Zina Win-Lemmers – Vending Machines (2024)
The daughter of a Dutch diplomat and Burmese human rights activist, Zina Win-Lemmers was born in Portugal, raised in France, and currently residing in the UK – it’s clear to see she brims with various and highly diverse cultures. Walking through life with a whirl of different backgrounds playing a role, Zina Win-Lemmers has often felt “out of place”. Instead of keeping all the confusion inside, she uses creative expression to share and express her thoughts – from producing multiple award-winning short films, bringing women and LGBTQ stories to audiences, to the release of a critically acclaimed debut album, Opera House. Today, we step back to 2024 and take a listen to Win-Lemmers’ debut single ‘Vending Machines’.
Inspired by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrahams and Ashe, Win-Lemmers slicks her sonic palette with various pop music designs in ‘Vending Machines’. Produced with James Russell, the single wavers from upbeat pop tempos to softer, soothing ballads, and a slice of indie-rock brushing across with kaleidoscopic flair. For me, ‘Vending Machines’ might step into the realm of 21st-century pop; however, its obscure flutter offers an avant-garde sentimentality in the rush of music.
As if she were the younger sister of Amanda Palmer, Zina Win-Lemmers’ music shines with the off-kilter oddness, if not the sound, we so often hear with The Dresden Dolls. Unlike Palmer’s strange (and sometimes creepy) vocals, Win-Lemmers presents warm, dulcet tones slipping beneath your skin. Hushed and subdued, while binding the track with its delicate trail, her voice is like that twinkling light you can’t help but follow.
Vocally, ‘Vending Machines’ is a treat, and the instrumentation is as soul-stirring with its shift from smooth and mellifluous to brash and striking. Yet, it is the lyricism that gives the song further gravity. Questioning the duality of living in a world of consumerism and a “constant chase for Instagram or TikTok virality, ‘Vending Machines’ calls for each individual to be heard…”
In addition to the single, Win-Lemmers released an official music video for ‘Vending Machines’. You can view the video below and/or on her official YouTube channel.
Find out more about Zina Win-Lemmers on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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