Iona Zajac & Robin Kester

IONA ZAJAC

There’s an unwavering resilience coursing through *Bang*, the masterful debut album from Iona Zajac. This is evident in the Scottish singer-songwriter's astute articulations of the anger she felt whilst reflecting on personal and global experiences centred on the abuse of women: *“Ask her, ask us all,”* she intones in the atmospheric opener, ‘Bowls’. From there, Zajac confronts the emotional impact of toxic relationships and emerges with a renewed sense of worth which abounds. As well as untangling trauma, *Bang* is an exhilarating celebration of womanhood steered by the enduring influence of Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson as Zajac delivers an unfiltered portrait of strength. Visceral in its message and delivery, *Bang *is an essential body of work that not only introduces audiences to Iona Zajac’s commanding voice, but provides a collective expression for women with shared experiences.  

ROBIN KESTER

Somewhere between pop, electronic music and psychedelic rock, we find the Dutch artist, composer and producer Robin Kester and her totally adventurous music. Robin Kester has been the subject of numerous comparisons, from Portishead and Broadcast to Julia Holter. Although operating on a comparable wavelength of sound, Robin Kester is a distinctive voice that has come into its own. Her debut album, Honeycomb Shades, caused a sensation. It was critically acclaimed and awarded the prize for best Dutch album of the year by the prestigious national newspapers NRC and Volkskrant.