ÊTRE

ÊTRE biography
ÊTRE formed 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark when guitarist Alexander Varslev Dahl a.k.a. Varslev-Pedersen and Kristian Hejlskov Larsen (guitar) joined forces with Freja Christiana Ordell Hansen (lead vocals) before the addition of Axel Ming (bass) and Max Naef (drums) in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

The band's main architect, Varslev, whose thesis on Danish black metal led to an MA in musicology and ethnomusicology, was in screaming metal outfit Risk/Exist circa 2013-2016 before his, effectively solo project SOUTH HARBOUR (on ProgArchives under Experimental/Post Metal) led to a collaboration with Hejlskov. The two devised music and concept for an EP trilogy with humanity being the common denominator before Ordell joined to sharpen the idea with lyrics that present a different aspect of human nature on each EP (including her own mental struggle with chronic dissociation), thereby representing individual concepts that form part of the larger overall concept solidified by the recurring musical themes throughout the trilogy. The overall concept lends support to the band's name, Être which is French for "to be". The EPs are recorded with programmed drums due to the unavailability of a fitting drummer until 2023 when Naef completed the lineup but too late for abandoning the programmed drums approach which was maintained to provide a consistent and coherent sound.

In January 2024 the band announced that Varslev would leave the band after finalizing work on the trilogy. Prior to the announcement, plans for a full-length album were revealed by Ming and Ordell who stated that it would be different as both would participate in the writing process that would take lyrics/vocals and melody as the starting point and build music around it in contrast to their earlier work.

Their output will likely appeal to you if you like Mastodon, TesseracT, Feather Mountain, The Ocean and Sleep Token.

(biography provided by earlyprog)