*Bio*

The band was formed in 2019 by guitarist Erwin van der Zee, who previously played in new wave band Presence of Mind, and former Flemming bassist Pepijn Grimmelikhuizen. Drummer Dennis van Houten, who previously played with Amsterdam indie rock band Von Veh, joined the band. When singer Chris Palmen, keyboardist and backing vocalist Esther de Jong and guitarist Olaf de Wit joined, the band was completed. In the early years, The Dark Wave mainly made adaptations of classic post-punk songs from the 70s and 80s, together with vocalist Palmen. The band played at several festivals and venues, including Wavefest and Amsterdam’s Pacific. Palmen left the band in 2023 to focus on his Bowie project Station to Station. In late 2023, singer/songwriter Jelmer Luimstra (ex-Captain Felix, April Afternoon) joined The Dark Wave as a new vocalist. The band then began working on their own material. In autumn 2024, the group recorded their first two singles, Seventeen and One of These Days, at Amsterdam music studio IJland Studio, together with producer Remko Schouten (Pavement, Hang Youth). The two songs written by Luimstra were mastered by Thijs de Melker (co-founder of De Raggende Manne). Seventeen was released in December 2024. One Of These Days was released on February 14th 2025. In June 2025, out of 30 competing bands competing in Haarlemse Popscene the fellow musicians unanimously chose The Dark Wave as Best Band. The third track, Emptiness, was released on August 13th 2025, and reached #2 the Dutch Indie Chart by radio station IndieXL. The latest track, Venetian Blinds, was released on September 24th 2025. A song about discipline, boredom and the twisted realities you might get caught in through social media …if you’re not careful! Meanwhile the band got invitations to do several interviews and gigs. The Dark Wave will continue to produce songs and perform at many venues in the Netherlands and Belgium in the near future.