The Klittens Share New Single ‘Reading Material’
The Klittens | Photo Credits: Jade Sastropawiro
Today Amsterdam's The Klittens share another immediate single in ‘Reading Material’, the hooky third song to land from their upcoming EP ‘Butter’, out March 8th.
Following the irresistible ‘Universal Experience’ that landed in the Autumn, a song that saw the band garner significant debut support at both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6, and the off-kilter melodies of follow-up ‘Atlas’, ‘Reading Material’ represents the push and pull of trying to appear energetic while there's little to no energy left internally.
The song was written by guitarist Winnie in a period of extreme illness and fatigue, in which her days would fade into each other. The happy-go-lucky melodies are the foundation for the diary-like lyrics.
Winnie Conradi says of their latest single: “This song was an attempt to uplift myself and I am happy to say that it did. In these periods of fatigue everything feels shallow - thoughts are short, emotions are stunned. These were the few notes and melodies I could come up with, while hearing the danceable beat that I had set the metronome to.”
The playful character of the song is reminiscent of an earlier release ‘Herkenbosch’. This playfulness is a unifying character of their songs and can be ascribed to their bedroom lo-fi approach to music writing.
Winnie: “I recorded the first version of Reading Material as a complete midi-track in GarageBand, using the inbuilt midi drum pad and synthesizers. This gave it a warm and small feeling, a real bedroom song. In the studio the challenge was how to maintain the warm sound using the band’s instruments. My favorite instrument is the bass guitar so I hid a little bass solo in the end. I played it quite randomly on my laptop keyboard but then Michelle had to translate it in the studio to real life. She did this exceptionally, it’s my favorite part of the song. Laurie may have had the greatest challenge but she did a great job creating a warm, cute but danceable drum sequence.”
Watch video for ‘Reading Material’ here
Watch stop-motion video for previous single ‘Universal Experience’ here
Since their inception, The Klittens have climbed out from the cracks of the fervent Amsterdam underground scene and onto some acclaimed stages. Mixing the catchiness of pop and fuzz with the darkness of art-rock and post-punk, they've crafted a sound that's truly and twistedly their own.
What initially began as an outlet for the group, both creatively and politically, mutated into more of a musical life mission for its members. Their DIY approach, from songwriting to booking shows and tour management, is what make The Klittens the ragtag bunch of misfits they are.
Their first release landed last year, with a debut EP ‘Citrus’ receiving international acclaim, solidifying their status through feverish word of mouth as a band on the rise and opening the door to shows with acts such as Alex G and SASAMI, alongside a thrilling full tour with Otoboke Beaver, and their first UK headline dates earlier this year.
The Klittens
Butter EP
Out March 8th
Pre-Order
Tracklisting:
1. Universal Experience
2. Atlas
4. Traffic Light
5. Eye Contact
‘Butter’ will be available on limited white 10’ vinyl and all major streaming platforms. The EP, limited to 300 copies, is now ready to pre-order through: theklittens.bandcamp.com
The band will return for further UK shows in January on an all-Dutch line-up with their friends in Personal Trainer and Real Farmer as part of Independent Venue Week.
They have also announced an EP release show in Amsterdam for March, with the vinyl for ‘Butter’ exclusively available in person from the band on the night.
Catch The Klittens live on the following dates:
January
25th - The Windmill, London
26th - The Lanes, Bristol
27th - Cavern, Exeter
29th - The Arts Centre, Norwich
30th - The Horn, St Albans
31st - Junction 2, Cambridge
February
1st - The Crescent, York
2nd - Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
3rd - Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
March
1st - EP launch show @ Cinetol, Amsterdam
The Klittens are:
Yaël Dekker - lead vocals
Katja Kahana - guitar and backing vocals
Winnie Conradi - guitar and backing vocals
Michelle Geraerts - bass guitar and backing vocals
Laurie Zantinge - drums and backing vocals
