De Staat have been described by SonicAbuse as "genre-hopping Gremlins of the first order, who take in the eclectic, grand slamming funk of Beck, the dance grooves of Kelis’ Milkshake, the horny soul of QOTSA (...) and the lost, gothic romanticism of Nick Cave often within the same song."
The band's sound gradually evolved from rather heavy, riff-based 'desert rock' in the vein of Queens Of The Stone Age and Kyuss to a more eclectic 'heavy disco' sound with funky synthesizers and bouncing melodies. Typical for this shift in sound is 2014's Vinticious Versions EP, on which - if you wish - the 'new De Staat' interprets songs of the 'old De Staat'.
November 2021 saw the first release of a possible series of EP's based around the three colors red, yellow and blue. Each color represents the main vibe of a track. Red stands for dark and hard, yellow stands for light-footed, and blue stands for melancholic. De Staat frontman Torre Florim explained that future song releases would fit these vibes and possibly become a series of EP's instead of an album.
Line-up:
Torre Florim - vocals, guitar
Vedran Mircetic - guitar
Jop van Summeren - bass, keyboard, vocals
Rocco Hueting - percussion, keyboards, synth, guitar, vocals
Tim van Delft – drums
BAND HISTORY
De Staat debuted in 2009 with Wait for Evolution and shortly thereafter performed on all major Dutch stages and festivals such as Lowlands and Pinkpop, and internationally at Sziget and Glastonbury. The album was awarded various prizes, and in 2011 and 2012 the band received a 3FM Award for Best Alternative Act. Second album Machinery was released in 2011. Once again, De Staat toured a large number of European venues and festivals, this time with an extra element added to their live shows: a huge, specially built machine. In 2013 they released I_CON, which was awarded an Edison, Holland’s most prestigious music prize. Late 2013 they played three packed out riotous shows at the Black Heart in London.
www.destaat.net
Devil's Blood
De Staat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got the feeling that I should've run
People laughing on to this day, 'cause
I got a made mind, leading astray
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
It's about time, yeah
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
It's too easy I think every time
I am the man for the perfect crime
Who's gonnan see it?
Who's gonna know?
I tell myself in the final blow
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
It's about time, yeah
It's about time
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
The lyrics to De Staat's song Devil's Blood describe the internal struggle between good and evil, and the consequences of succumbing to the latter. The singer admits to having devil's blood, suggesting that he is tempted towards immoral or unethical behavior. He feels as though he should have run and avoided this situation, but now he has a made mind, leading him astray. The chorus asks if he can come in and take the listener on, indicating that he wants to entice them into the same dark path he has chosen. He feels as though he's already gotten away with something, and wonders who will notice or recognize his misdeeds.
The second verse suggests that the singer is aware that he's doing something wrong, but that it's too easy for him to continue down this path. He feels as though he's capable of committing the perfect crime, but wonders who will see it or know about it in the end. The chorus repeats, asking if the rebel will notice when the singer takes the other way, suggesting that the singer is encouraging others to join him in his pursuit of darkness. He can hold them for a time, but ultimately can't stand another day living in this duality.
Overall, the lyrics to Devil's Blood are a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving in to temptation and the harm that can come from leading others astray.
Line by Line Meaning
Show the blessed I got devil's blood
I am proud to show that I have a rebellious and dangerous nature. I am not like the others and I have a unique, uncontrollable spirit that sets me apart.
Got the feeling that I should've run
I have a sense that I am in trouble and I should have escaped while I still had the chance. My instincts are telling me that things are not going to end well.
People laughing on to this day, 'cause
Others continue to ridicule and belittle me because of my choices and personality. It seems like they will never accept me or understand my point of view.
I got a made mind, leading astray
I am determined to carve my own path in life, even if it means straying from what society thinks is right. I refuse to conform and will do things my way.
Can i, come in, take you on
Am I able to enter your world and challenge you? Can I show you my perspective and try to influence you to see things my way?
It's about time, yeah
I have been waiting for this opportunity to prove myself and make my mark on the world. It's time for me to step up and show what I'm made of.
Is the rebel gonna notice
Will the other non-conformists in the world recognize me as one of their own? Do they see me as a fellow rebel or am I alone in my fight against society's expectations?
When I take the other way?
When I choose to go against the norm and take a different path, will I be successful and prove those who doubt me wrong? Or will I fall flat on my face?
I can hold you for the time
I have the ability to captivate and intrigue those around me, at least for a little while. My charisma and unconventional ways draw people in and hold their attention.
But I can't stand another day
Despite my temporary ability to hold their attention, I cannot stand to continue living my life under the constraints of society. I need to break free and be true to myself.
It's too easy I think every time
It is too easy for me to get away with the things I do and the way I behave. I have become so good at hiding my true self that nobody suspects a thing.
I am the man for the perfect crime
I have the skills and mentality to commit the perfect crime, both literally and figuratively. My rebellious spirit and disregard for the rules make me a force to be reckoned with.
Who's gonna see it?
Who will be able to see through my facade and recognize me for who I truly am? Will anybody be able to see the darkness within me?
Who's gonna know?
Who will be aware of my true intentions and the extent of my rebellion? Will my actions go unnoticed or will somebody eventually catch on?
I tell myself in the final blow
I reassure myself that in the end, I will come out on top. Even if I am caught or face consequences for my actions, I know that I will have lived life on my own terms.
Writer(s): TORRE JANSSEN
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frost
Show the blessed I got devil's blood
Got the feeling that I should've run
People laughing on to this day, 'cause
I got a made mind, leading astray
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
It's about time, yeah
It's about time
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
It's too easy I think every time
I am the man for the perfect crime
Who's gonnan see it?
Who's gonna know?
I tell myself in the final blow
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
It's about time, yeah
It's about time
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
Can i, come in, take you on
Can i, come in, take you on
Is the rebel gonna notice
When I take the other way?
I can hold you for the time
But I can't stand another day
We Do A Little Trolling
This song is the shit! De Staat's fucking awesome! Why aren't these guys more popular? They deserve way more attention than they get.
Kraken
these guys need more recognition for sure, you can just tell by the sound that so much work goes into each one of these pieces.
otrocaffe
I love this song. The melody, the slow rhythm, the atmosphere it generates. The video is amazing, too, just fits perfectly. Congrats!
AWEtistic
I discovered them yesterday. Days when you find awesome bands are the best days.
TobiBilbao
i am here remembering you that they exist
Mateo Sebastian
+Hellchen777 everything everything, jack parow, cage the elephant, enjoy :D
The Holy Tavern
+Hellchen777 Yes! (and that is enough of a reply)
j v
i never thought i could love anything originating from Holland my home country, but i'm really starting to get addicted to this music. they deserve more love, and the fact that the just cause teaser trailer used their music is gonna get them the attention they really deserve... wich is like... world wide recognition.
ClockworkFirebird
The atmosphere and soundscaping in this is stunning, what a story. Absolutely gorgeous work.
Jimtron
the cinematography and direction are just amazing in this