Lena & van Dorst – Astray (2026)
Hailing from the vibrant city of Rotterdam, singer-songwriter Suzanne Lena and multi-instrumentalist Pepijn van Dorst met at the conservatory of Utrecht, bonded over their passion for music, and ultimately came together to form the eclectic duo, Lena & van Dorst. While this duo only began streaming singles this year, Lena and van Dorst are no newbies to the music industry. One (Lena) is a classically trained mezzo-soprano, turning personal stories into songs, and the other (van Dorst) performed in various bands, composing, and working as a sound designer for commercials and film. Today, however, we acknowledge their seasoned status but focus entirely on their music as Lena & van Dorst. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Astray’.
Recorded and produced by van Dorst and Lena, with mastering by Maria Triana, ‘Astray’ underwent various shapes before the pair found something that “felt right”. Joined by David de Marez Oyens (bass and double bass), Friso van Wijck (drums), Annelies Prins (violin), Merel Bakker (violin), with Lena on vocals and van Dorst on guitars, ‘Astray’ binds the live sound of an orchestra/band with the synth-filled ambience of a studio recording.
Similar to their debut single, ‘Cool Inside’, ‘Astray’ is a drag back to the realm of 1980s pop with Lena’s obscure vocals hinting at an influential Kate Bush tone. While there is a strong pop flavour, the combination of bass, percussion and guitars linger with a funk-tinged tone; moreover, the shimmering strings insert a sense of haunting and tragedy into the track. A little overwhelming at first listen, but then brimming with fragility, vulnerability and solace, ‘Astray’ is powerful while being gentle and innocent.
Melodically, ‘Astray’ is an eclectic track – a particular obscurity in the woodpecker sound. Lyrically, there is a greater sense of poignancy. Lena & van Dorst explain: “‘Astray’ is about two people in a long-time relationship where one of them quietly senses something is off. Finding cues that a third person may have secretly entered their home, she can’t quite put her finger on it yet. It’s about the status quo of two people staying together by ignoring signs on the wall, afraid to confront each other with harsh truths, leading to one of them going astray…”
Find out more about Lena & van Dorst on their official website, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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