Current band members:
Eloi Youssef - vocals, guitar, keys
Casper Starreveld - guitar, vocals, keys
Jan Haker - bass, keys, backing vocals
Niles Vandenberg - drums
The band formed in 2006 with Casper Starreveld on lead vocals, and with original drummer Lucas Lenselink, after the dissolution of the band Quad. In the same year they released their first single "An Introduction To...", followed by their self-titled first EP in 2007, which featured guitarist Eloi Youssef as co-lead vocalist for the first time.
Drummer Lucas Lenselink decided to leave the band in 2008, and was succeeded by Niles Vandenberg. In the same year the band released their "Youth" EP, which gained them their first country wide airplay. The band's sudden success lead to the release of Kensington's first album, "Borders", which was released in 2010. The album was the first to have Eloi Youssef sing all of the lead vocals, with Casper Sterreveld handling the backing vocals.
Thereโs no such thing as a key to success, but recording your debut Borders in Kaiser Chiefsโ studio in Leeds, getting it mastered by John Davis (U2, Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol) and sharing the stage with the likes of Razorlight, My Chemical Romance and The Wombats, definitely make up for a good start. In 2011 this success is starting to pay off.
After playing the Eurosonic/Noorderslag festival in January 2011, (popular music magazine OOR: โOne of the best bands of the Netherlandsโ) things started rolling for Kensington. The band performs in prime-time TV talk show โDe Wereld Draait Doorโ and embarks on a headlining No Borders tour throughout Holland. They sell out venues such as Paradiso (Amsterdam), Rotown (Rotterdam) and Tivoli (Utrecht), and a concert review by 3VOOR12 (leading online music magazine) speaks of โinternational standardsโ.
With their single Let Go, which was recorded in Berlin and mastered in New York, the bandโs ascent continues. Radio 3FM (one of the largest Dutch radio stations) starts playing the song the day after the band returns from the studio and the song quickly reaches โ3FM Megahitโ status, resulting in heavy airplay. A second headlining tour is announced along with a long list of summer festivals. Furthermore, the band is nominated for 'Best newcomer' at the 3FM Awards 2011. In two years time, Kensington have established themselves in the Dutch music scene.
In 2012 the band released their second album, Vultures, and played as headliner on many Dutch festivals that year and in 2013. In the summer of 2014 third album Rivals. Shortly after, they announced a European tour with over 20 dates in several countries. The finish of the tour will be in the Ziggo Dome. The first show sold out in eleven hours which made the band decide to add a second show as well. The second gig sold out as well, confirming Kensington's status as one of the biggest dutch acts.
DISCOGRAPHY:
2006 - An Introduction To... (EP)
2007 - Kensington (EP)
2008 - Youth (EP)
2010 - Borders
2012 - Vultures
2014 - Rivals
All That I know
Kensington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
Down
This town is vile, its words are weak.
Still I contemplate and fall before its feet
Go down in style, head down the deep
You will never know what you just did to me
You'll never know what you just did to me
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
Down
We fake a smile, our noses bleed
With a losing hand disguising our defeat
You're in denial, so hard to reach
You will never know what you just did to me
You'll never know what you just did to me
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
Down
The lyrics of Kensington's song All That I Know talk about the harsh reality of life and how we are conditioned to believe certain things without questioning their veracity. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been taught to believe a particular way of life, which revolves around the pursuit of money and material wealth. The line "A grasp at the gold is all that holds us down" implies that the constant pursuit of material gain is what keeps us grounded and prevents us from achieving true freedom.
The lyrics suggest a sense of disillusionment with the town and its people, and the singer finds it difficult to relate to their words and actions. The line "This town is vile, its words are weak" implies that he doesn't find any value in the town's culture and the way people interact. However, despite his cynicism, he still feels compelled to follow the same path as everyone else, and he falls before "its feet" like a supplicant.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of frustration and hopelessness that pervades the singer's life. He fakes a smile, but his nose bleeds, implying that he is hiding his pain and frustration from the outside world. The line "With a losing hand disguising our defeat" suggests that he and his fellow town people are fighting a losing battle and are aware of it, but they still try to put up a brave face. The song's chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the message that the singer feels trapped in a cycle of materialism and is uncertain about how to get out of it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
The only knowledge I possess is what they have indoctrinated in me
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us down
Our desire for wealth is the only thing keeping us trapped in this situation
This town is vile, its words are weak.
The place I exist in is repugnant, and its language is insipid
Still I contemplate and fall before its feet
Despite my negative feelings, I am compelled to submit to this place
Go down in style, head down the deep
I will face my struggles with poise and grace, even if it means plunging into the unknown
You will never know what you just did to me
You have no idea how much your actions have affected me
We fake a smile, our noses bleed
We pretend to be happy, but we are actually suffering
With a losing hand disguising our defeat
We are trying to cover up our losses and failures, even though they are obvious
You're in denial, so hard to reach
You refuse to acknowledge the truth, making it difficult to communicate with you
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
Once again, my limited knowledge and beliefs are a result of what has been taught to me
It's all that I know, it's all they've told us
Repetition of the idea that my understanding is limited to what I've been taught
A grasp at the gold is all that holds us
Once again, our fixation with wealth is what keeps us trapped
Contributed by Brody W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DIY Danae
The opening notes of this song (and of the whole album) give me goosebumps. A good idea of what is to come
rona14rona
I love this! Thanks for uploading!
Caspar leus
Lekker nummer, vooral de intro!
Laszlo MUSIC
Wat een lekker introooo hadden jullie dit niet effe kunnen introduceren in de Ziggo dome mannen? ๐๐
Lucy โข Black Hat White Hat
KIPPENVEL.