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.
There’s no such thing as a key to success, but recording your debut Borders in Kaiser Chiefs’ 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: “One of the best bands of the Netherlands”) things started rolling for Kensington. The band performs in prime-time TV talk show ‘De Wereld Draait Door’ 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 “international standards”.
With their single Let Go, which was recorded in Berlin and mastered in New York, the band’s 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 ‘3FM Megahit’ 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
Insane
Kensington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you're causing a row
There to proof again that I am
Just there in both the wrong time and the wrong place
(ooh) I plead innocent
But you're dragging me down
Down a road where I know I can't
'Til I cave
It's not the words
Not the fear or the doubt
Not the lack of heart that takes me out
It's the knowing that you can't relate
When you're insane
Scenes of distress
They follow me around
'Til I lose again and by then
(You might be calm but my head will explode)
I'm out of moves here
I swallow it down
Like a poison undefined that
Enters my veins like a thread that I can't shake
'Til I cave
It's not the words
Not the fear or the doubt
Not the lack of heart that takes me out
It's the knowing that you can't relate
When you're insane
It's not the pain
Not the bruise or the scar
Not the lack of love that breaks me down
It's the knowing that you can't refrain
'Cause you're insane
I know I wait too long
Before I will break a bond
I know my body froze
My greatest loss
It's not the words (not the words)
Not the fear or the doubt
Not the lack of heart that takes me out
It's the knowing that you can't relate
When you're insane
It's not the pain (not the pain)
Not the bruise or the scar
Not the lack of love that breaks me down
It's the knowing that you can't refrain
'Cause you're insane
The lyrics to Kensington's song "Insane" depicts a struggle with a toxic and dysfunctional relationship. The singer finds themselves constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time, causing clashes and conflicts with their partner. They plead their innocence but feel dragged down a road they know they can't escape. The song speaks to the feelings of being trapped and suffocated by a partner who is emotionally unstable or "insane."
The chorus emphasizes that it's not the words, fear, doubt, pain, or lack of love that brings them down, but rather the knowledge that their partner cannot relate or understand their perspective because of their instability. The singer is constantly followed by scenes of distress, causing them to repeatedly lose and swallow their emotions like a poison that they can't shake off. Despite knowing that the relationship is toxic, they struggle to break the bond and are frozen in their body, indicating a fear of letting go.
Overall, "Insane" captures the emotional turmoil and unease that comes from being in a relationship with someone who is mentally unstable and unable to connect emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
(ooh) a seat on the stand
Feeling like a spectator in my own life
As you're causing a row
While you create chaos and conflict
There to proof again that I am
Constantly reminded of my mistakes
Just there in both the wrong time and the wrong place
Always finding myself in unfortunate circumstances
(ooh) I plead innocent
Claiming my innocence
But you're dragging me down
Yet you continue to bring me down
Down a road where I know I can't
Towards a path where I feel helpless
Get time to raise up my guard for you, can't wait
Unable to defend myself against you
'Til I cave
Until I give in or break
It's not the words
It's not the words spoken
Not the fear or the doubt
Not the fear or uncertainty
Not the lack of heart that takes me out
Not the absence of courage that defeats me
It's the knowing that you can't relate
It's the realization that you can't understand
When you're insane
Because you are mentally unstable
Scenes of distress
Moments filled with worry and anguish
They follow me around
They persistently accompany me
'Til I lose again and by then
Until I experience defeat once more
(You might be calm but my head will explode)
(While you may appear calm, my mind feels like it's about to explode)
I'm out of moves here
I have run out of options
I swallow it down
I suppress my emotions
Like a poison undefined that
Similar to an unidentified poison that
Enters my veins like a thread that I can't shake
Seeps into my bloodstream like an inescapable thread
It's not the pain
It's not the physical agony
Not the bruise or the scar
Not the visible marks left behind
Not the lack of love that breaks me down
Not the absence of affection that weakens me
It's the knowing that you can't refrain
It's the understanding that you can't control yourself
'Cause you're insane
Because you are mentally unstable
I know I wait too long
I am aware that I delay too much
Before I will break a bond
Before I am willing to sever a connection
I know my body froze
I know my body became immobilized
My greatest loss
The most significant thing I've lost
It's not the words (not the words)
It's not the words spoken
Not the fear or the doubt
Not the fear or uncertainty
Not the lack of heart that takes me out
Not the absence of courage that defeats me
It's the knowing that you can't relate
It's the realization that you can't understand
When you're insane
Because you are mentally unstable
It's not the pain (not the pain)
It's not the physical agony
Not the bruise or the scar
Not the visible marks left behind
Not the lack of love that breaks me down
Not the absence of affection that weakens me
It's the knowing that you can't refrain
It's the understanding that you can't control yourself
'Cause you're insane
Because you are mentally unstable
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, CTM Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Eloi Youssef, Casper Starreveld, Jan Haker, Niles Vandenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BloodVain87
Don't remember how i found kensington, but the'yre music has helped me. Thank you guys and awesome stuff
@lynnpoels7132
Een van mijn favoriete ! Zo gevoelig zo puur wauw! ❤️ Dit lied haalt zoveel dingen naar boven. Tranen in me ogen! Prachtig.
@leebrighurst1
I discovered these guys through Armin van Buuren, and have just become addicted to them, absolutely awesome
@RonnyEl-qv6yv
This song is INSANE !!!
The band also , the music is pure and the voice cut me to the bone ,so intense .
The show last weekend ,the lights, was amazing 🤘❤👍.
Till soon !!!
@LordMetarex
When you get so many Kensington notifications pop-up on your browser, you know this will be a wonderful hour.
@erwintornado1869
God
@erwintornado1869
💞💞💞💞💞❤️❤️♠️🌈🌈🌈♟️🔥
@cecilevdboogert4316
Dit nummer is super. Maar live gezongen (6-12-2019 concert Ziggo) .. was het gewoon 😳🥰🥰 . Zo rauw gezongen .. prachtig.
@ellenstersterkenburgh2887
voor het eerst sinds mijn beroerte in 2010 naar een concert geweest....en dat waren jullie KENSINGTON....voor altijd plekje in mn hart sinds in jullie toen gehoord op de radio en overal op internet gezocht naar nummers etc etc,,,,,,,,,,,,heb zo genoten 5 december....was gewoon magistraal en speciaal dit nummer...kippevel....ga zo door jongens
@lazioromasmeetsvandermolen4119
Niet normaal meer KENSINGTON al die liedjes van laatste tijd raakt me diep van binnen❤❤❤❤ beste band ik zeg gwn Eurovisiesongfestival met jullie