De Staat

The story of De Staat proves that humble beginnings can lead to great things. It all started as a one man project by the Dutch singer, musician and composer Torre Florim. As a graduating project from his studies ‘Music Production’ he wrote, played and produced the stunning debut album Wait For Evolution. Though before it was even released, De Staat was already a full grown band. Since then – early 2009 – the band established itself as the most exciting new rock band that Holland had to offer in a very long time. Their concerts got unanimous rave reviews. Their stage reputation grew so fast that within a year the band played festivals from the likes of Sziget, Pinkpop, Lowlands, Dour and took on the acclaimed John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.

It all happened very fast. When Wait For Evolution came out, De Staat had already laid a healthy foundation with truly mesmerizing live shows. Belgium band, dEUS took them on a UK tour and shortly afterwards De Staat was invited to play on major Dutch and Belgium festivals and venues, again to great responses. During the Lowlands gig in the Summer of ‘09 no one other than Chris Goss (Masters of Reality, producer Queens Of The Stone Age) was watching the band and liked what he saw. He introduced them to Mascot Records who signed them in a heartbeat and released ‘Wait For Evolution’ internationally in the Spring of 2010. It turned out Holland wasn’t the only one adoring the band, also internationally the album was greeted with euphoric reviews. That year the band spend a lot of time on the road; sharing a stage with Iggy Pop in Toronto, playing to thousands of people in the beautiful valley of Glastonbury, opening for The Stranglers in the legendary ‘Le Bataclan’ in Paris, doing small showcases in Lower East Manhattan or Berlin, just the kind of jazz they love. And they could use a change of scenery, new people, new music and a new audience because it gave lead singer and songwriter Torre Florim all the more inspiration for the follow-up of Wait for Evolution: 2011's Machinery.

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When De Staat went to record Machinery, this time with a full band in tow, the options were much bigger. The challenge was to define the sound through the contributions and interaction of each member of the band. Not only would the album be a team effort instead of Torre recording by himself at home, with nothing more than two cheap mics, one dusty old laptop and one beginners guitar (the one’s that come with a small amp and a bag included). They also have some expectations to live up to, they have to prove all the fuss around them was well-deserved. Fortunately, Machinery meets all those expectations. The album is described by the band as a "gut-inducing slab of psycho funk." It's a dark sonic adventure that takes the listener through underground caves of blues, funk and electro where halal butchers, serial killers, whistleblowers, rats and sweat-covered bodybuilders cross paths.