STÄSJ: "Lady With Arrows" live video

Watch Dutch singer STÄSJ perform Lady With Arrows, a track from Building A Cathedral: "[It is] an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode." She was joined by Rosa Ronsdorf on backing vocals, synths & electronics and Nina de Jong on drums & electronics. The clip was shot @ Studio 150 in the Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam and made by Alrik Wiggers.

Live dates:

• 07/13 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ WORM
• 07/14 Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek
• 07/14 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Valkhof Festival

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Building A Cathedral.

STÄSJ: show in Rotterdam added

Dutch electro-pop artist STÄSJ,, nom-de-plume of multi-instrumentalist and singer Stefanie Janssen, has added a show in Rotterdam @ WORM on July 13 to promote her latest release, Building A Cathedral: "[It is] an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode."

STÄSJ: "Do You" live video

Watch Dutch singer STÄSJ perform Do You, the opening track from her Soft Forces album: ""With electronics and classically trained vocals at the foundations for her music she goes for abstract, surrealistic lyrics, populating her world with kids, commuters and an aloof feline. It is not a pop record as such, neither is it a (modern) classical one. If anything it is a collection of highly personal stories and fairy tales, meandering travelogues and observations." For this performance she was joined by Ruud Roelofsen on keyboards & electronics and Maarten Zaagman on percussion & electronics. The clip was shot @ Werkwarenhuis in Den Bosch and made by Studio BRAK.

STÄSJ: "Cathedral" live video

Watch Dutch singer STÄSJ perform Cathedral, the closing track from her new album Building A Cathedral: "[It is] an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode." She was joined by Rosa Ronsdorf on backing vocals, synths & electronics and Nina de Jong on drums & electronics. The clip was shot @ Studio 150 in the Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam and made by Alrik Wiggers.

Live dates:

• 05/11 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Platenbeurs Stevenskerk (details TBA)
• 06/14 Kessek, Goch, Germany @ 50 / 50 Festival
• 07/14 Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek
• 07/14 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Valkhof Festival

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Building A Cathedral.

STÄSJ: Building A Cathedral

BEST OF 2024
18
HCTF

Dutch electro-pop artist STÄSJ, nom-de-plume of multi-instrumentalist and singer Stefanie Janssen, mixes avant-garde, post-rock, synth-driven New Wave, and vocal pyrotechnics on Building A Cathedral, an album about the human condition. That is a big subject to cover, but she pulled it off by going all out within self-proclaimed boundaries: being adventurous like Kate Bush and catchy a la Depeche Mode.

The cathedral is not an actual building, but a metaphor for the human body and mind. She tries to make sense of her surroundings and thoughts by going in at the deep end to find out what is all about and how to connect or get away from the hustle and bustle, when it all becomes a bit too much. Grief and joy are equal partners. Janssen pulls it off with poetic lyrical imagery, draped as an extra layer upon the meandering soundscapes and crunchy beats.

STÄSJ: "The Keeper" live video

Watch Dutch singer STÄSJ perform The Keeper, the opening track of her forthcoming new album Building A Cathedral, due for release on March 30, 2024. It starts out a glass harp, sparse percussion and eerie keyboards before turning into a dark synth rocker - guitars aren't necessary to play up a storm. With Rosa Ronsdorf on backing vocals, synths & electronics and Nina de Jong on drums & electronics. The clip was shot @ Studio 150 in the Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam and made by Alrik Wiggers.

Live date:

• 03/30 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Brebl
  (album release show)

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Pluto.

STÄSJ: Pluto

Dutch singer STÄSJ teamed up with Richard van Kruysdijk for the synths and beats for her new single Pluto, a sonic excursion wherein repetitive patterns create a dreamlike atmosphere for her vocals who appear to be floating through space. She is reaching out to the listener, ensuring that the music is not for her personal enjoyment alone, but meant to be part of a shared experience. It a track of her forthcoming new album Building A Cathedral, due for release on March 30, 2024. The video was made by Auke Hamers.

Live date:

• 03/30 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Brebl
  (album release show)

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Urtling.

STÄSJ: Urtling

Dutch singer STÄSJ put her arranging skills to good use when she wrote five vocal parts for her new single Urtling, a heartfelt tribute to her mother who suffers from dementia. In trying to make clear what the disease means to mom and all those around her, she uses dissolving sharts of voice and a lone glass harp to capture the sense of love, loss and loneliness. It is the opening track of her forthcoming new album Building A Cathedral, due for release on March 30, 2024. The video was made by Auke Hamers.

Live date:

• 03/30 Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Brebl
  (album release show)

» stasj.world

HCTF review of Human Condition.

STÄSJ: Human Condition

Dutch singer STÄSJ may have added an umlaut to her name, but it is still business as usual for her adventurous approach to music. She mixes genres like few other are capable to pull off. Her new single Human Condition is a modern day lament, combining neo-classical elements with a hint of prog and shimmering post-punk.

STASJ: Lullaby for the Overdrive

Dutch singer and guitarist STASJ has released a new song: Lullaby for the Overdrive, the first new material since the release of her album Soft Forces in 2018. It is a dark, intense blend of avant-electronics, a bit of prog, post-rock, and of course her vocal range, urging the listener to take control and set firm boundaries.

STASJ: "Good Fire" video

Watch the new STASJ video for Good Fire, a track from her album Soft Forces. "With electronics and classically trained vocals at the foundations for her music she goes for abstract, surrealistic lyrics, populating her world with kids, commuters and an aloof feline. It is not a pop record as such, neither is it a (modern) classical one. If anything it is a collection of highly personal stories and fairy tales, meandering travelogues and observations."

STASJ: "Little Girl" video

Watch the new STASJ video for Little Girl, a track from her album Soft Forces. "With electronics and classically trained vocals at the foundations for her music she goes for abstract, surrealistic lyrics, populating her world with kids, commuters and an aloof feline. It is not a pop record as such, neither is it a (modern) classical one. If anything it is a collection of highly personal stories and fairy tales, meandering travelogues and observations."

HCTF's best of 2018 (10-6)

• 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. This blog covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.

Today: countdown from number 10 to 6.

Please shop at your local record store, buy directly from the artist, attend live shows. Don't block anyone's view with with your phone (better still, switch it off altogether). Shut the fuck up while the band is playing. Educate your friends. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.

STASJ: "Commuter" video

Watch the new STASJ video for Commuter, a track from her album Soft Forces. It's an intense song about love, betrayal and despair, delivered in a mix of art rock and trip-hop. The B&W clip was directed by Sjaron Minailo.

STASJ: Soft Forces

Dutch multi-instrumentalist and singer Stefanie Janssen has adopted the stage name STASJ for her new album Soft Forces. With electronics and classically trained vocals at the foundations for her music she goes for abstract, surrealistic lyrics, populating her world with kids, commuters and an aloof feline. It is not a pop record as such, neither is it a (modern) classical one. If anything it is a collection of highly personal stories and fairy tales, meandering travelogues and observations.

Janssen likes to surprise her audience, herself included, which makes Soft Forces a multi-layered tour de force. She embraced every glimmer of an idea she stumbled upon and - after close inspection and many trips back to the drawing board - turned it into a poem set to the appropriate kind of music to enhance the words. Jazz, piano pop, ambient and noise - everything is in its right place. Recommended if you like Anat Spiegel and Dési Ducrot.