Today Amsterdam's The Klittens return with their new single "Universal Experience", a slice of off-kilter indie-pop that delivers on its title's promise, providing both universal appeal and a sound that feels fully formed and ready to reach and captivate a wider audience.
Vocalist Yaël Dekker says of their newest track: "The concept behind the lyrics isn't very joyful but the song overall came out happy. I like that contrast."
The band's drummer Laurie Zantinge goes further, saying: "We were recording demos and already did a lot of writing and rehearsing for those songs beforehand. Then suddenly Yaël walked into the room, randomly sang the chorus of Universal Experience and we were immediately hooked. I think it took us less than two hours before we had the whole song finished and recorded the demo. The catchiness of the chorus just made it really easy to make it into a full pop song."
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.
"Universal Experience" is the first track to be taken from a new collection of material, their strongest set of songs yet, with more music to follow in the new year.
The band will return for further UK shows in January with their friends in Personal Trainer.