THE SPECTORS

The Spectors werden in 2012 opgericht door bassiste Marieke Hutsebaut. Haar demo’s vielen meteen in de smaak bij Chris Urbanowicz, ex-Editors, die de titelloze debuut-EP (2014) en het eerste full album Light Stays Close (2015) producete. Twee singles, Nico en Dig, vertoefden samen 14 weken lang in De Afrekening van Studio Brussel. De band liet van zich horen op diverse indiefestivals, waaronder Dour, Pukkelpop, Boomtown en Leffingeleuren, en werd door Kevin Shields zelf uitgekozen om My Bloody Valentine te supporten in de Ancienne Belgique.

Door een uitzonderlijk drukke zomer en de projecten van andere bandleden, besloot Marieke The Spectors in 2015 on hold te zetten. Zonder omkijken begon ze songs te pennen voor een nieuw album en te experimenteren met verschillende line-ups. Finaal koos ze voor een terugkeer naar dreampop basics en een kwartet. In 2016 vertolkte ze één van de White Virgins in Felix Van Groeningen’s Belgica, met soundtrack van Soulwax.

Alle materiaal voor de tweede LP is intussen opgenomen en klinkt, zo mogelijk, nog poppier dan voordien. De fonkelende muziek staat soms in schril contrast met de melancholische lyrics, waarin Marieke openhartig haar leven met Asperger beschrijft.

Founded in 2012 by Marieke Hutsebaut, The Spectors soon caught the ear of Chris Urbanowicz, formerly of Editors. Chris produced the Belgians’ self-titled debut EP (2014) and full album Light Stays Close (2015). Two singles, Nico and Dig, spent a combined 14 weeks in De Afrekening, Studio Brussel’s trendsetting alternative chart. The band went on to perform at various indie festivals, including Dour, Pukkelpop and Leffingeleuren, and were hand-picked by Kevin Shields to support My Bloody Valentine in the hallowed grounds of the capital’s Ancienne Belgique.

After a particularly busy Summer, with the other band members eager to strike out on their own, Marieke decided to put The Spectors on hold. Looking to the future, she started writing material for a new album and experimenting with different line-ups, in the end settling on a return to dreampop basics and a quartet.

Material for the second LP has already been recorded, and, if anything, sounds even poppier than before. The sparkling music sometimes belies the lyrics, however, as Marieke chronicles her life with Asperger’s in poignant, melancholy three-minute songs.

Founded in 2012 by Marieke Hutsebaut, The Spectors soon caught the ear of Chris Urbanowicz, formerly of Editors. Chris produced the Belgians’ self-titled debut EP (2014) and full album Light Stays Close (2015). Two singles, Nico and Dig, spent a combined 14 weeks in De Afrekening, Studio Brussel’s trendsetting alternative chart. The band went on to perform at various indie festivals, including Dour, Pukkelpop and Leffingeleuren, and were hand-picked by Kevin Shields to support My Bloody Valentine in the hallowed grounds of the capital’s Ancienne Belgique.

After a particularly busy Summer, with the other band members eager to strike out on their own, Marieke decided to put The Spectors on hold. Looking to the future, she started writing material for a new album and experimenting with different line-ups, in the end settling on a return to dreampop basics and a quartet.

Material for the second LP has already been recorded, and, if anything, sounds even poppier than before. The sparkling music sometimes belies the lyrics, however, as Marieke chronicles her life with Asperger’s in poignant, melancholy three-minute songs.