Wotienke

Years ago Wotienke was a girl playing the piano and singing by herself in Amsterdam, but while living in the Czech Republic she became a band. The unlikely musical long-distance relationship between the Dutch singer-songwriter and four Czech musicians turned out to be very fruitful. The band toured through the Czech Republic, Holland, Poland, Austria and Slovakia and finally settled down in an Amsterdam based studio to record their first album Mainland Sailors in spring 2009.

Authenticity, simplicity and a playful performance define the music of Wotienke, which travels from light chansons and poppy tunes to more edgy and sometimes experimental songs. Lyrical inspiration comes from every day life, love or curiosity. But an uncle who became rich by selling sand to desert people or commuting from one city to the other also formed triggers for songs.

The versatility of the musicians, their backgrounds and the music is reflected in their live performance. They feel at ease on festival stages, nightclubs or underground music bars but can also perform their songs totally acoustic in living room sessions.