw , NRC ), media in Belgium (daMusic, , Dansende Beren ), Germany, France (FIP , and Canada (The Revue) . Robin Kester and her band played several songs on TV (Khalid & Sophie) ) and radio (3FM )

In March and April 2023, Kester tours eight Dutch clubs, part of a double bill with Amber Arcades.

Collaborations
Robin Kester & Mark Lohmann Frozen (Madonna cover) Released: September 12, 2018

Kaap & Kester: Sliding Door & Sun Released: November 18, 2021

Clean Pete & Robin Kester Slaap Diep, Slaap Zacht (Coventry Carol) Released: December 3, 2021

Band
Live band
 * Robin Kester – lead vocals, guitar, synth (2018 – present)
 * Sam van Hoogstraten – guitar (2020 – present)
 * Stef Koenis – keyboards (2018 – present)
 * Thijs Visscher – bass guitar, synth (2019 – present)
 * Joep van Osch – drums (2019 – present)

Session musicians
 * Robin Kester: vocals, guitar, synths, spinet, wurlitzer, piano, vibraphonette, percussion, omnichord, bass synth, samples, bowed guitar, nightmare machine
 * Marien Dorleijn: backing vocals, synths, bass guitar, Solina synth, piano, ebow guitar, trumpet, percussion, hurdy-gurdy, programming, drum machine, acoustic guitar, keyboard, vibraphonette, autoharp, nightmare machine
 * Sam van Hoogstraten: guitar
 * Thijs Visscher: bass synth, bass guitar, backing vocals, moog
 * Joep van Osch: drums, percussion, backing vocals
 * Stef Koenis: keys
 * Michiel Stam: guitar
 * Emily Cross: clarinets
 * Sussanne Linssen: violin
 * Timo Jilesen: saxophone
 * Ali Chant: piano
 * Jelte Heringa: bugle