The Essence

THE ESSENCE: Hans – vocals/guitar, Mark –keyboards/bass and George – drums

An alternative, gothic, new wave rock/pop band from Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

Their unique sound varies from sheer power to dreamy ballads, ever changing, evolving and sometimes reminiscent of vintage Cure or a postmodern Pink Floyd.

 

As a live band, THE ESSENCE has a strong reputation with their powerful, capturing and passionate concert performances.

Formed in 1984, THE ESSENCE signed a recording deal to the British label Midnight Music. 1985 saw the release of their debut album "Purity" preceded by their first single "Endless Lakes". After both being well received especially in Holland and Germany, "The Cat", their second single became very popular with the radio- and club DJ's.

 

1987 saw the release of their follow-up album "A Monument of Trust" and the hit single "A Mirage", a catchy tune that made the top 10 in Spain. It was then, that THE ESSENCE started touring Europe extensively, building a faithful following in amongst others, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. 

The popularity of the band continued to grow with the release of their third album "Ecstasy" in 1988. The video clips of the singles "Only For You" (1989) and "Like Christ" (1990) got regular airplay on MTV. This gave the band the opportunity to headline festivals such as France’s "Les Eurockeennes", together with Texas and Santana

 

Released in 1991, their fourth CD "Nothing Lasts Forever", a powerful and dark concept album, made its way to an ever growing following around the world, including Japan and the USA.

1994 marking the first 10 years of the band, a "best of" entitled "Dancing In The Rain" was released by Cherry Red Records. The single "A Mirage '94 - The Mixes" following this release, inspired Spanish group "Esquema" to make a cover version of this song which again took the charts as a hit record in Spain.
 

While the band worked on a new album set out to be released in 1995, they played the famous Leipzig Gothic Wave Treffen festival twice as a headline act.

 

1995 saw the release of their fifth studio-album "Glow", on CNR International Records, receiving great critical acclaim and more than ever proving the original and international potential of the band.

From that time on, the band started touring where they frequently played Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Band members also started working on outside projects that varied from writing & producing to playing with other bands. Collaborations with DJ’s from over the world gave a new meaning to several of The Essence songs, amongst others Italian DJ Giancarlo Carone who did various remixes of "Only for You" in 2005

2006 brought the band from a four piece to three piece, creating a more rock solid and basic sound.

 

With record company CNR International holding the rights to "Glow" and being tied up to this record deal, the band is no longer able to distribute the original album.

 

In 2015, by popular demand, the band re-mastered a pre-recording session of the original "GLOW", thus giving it back to their devoted fans. "AFTERGLOW" saw the light at Essential Records., The release of “Afterglow” was accompanied by a club tour and some festivals during the summer of 2015.

 

Lasting for over 3 decades, The Essence proved to have made music that stands the hands of time. In 2018, with all tracks digitally remastered, Cherry Red Records released "35 the collection", a 5 CD’s compilation box of the complete works from 1984 to 2018

 

35 years after their debut album "Purity" first saw the light, the band has more than enough material to record a new album.

 

 

THE ESSENCE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING OF THE “35 Years of Purity tour” IN 2020