January 7 | Written By Becca Stokes

Yaël Dekker, Katja Kahana, Michelle Geraerts, Winnie Conradi, and Laurie Zantinge make up The Klittens- an exciting and undeniably chic new act emerging from the underground scene in Amsterdam. The quintet, just as the title of their latest track suggests, has the potential to appeal to audiences globally. ‘Universal Experience’ is the first track of their latest collection of material, released in the build-up to their upcoming UK tour with fellow Dutch band Personal Trainer. 

The Klittens are an indie-fuzz group, exploring and incorporating elements of post-punk influence into their music and, as a result, growing from a collective of self-trained musicians into a head-turning and cohesive band whose discography offers a quirky-cool interpretation of the genres that inspire them. ‘Universal Experience’, the subsequent track to their first EP ‘Citrus’ is perhaps one of the most memorable yet. 

The song opens with an upbeat and pleasantly juvenile guitar riff, reminiscent of an early 00s indie hit, creating an instantly bright and danceable melody, despite vocalist Yaël Dekkers’ statement that "The concept behind the lyrics isn't very joyful”. The group is unafraid of merging sounds, emotions, and styles within their work and their daring nature breathes life into an original project that is well and truly their own. It is clear to see that the band was born from the desire for a creative and political outlet and the group’s love for their art shines through in each release. 

‘You don’t want to ask about my day/ But you should so you do anyway’; ‘Universal Experience’ touches on the generic nature of a life in which we all experience pretty much the same things, whether it is ‘ski trips’ or ‘Sunday brunch’. Despite this, this track is not a nihilistic one; in fact, it’s reassuring- everyone is experiencing the same mundane ins and outs of life, but with a soundtrack like this one, that’s alright. 

‘I can fake it but I don't feel it, so we just have to deal with it’: the chorus is not only catchy but preaches a ‘take it on the chin’ mentality, 

The song comes accompanied by a similarly quaint music video which showcases the band’s additional creative flair in the visual department. The 90s-esque VHS look, the plasticine stop-motion, the mismatched costume- it all feels like a tribute to childhood fun. Reveling in its own sentimental, DIY feel, the video feels not only aesthetically interesting but personal and familiar- encapsulating the concept of ‘Universal Experience’. 

‘Universal Experience’ can be found now on all streaming platforms, and those lucky enough to be local can catch The Klittens at their live UK performances in 2024. Make space for The Klittens on your personal playlist, or check out their own ‘The Klittens Jukebox’ playlist on Spotify if ‘Universal Experience’ sounds like the song for you (and it absolutely should).

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