Handsome Poets - 2015 (2015).

Band: Handsome Poets.
Title: 2015.
Released: March 23rd 2015.
Label: Self released, distribution by Rough Trade.
Genre: Pop.

Personell: Tim van Esch (vocals), Nils Davidse (keyboards, vocals), Daniël Smit (drums, vocals).
Additional personell: Erik Schurman (guitars, bass), Ilse te Wies (cello), Johan ter Schegget (vocals), Laura Nijhuis (vocals), choir (Trea, Govert, Maaike, Hiske, Barbara, Fred).
Production, recording, mix & mastering: Erik Schurman @ Handsome Poets Studio, Gouda.

Tracklisting:
1. Stardust.
2. A Hero.
3. So Near You.
4. Light Up The Sky.
5. Lightning Love.
6. Forever Together.
7. I Can’t Believe It.
8. Wildside.
9. High Line.
10. Embrace.

Notes:
After touring two years with previous album ‘Sky On Fire’, the band decided to settle down for a while. They build their own rehearsal space and studio and started writing together for a new album. With producer Erik on board, they could finetune tracks even before recording and with their own rehearsal space and studio, they had time on their hands to experiment. Which resulted in layered sounds, more subtle arrangements and better constructed songs, since there were no hits requiring the mto rush releasae another album. Guest vocals on ‘So Near You’ are done by Johan ter Schegget, former vocalist of ‘Suburbs’, in which Erik played guitar for a while.
With the writing flow still going on, they released the album, which contains an oddity: the tracklist starts with number 0 instead of 1, which means slight confusion, when skipping for the wished for song.

Website: www.handsomepoets.nl.

Handsome Poets - Sky On Fire (2012).

Band: Handsome Poets.
Title: Sky On Fire.
Released: November 29th 2012.
Label: Self Released/Rough Trade (Distribution).
Genre: Indiepop

Personell:  Tim van Esch (Vocals), Eelke Mastebroek (Guitars), Nils Davidse (Keyboards), Daniël Smit (Drums).
Additional personell: Rik Kraak (Bass), Erik Schurman (Bass), Elijah Gospel & Soul Choir (Barbara, Maaike, Nicole, Fred, Elise, Trea & Govert: Backing Vocals ‘Alright’.
Production, recording, mix & mastering: Erik Schurman @ Bullet Sound Studios, Nederhorst Den Berg.
Recording Grand Piano on ‘Alright’: Dr. Anton Philipszaal, The Hague.

Tracklisting:
1. Jupiter.
2. Sky On Fire.
3. More Heart.

4. Strangers.
5. New Life.
6. Scheveningen.
7. Sing For You.
8. Follow Me.
9. Lucky One.
10. Alright.

Notes:
After recording new single ‘Sky On Fire’, the band travelled to Zombabwe for several awareness projects and an appearance at Harare International Festival Of Arts. The single in meantime was chosen as leader-track for the Olympic broadcastst of national TV programme ‘Studio Sport’, which rocketed the track to No 1. Inbetween touring, the band took time to write new material in a home in Friesland (Northern province of the Netherlands), which was then recorded in famed Bullet Sound Studios. The album was released end of november 2012. They tour the Netherlands extensively, ending at ‘Eurosonic/Noorderslag’ early January 2013. Second single from the album is ‘New Life’

Website: www.handsomepoets.nl.

Handsome Poets - Handsome Poets (2011).

Band: Handsome Poets.
Title: Handsome Poets.
Released: March 25th 2011.
Label: Self Released/Rough Trade (Distribution).
Genre: Indiepop

Personell:  Tim van Esch (Vocals), Gerard Trouborst (Guitars), Nils Davidse (Keyboards), Ruben Trouborst (Bass), Daniël Smit (Drums).

Additional personell: Christine Raven, Elise ’t Hart & Tessa Douwstra (Backing Vocals)
Production, recording, mix & mastering: Erik Schurman @ Studio Gouderock!, Gouderak.

Tracklisting:
1. Dance (The War Is Over).
2. (We Can’t Be) Saints.
3. Call Back Tomorrow.
4. Silence Is Sexy.
5. Kings & Queens.
6. Stay.
7. When Will I See You?
8. Blinded.
9. Be Where You Are.
10. Out Of Your League.

Notes:
After the succes of first single ‘Blinded’, the band set to work at the studio of Erik Schurman, recording one new track each week during the winter. The band got more and more exposure and gigs throughout the country increased. After some management changes, Erik became manager for the band. The sound was changing into a more retro 80s popsound, with positive mooded lyrics and more prominent keyboards. Erik’s increasing influence on the writing and production process sparked growing tensions between him and (notably) Gerard, who used to be the main contributor to the music. Nevertheless they became ‘3FM Serious Talent’ and scored small hits with ‘Blinded’, and ‘Dance (The War Is Over)’, while ‘Call Back Tomorrow’ received huge rotation as well. Third single ‘(We Can’t Be) Saints’ didn’t do as good as it’s predecessors.

Three weeks before their appearance on ‘Lowlands’ Festival, guitarist Gerard was ejected from the band due to ‘personal issues and internal tensions’. Brother Ruben was given time-out, which turned into his exit the following month. Eelke Mastebroek (ex-Rigby), replaces Gerard on guitar. Ruben hasn’t been replaced permanently, which means Kobus Groen and Rik Kraak perform bass duties on stage.
The album was self released, through a distribution deal with Dutch ‘Rough Trade’ (Not related to the UK label), in an initial print of 4500 copies.
Several outtakes are known, some of whom did certainly not deserve that fate:
- Into The Wild (re-recording for the ‘Chance’ soundtrack.
- Moods & Fears.
- Kings & Queens (Alt version).
- Storybox (Recorded during the ‘Chance’ re-recording sessions).

Website: www.handsomepoets.nl.

Handsome Poets - 'Chance'-sessions (2009 - 2010).

Band: Handsome Poets.
Title: Chance-Sessions.
Released: Unreleased.
Label: Unreleased.
Genre: Indiepop

Personell:  Tim van Esch (Vocals), Gerard Trouborst (Guitars), Nils Davidse (Keyboards), Ruben Trouborst (Bass), Daniël Smit (Drums).

Production, recording, mix & mastering by the bands soundman.

Tracklisting:
1. Blinded.
2. Into The Wild.
3. Storybox.

Notes:
Late 2009 drummer Jan-Jaap Bakker left the band and was replaced by Daniël Smit. Several members were studying at Utrecht Conservatory and got involved in several projects. One of them was the soundtrack for a short film, called ‘Chance’. In December 2009/January 2010 they recorded three tracks with producer Eric Schurman for the soundtrack. Dissastisfied with the result, they left the first recorded slightly rough versions in the vaults and re-recorded the first two tracks in slightly smoother, but tighter versions. They also recorded the catchy new track ‘Storybox’, which sounds like an updated ‘Police’. The re-recorded Gerard-penned ‘Blinded’ became their breakthrough single and was later included on their debut album. The other tracks stay unreleased. On this initial version of ‘Blinded’, the chorusses were sung high pitched by Tim, as he does during gigs. There’s also another demoversion of ‘Storybox’, which was made up of separate parts, put together later.

Website: www.handsomepoets.nl.

Handsome Poets - Metamorphosis-EP (2009).

Band: Handsome Poets.
Title: Metamorphosis.
Released: March 2009.
Label: Self Released.
Genre: Indiepop

Personell:  Tim van Esch (Vocals, Keyboards), Gerard Trouborst (Guitars, Keyboards), Ruben Trouborst (Bass), Jan-Jaap Bakker (Drums).

Additional personell: Theo Nap (Backing Vocals)
Production, recording: Theo Nap & Gerard Trouborst @ Wooden Cup Studio, Wilnis.
Mix & mastering: Erik Schurman @ Studio Gouderock!, Gouderak.

Tracklisting:
1. Kite Flight.
2. Metamorphosis.
3. Take A Walk (With Me).
4. Joy To The City.
5. This Train.

Notes:
Early 2008 keyboard player Rex Wierenga left then Gospel-outfit ‘Higher Purpose’, followed in the summer by singer Tabitha Kraaijeveld (Studies). The rest of the band decided to change direction into a more worldly one. In this transitional period they changed their name to ‘Handsome Poets’ and mixed more and more new material into their old setlists. A neighbour from their rehearsal space, former ‘Suburbs-’, ‘Jaya The Cat-’ and The Hague area session guitarist Eric Schurman, liked what he heard and offered to mix and master their EP. Which was released in a cardboard sleeve, designed by the band themselves. Following the release of the EP, Nils Davidse on keyboards was added and they played numberous gigs, both in worldly and in religious surroundings. The titletrack was co-written by former ‘Higher Purpose’ bandmate Tabitha. In late summer 2010 the EP was withdrawn and radio-deejays were asked to stop playing the EP, as the band felt the music no longer suited their new direction.
Known unreleased (and probably unrecorded) tracks from this period are:
- The Blues.
- Attitude.
- Carry The Day.

Website: www.handsomepoets.nl.