Donna Blue: show in Amsterdam

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue are playing De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam on March 21. It gives them another change to promote their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

» bluedonnablue.com

HCTF review of Into the Realm of Love

Donna Blue: supporting Cosmic Crooner in Istanbul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue will hop on a plane to support singer Cosmic Crooner at his show @ Babylon in Istanbul, Turkey on November 12. It gives them another change to promote their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

» bluedonnablue.com

HCTF review of Into the Realm of Love

Donna Blue: supporting Kraak & Smaak in Rotterdam and Amsterdam

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue will support dance trio Kraak & Smaak in Rotterdam and Amsterdam next year to promote their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

Donna Blue: on tour in Spain

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue will end their club tour in The Netherlands on October 30 in The Hague, sharing the bill with label mates Cape Sleep. Spain is next to promote their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

Donna Blue: tour dates

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue have announced more club shows to their tour to promote their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

Donna Blue: "Summer Wine" on French TV

Watch Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue perform the Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra classic Summer Wine live on French TV program Le Grand dimanche soir on April 14.

They are on the road, promoting their latest album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

Donna Blue: "Labyrinthe" video

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue have made a B&W video with old school splitscreen effects for Labyrinthe, a track from their new album Into the Realm of Love: "(...) carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. (...) At first it may seem that Into the Realm of Love offers more of the same, but by going in at the deep end, they have come up with so many gems that a listener may have missed a few the first time around. It is a slow burn that leaves no blisters, offering plenty of food for thought instead."

Donna Blue: Into the Realm of Love

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue stick to their winning formula on their new album Into the Realm of Love: carefully crafted love songs that could have been released in the mid-sixties when psychedelic rock took off. Bart van Dalen and Danique van Kesteren take turns at handling the lead vocals, with Van Dalen working a double shift playing guitar, using old school effects that sound warm.

They allow each note enough time to reach its full potential, making it the perfect soundtrack for a glorious Spring day. With lyrics and English and French, the duo can pick the language to set the mood: dreamy psychedelic soundscapes for Fantasy Girl, yé-yé pop for for Mains De L'Amour (with plenty of ah's and recurring keyboards motif) and Labyrinthe, and baroque pop for Aphrodite.

Donna Blue: Aphrodite

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue used a bit of the Greek myth about the golden apple of discord as the inspiration for their new single Aphrodite. Bart van Dalen plays the part of a hopeful suitor and Danique van Kesteren is the goddess, who has mastered the arts of deception and furtiveness. Besides Van Halen's old school guitar tone, take note of the organ working a little magic in the background and Dirk Schonk (drums) and Joost van Eck (bass) locking into a swinging backbeat that has dance floor filler written all over it.

Donna Blue: European tour dates

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue will be on tour in Europe in the Spring of 2024 to promote their new album Into the Realm of Love, due for release in March 2024 via Snowstar Records. Lead single Fantasy Girl offers a soft-spoken, psychedelic excursion through a dreamy landscape wherein the protagonist is looking for love and considering to go for an imagined one when the real thing fails to materialize. Or is it the other way around? It is a nice play on ambiguity and longing.Sung in both French and English, they pay tribute to the sound of the late 60s, with Van Dalen letting his guitar sing like an extra vocalist. With plenty of reverb and echo, plus a carefully constructed low end, it brings a the feeling of a glorious Summer's day in the midst of a rainy Autumn."

Donna Blue: Fantasy Girl

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue have released a new single, Fantasy Girl, their first new material since the release of their Dark Roses album in 2022. Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen once again offer a soft-spoken, psychedelic excursion through a dreamy landscape wherein the protagonist is looking for love and considering to go for an imagined one when the real thing fails to materialize. Or is it the other way around? It is a nice play on ambiguity and longing.

Sung in both French and English, they pay tribute to the sound of the late 60s, with Van Dalen letting his guitar sing like an extra vocalist. With plenty of reverb and echo, plus a carefully constructed low end, it brings a the feeling of a glorious Summer's day in the midst of a rainy Autumn.

Donna Blue: supporting Courtney Marie Andrews

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue will be supporting American singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews on a couple of shows of her European tour. They share the shame niche: dreamy songs that dig deep.

HCTF's best of 2022 (15-11)

• 20-16
• |
• 15-11
• |
• 10-6
• |
• 5-1

» Best of playlist

» Listen here

HCTF's annual list of the 20 albums that will be in regular rotation for many years to come. As per usual many genres are represented. Here Comes The Flood covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.

Today: countdown from number 15 to 11.

Please shop at your local record store. The folks who work there know their stuff. And most of the stores have a pretty good website where you can order your stuff. It might even be cheaper than the big ones on the 'net.

Buy directly from the artist, attend live shows and stop by the merch table. And be sure to tell your friends about that great new act you discovered. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.

Donna Blue: shows in France & Switzerland

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue have added three shows France and one in Switzerland to their tour too promote their first full-length Dark Roses: "Doomed love songs are their forte and they obviously love the soundtracks of Italian and French movies from the '60s and '70s. Case in point: A Lover In Disguise, wherein the guitar conjures up images of a deserted, sun-beaten village in the middle of nowhere. Vintage French yé-yé pop is dusted off and updated for Solitaire - two lovers find themselves at sea in a small boat that isn't designed to handle the storm that is coming straight at them".

Donna Blue: "The Idea" video

Watch the Donna Blue video for The Idea, a track from their first full-length Dark Roses. The clip was filmed @ TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. The Dutch retro-pop act is on the road in The Netherlands, hitting all the major rock clubs. Germany is next in September.

Donna Blue: "Live at 3voor12 Radio" video

Watch Dutch retro-pop act Donna Blue perform Solitaire, Dark Roses and A Lover In Disguise, three tracks from their first full-length Dark Roses for a Live at 3voor12 Radio session: "Doomed love songs are their forte and they obviously love the soundtracks of Italian and French movies from the '60s and '70s. Case in point: A Lover In Disguise, wherein the guitar conjures up images of a deserted, sun-beaten village in the middle of nowhere. Vintage French yé-yé pop is dusted off and updated for Solitaire - two lovers find themselves at sea in a small boat that isn't designed to handle the storm that is coming straight at them".

Donna Blue: Dark Roses

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop duo Donna Blue have been working towards the release of their first full-length Dark Roses since 2018. After three EPs the time was right to go for the full album format, a medium that has room for all their influences and allowing them to let their signature sound do most of the talking.

Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen are old school story tellers, or more accurately sketch artists, using words to provide snapsots of dreams, love, loss and loneliness. By taking turns at the microphone as the lead vocalist as well in English and French they can choice for a different mood for each song.

Donna Blue: The Beginning

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop duo Donna Blue love to sound mysterious. Their new single The Beginning is a sof-spoken invitation to pay attention to the possible meaningof dream. Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen inserted elements from the gentler songs of The Velvet Underground into this one and added layers of psychedelic rock to create a musical maze that keeps the listener on his toes all the way through.

Donna Blue: A Lover In Disguise

photo: Philine van den Hul

Dutch retro-pop duo Donna Blue keep their streak of doomed love songs going with their new single, A Lover In Disguise. The guitar comes straight out of the heyday of Italian '70s movies, conjuring up images of a deserted, sun-beaten village in the middle of nowhere. Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen follow the path that was explored by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. It is highly likely that this a story that will all in end in tears, but it is a Hell of a ride.

Donna Blue: Solitaire

Dutch retro-pop duo Donna Blue always had a soft spot for the early Sixties French yé-yé pop, which they channeled succesfully on their 1 2 3 single in 2018. It is a genre that sounds deceptively sunny, but there is always trouble brewing in the distance. On their new track Solitaire two lovers find themselves at sea in a small boat that isn't designed to handle the storm that is coming straight at them. Danique van Kesteren and Bart van Dalen have created yet another time capsule, who contents sounds colourful and dark simultaneously.