INTERVIEW: Luwten returns with two new singles: "What do you lose if you lose control?"

Image: Eddo Hartmann
Dutch artist Luwten (real name Tessa Douwstra) today releases her first new music in three years and she is celebrating her return in style with not just one but two singles - ‘Control’ and ‘Airport’.

Luwten released her self-titled debut album in 2017, a collection of low-key, warm, at times otherworldly pop which she likens to “that much needed stroll around the block to clear your mind.” It quickly gained her attention across her home country and Europe, with the track ‘Go Honey’ accumulating 1.5 million global streams on Spotify alone.

Today’s releases are both a reflection of her past and a step into newer, bolder sounds. ‘Control’ continues Luwten’s knack for creating warm, all-enveloping melodies but introduces a more electronic sound with glitchy beats and a gently throbbing back beat. ‘Airport’ moves into slightly more experimental waters with moody, rolling beats and distorted sonics forming the background for Luwten’s vocals switching from high pitched to a lower register. The otherworldly sounds in many ways reflect the sense of disembodiment travelling through airports can have. The songs are the leads from Luwten’s new EP which is due out next year and we recently spoke with Tessa to find out more.

Hi Tessa! Thanks for talking to us. How have the past few months been for you in this crazy period of isolation and social distancing?!
It has actually been quite nice to be home for a longer period of time. Not being able to go places, visit people or work outside of my own house feels kind of freeing to me. I like the quiet and the lack of distraction.

Congratulations on the release of your new songs ‘Control’ and ‘Airport’! They are both fantastic tracks! First up, can you tell us about the inspiration behind ‘Control’?

Thank you. ‘Control’ came from this thought experiment. What do you lose if you lose control? Lots of our habits, thoughts and feelings come from trying to keep it all under control while it might never have been ours to begin with. I’m a pretty rational person but with lots of emotions. What to do with those? I’m a perfectionist but also want to enjoy making mistakes. What to do with that? What on earth is having control? The song came from these questions. The build up of this song came from the answer.

And the same question for ‘Airport’! What was the inspiration behind this track?
Airports are strange. They’re these big grey areas. You’re about to go do something, be somewhere, but first you have to stay in this no man’s land for a while. To me this feels like the place where you find yourself when you have to make a difficult decision. You’re in an area where you don’t know but you know the plane is leaving eventually. How to say goodbye? How to make decisions like that?

What was the creative process like for both these tracks?
I love to keep some of the first draft in the final version of a song. Those first ideas are really important to me because they feel the most intuitive. ‘Control’ knew many stages but after playing it live with the band I decided to record it that way and combine that with the demo. The recordings were done between 2018 and 2019 all throughout the Netherlands. Most of the time my writing starts with samples, guitar and vocals on my computer but for the recordings I travel to my bandmates homes or studios to record with them or our engineer. After that I finish everything with my co-producer Binkbeats. The writing and producing happens at the same time and influences one another a lot. ‘Airport’ was born from this sketch where I experimented with an electronic beat and upright bass line. At the end of the recording process I found this interview with Esther Perel talking about saying goodbye where she said “keep this treasured love in your heart and carry it with you”. Her words finished that song for me.

Why did you choose to release both tracks together?
Both of these songs are about letting go in a different sense. Creating for me is easy, creating is intuition. Sharing music on the other hand I always have to prepare for. It’s so definitive. I thought, maybe I have to let go of the songs that are about just that first. As my first steps to opening that door back up again.

You are released an EP later in the year, what can you tell us about it?
With this EP I want to lay open the search, the process of exploring. I can be pretty secretive but I try to be more open because I think it will make me feel more free. I want to let me be different things, and be that publically.

If we go back to the beginning, what role did music play in your life when you were growing up?
Growing up I went to church where music was a vital part of the experience. We sang. My mum always sang harmonies on the songs we listened to. She noticed I had this natural attraction towards music and bought me a recorder flute and after that my first guitar on which I started to make songs right away. I was always busy directing and creating.

Was there any particular moment or event that inspired you to pursue music as a career?
I remember being moved by music and art in such a big way that I couldn’t think of anything else that I wanted to do. I wasn’t really vocal about it but I just knew. It has always felt really important to me. I don’t remember making a decision.

How did you develop your career, from first having the idea of being a singer to where you are now?
Make stuff. I don’t think I wanted to be a singer necessarily. I wanted to create things you can experience. I like challenging myself and experimenting and music is such a great tool for that. It feels like I’ve been doing just that and now I’m here doing that still.

We don’t often hear many Dutch singers on the international music scene, what Dutch singers do you recommend we all should be listening to?
I really love what’s being made here. Go check out Eefje de Visser, Pitou, Nana Adjoa, Sofie Winterson, Someone, Klangstof, Binkbeats, De Staat, Jo Goes Hunting…
You can email me at tessa@luwten.com if you want more tips.

There has been so much debate in the past year or so about gender equality and sexism in the wake of #metoo. What are your thoughts on how women are treated and portrayed in the music industry?
I hope we’re heading in the right direction. I think all people should be treated equally despite gender. Singing is not just for girls like computers are not just for boys. Don’t assume what someone should or could be good at. Be curious and open at all times.

What’s up next for Luwten?
Releasing more music. Making more music. I’m working on a lot of visual art to accompany the music as well. I’m also really looking forward to seeing my band again and rehearse with them to translate these recordings into live versions. To have these ever-changing songs evolve even more. And if we can’t play them live like we used to, to look for a different way to share.

‘Control’ and ‘Airport’ are out now. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music and Spotify.

To keep up with all things Luwten, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.