Robin Kester

Robin Kester
Kester in 2025
Background information
OriginRotterdam, Netherlands
Genres

Robin Kester is a Groningen-born[1] Dutch musician and songwriter[2] from Rotterdam. Her music style is often compared with that of Beth Gibbons and Weyes Blood.[3]

First EP and tour

In 2018 the EP Peel the Skin was released by the Amsterdam record label AT EASE.[4] The following year she was the support act for the Irish band Villagers.[5][6] In 2020 the mini-album This Is Not a Democracy was released by the same label (coproduced with Moss-frontman Marien Dorleijn). It included contributions from, amongst others, Conor O'Brien.[5][7] The mini-album was chosen as the best album of 2020 by the editors of 3voor12,[8] and it received four stars in De Volkskrant.[9]

In 2022 she released new music. The singles Cat 13 and Leave Now were debuted on BBC 6 Music,[10][11] and both were chosen as track of the week in De Volkskrant.[11][12]

ESNS, SXSW, MUSE and Press Play

In 2021 she performed at ESNS.[13][14][15] On 5 May 2021 she was nominated for the Zilveren Notekraker.[16] In 2022 a demo version of her track Day is Done was used in the American film Press Play.[17] In March 2022 she also performed at the American cultural festival SXSW in Texas.[18] In October 2022 she was the support act for the British rock band Muse (after an invitation from their lead singer Matt Bellamy) in the Amsterdam Carré.[19]

Honeycomb Shades and Dark Sky Reserve

In February 2023, her debut album Honeycomb Shades was released. Containing 11 songs, it was produced in collaboration with Marien Dorleijn, whose studio in the forest of Den Dolder was used for recording.[20] Positive reviews were received from the De Volkskrant,[21] Parool,[22] Oor,[23] Trouw[24] en NRC.[25] Following the release, Robin Kester and Amber Arcades undertook a joint tour in the Netherlands, again positively reviewed.[26][27] The album was nominated for the 3voor12 Award for the best album of 2023,[28] reached the 'Eindlijst' (twenty best albums) of the music journal OOR[29] and was the highest ranked Dutch album of 2022, as listed by De Volkskrant.[30] NRC called Honeycomb Shades the best Dutch album of 2023.[31]

The follow-up, Dark Sky Reserve, was released on 12 September 2025. The album was recorded in Bristol with producer Ali Chant (a.o. PJ Harvey) and featured contributions from guitarist Adrian Utley (Portishead). Horn and string arrangements add a new dimension to Kester's characteristic sound. When asked what the album is about, Kester replied: "It's about fighting against myself, but secretly also already in the phase of acceptance. ... Realising that some things are just part of who you are and that you have to put up with them. ... [I]t's about stopping those endless battles. Acceptance, without making it cynical. I find that hopeful."[32]

The album was very well received by the Dutch music press, while Stereogum called the new tracks 'otherworldly'.[33] ‘After just a few albums, Kester has developed her own signature style, which she further deepens on the compelling Dark Sky Reserve,’ according to Dutch music magazine OOR.[34] Dutch daily De Volkskrant gave the album the maximum five stars.[35] Popular music web site 3voor12 (‘Another beautiful album!’) was also enthusiastic: ‘With their dark and melancholic sound, the songs sound like a night that slowly and calmly envelops you. Yet the album also sounds unexpectedly cheerful at times. In “Dog”, you can hear how Kester perfectly strikes that mysterious balance between gloom and lightness.’[36]

Discography

EPs

  • Peel the Skin (2018)

Mini-albums

  • This is not a Democracy (2020)
  • Patch (2024)

Albums

  • Honeycomb Shades (2023)
  • Dark Sky Reserve (2025)

Singles

  • Blossom (Moss Rework) (2019)
  • Remove and Delete (2020)
  • Suspirium (Live) (2020)
  • Day is Done (2020)
  • The Dirt (2020)
  • Cigarette Song (2020)
  • Sweat and Fright (2020)
  • Sliding Door/ Sun (met Kaap) (2021)
  • Leave Now (2022)
  • Cat 13 (2022)
  • Infinity Song (2022)
  • Blinds (2022)
  • Shape Memory (2023)
  • Long Dark Sleep (2023)
  • Small Christmas Tree (2024)
  • Departure (2025)
  • Happy Sad (It's a Party) (2025)
  • An Hour Per Day (2025)
  • The Daylight (2025)
  • Perspective (2025)

References

  1. ^ "Groningse popmuzikant Robin Kester: 'Ik ben niet dat meisje met een gitaar'". Dvhn.nl (in Dutch). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  2. ^ "De Ondergewaardeerde 30 met Robin Kester". Ondergewaardeerde Liedjes. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  3. ^ "Robin Kester – This Is Not Democracy". Muziscene.nl (in Dutch). 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  4. ^ "Eindelijk kan Robin Kester live laten horen wat een knap bandgeluid ze nu om zich heen heeft ★★★★☆". Volkskrant.nl (in Dutch). 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  5. ^ a b "KINK – Robin Kester over haar samenwerking met Marien Dorleijn en Conor O'Brien van Villagers". Kink.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  6. ^ Hoorntje, Rolinde (23 September 2020). "Robin Kester: 'Ik was wel even klaar met die breekbare folk'". Nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  7. ^ "Robin Kester brengt dromerige single uit met gevoel voor drama". 3voor12 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  8. ^ "Robin Kester maakt beste Utrechtse album van 2020 – utrecht". 3voor12 (in Dutch). 29 December 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  9. ^ "Zangeres Robin Kester betovert met dromerige visioenen ★★★★☆". Volkskrant.nl (in Dutch). 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  10. ^ "Nieuwe single Robin Kester – "Leave Now"". Dansende Beren (in Dutch). 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  11. ^ a b Gijsbert Kamer (2022-07-07). "Tracks van de week: drie keer indie, drie keer anders". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  12. ^ Menno Pot (2022-03-31). "Tracks van de Week: anti-entertainment, Joy Division-drums en een zwoel liefdesliedje". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  13. ^ "Noorderslag". NTR (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  14. ^ "ESNS 2021: Kijk hier optredens van Banji, Robin Kester, Melenas, Lina Raül Refree en Sassy 009 (+ exclusieve interviews)". Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  15. ^ "Geen publiek in de zaal, toch een feestje: Noorderslag 2021 was historisch (en hopelijk eens maar nooit weer)". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  16. ^ "Genomineerden Gouden en Zilveren Notekraker 2021 bekend! | Sena". sena.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  17. ^ Press Play (2022) – IMDb.
  18. ^ "Robin Kester". SXSW 2022 Schedule. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  19. ^ Siemons, Vera (2022-10-26). "Robin Kester is het voorprogramma van Muse: "Zij spelen arena's plat, voor ons is het: "Wow, Carré!"". npo3fm.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  20. ^ Tilli, Robbert. "Robin Kester neemt het heft in eigen handen". www.paradiso.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  21. ^ Kamer, Gijsbert (2023-02-23). "Robin Kester heeft de tijd genomen om te boetseren aan een fraai gekleurd geluid ★★★★☆". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  22. ^ Lange, Pepijn de (2023-01-21). "Onze verslaggever op Eurosonic: 'Je hebt echt het gevoel dat de Europese popwereld hier bij elkaar is'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  23. ^ "Recensie: Robin Kester – Honeycomb Shades (album)". OOR (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  24. ^ Vugt, Jasper van (2023-02-28). "Robin Kesters ijzersterke debuut verraadt bij elke luisterbeurt nieuwe geheimen". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  25. ^ Ploeg, Peter van der (22 February 2023). "Muzikante Robin Kester: 'Sommige gevoelens wil je filteren in het directe, felle licht'". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  26. ^ Vollaard, Jan (2023-03-26). "Robin Kester en Amber Arcades plagen en versterken elkaar in betoverende dreampop". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  27. ^ Pot, Menno (2023-03-26). "Robin Kester en Amber Arcades verdienen in Nederland een veel groter publiek". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  28. ^ "Dit zijn de 12 genomineerden voor de 3voor12 Award 2023". 3voor12 (in Dutch). 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ^ "OOR's Eindlijst 2023: dit zijn de 20 beste albums van het jaar" (in Dutch). 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2023-12-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  30. ^ "Dit zijn de beste albums van 2023" (in Dutch). 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  31. ^ Gandolahage, Rahul; Ploeg, Peter van der; Kuyper, Amanda (2023-12-22). "De 25 beste Nederlandse albums van 2023 volgens NRC". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-23.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  32. ^ "À la carte met Robin Kester: 'Bang zijn, maar het toch doen.' Over huisgeurtjes, scheldwoorden en de magie van de bergen" (in Dutch). 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  33. ^ "Robin Kester: "The Daylight"". 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. ^ "Indie – Robin Kester: Dark Sky Reserve" (in Dutch). 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  35. ^ "Muziek – albumrecensies: Robin Kester" (in Dutch). 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  36. ^ "Robin Kester – Dark Sky Reserve" (in Dutch). 2025-09-12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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