Whispered Dreams
“Whispered Dreams – Suzy Pine, unfolding with patience and grace”
“There’s a subtle confidence to ‘Whispered Dreams’, the latest single from Suzy Pine. Built around the creative partnership of Suzanne and Pepijn, the track resists the urge to reveal everything at once, instead allowing its atmosphere to emerge gradually through carefully layered instrumentation and a strong sense of emotional restraint.
Originally conceived as a piano ballad, the song was completely reworked in the studio, and that transformation is central to its appeal. Warm synths, a clear melodic bassline and understated percussion give the arrangement a soft, fluid movement, while Suzanne’s vocal remains the emotional focal point throughout. The result sits somewhere between art-pop, dream-pop and softly electronic songwriting, though its refusal to settle neatly into one category works in its favour.
‘Whispered Dreams’ looks back on a relationship that was never really sustainable, but which still held enough beauty to make letting go difficult. But instead of framing that situation as straightforward heartbreak, Suzy Pine focus on the contradiction of knowing something cannot last while still wanting to remain inside it.
That idea is reflected well in the production, as the track grows slowly, almost imperceptibly, with additional layers of harmony and texture appearing as it progresses. One of the most effective details is the suggestion of ocean movement in the background, created with brushes on a snare rather than literal field recordings. It’s a subtle choice, but one that reinforces the song’s beachside imagery without becoming too obvious.
There are traces of Kate Bush and Tori Amos in the attention to atmosphere, while the combination of synths and Latin-influenced percussion gives the track a character all of its own. More importantly, Suzanne and Pepijn sound increasingly comfortable trusting space and detail rather than relying on dramatic peaks as it plays.
Following earlier releases under the name Lena & van Dorst, ‘Whispered Dreams’ feels like a fitting introduction to the Suzy Pine identity. Thoughtful, warm and carefully arranged, it’s a song that suggests a project with a clear understanding of the value of subtlety.” The Indie Grid
“Whispered Dreams” is a heartfelt, intriguing success from Suzy Pine.”
“Suzy Pine’s art-pop single “Whispered Dreams” arose from an “impossible love story,” capturing the tension of holding onto something that already feels destined to disappear. Originally conceived as a piano ballad, the track was transformed in Pepijn’s Rotterdam studio through layers of synths, bass, conga percussion, and inventive brushwork that recreates the sound of ocean waves, giving its emotional core an unusually tactile setting.
The duo comprises singer-songwriter and music teacher Suzanne, who brings more than 20 years of experience, and guitarist, composer, and sound designer Pepijn, whose technical expertise shapes the track’s rich textures.
The track’s consuming soundscape unfolds as concise, dreamy synth lines pair with a moody bassline and gentle delivery. “Waiting ’til dust turns into gold, trying not to squeeze too hard, but holding on to memories,” Suzanne’s delivery resonates, expanding from that single-layered introspection into a soulful, multi-harmony caressing. “How could this be a voluntary task for me?” she asks amidst the emergent added synth pad, spine-tingling in its airy resonance as “losing my pride/mind” lyrical admissions appear.
“If I could see light inside these tears,” her performance progresses as a pit-pattering, playful conga percussion element injects seamlessly alongside the twinkling synths and hypnotic bass. The dazzling hybrid of the haunting synth pad and multi-layered harmonies again envelops as the track’s final minute comes into view. The melodic art-pop sophistication combines wonderfully with expressive performances and lyrical accounts of “putting this love through this test” and the result causing one to question their sanity and ability to love. “Whispered Dreams” is a heartfelt, intriguing success from Suzy Pine.” Obscure Sound
Astray
“Astray by Suzy Pine Is Haunting and Beautiful”
“You really have to appreciate it when a band decides to just ignore the charts and make something that sounds exactly like themselves. That is what Suzanne Lena and Pepijn van Dorst have done with their new single, “Astray.” It came out on March 20th, and it is a perfect example of what happens when a classical singer and a sound designer decide to get weird in a studio in Rotterdam.
The two met back in their conservatory days in Utrecht, but it took a while for them to finally sit down and make music together. Lena has this background as a mezzo-soprano and a backing vocalist, while van Dorst has spent years as a guitarist and film composer. You can definitely hear those influences creeping in. They cite people like Kate Bush and Sting as inspirations, and you can feel that “art-pop” energy right away.
The story behind “Astray” is actually pretty relatable, if a little creepy. It is about a long-term relationship where one person realizes things are starting to fall apart. It is that quiet, sinking feeling when you know something is wrong but you aren’t ready to have the big “harsh truth” talk yet. Suzanne even wrote in a woodpecker sound as a symbol for someone trying to protect their territory while something new is calling from the outside.
What is really cool about this track is how it was made. It started as a simple piano ballad, but they felt like it was missing something. Instead of just throwing a standard drum kit on it, Pepijn had the crazy idea to use Suzanne’s own breathing to create the rhythm. They built the whole song on top of that, adding real double bass, violins, and percussion from guest musicians.
The result is a song that feels very “handmade.” It is clear, honest, and doesn’t sound like it was run through a factory. It has these layers of vocals and a synth-riff that keep things feeling modern, but the real instruments give it a weight that you just don’t get from a laptop.
If you like music that tells a real story and isn’t afraid to be a little bit different, “Astray” is definitely worth a listen. It feels like bringing the songs “home” to Rotterdam, and it is a great introduction to a duo that clearly values their artistic integrity over everything else.” Swiispa.net
Cool Inside
“The contemporary music scene rarely presents us with works born from silence and brutal honesty, without the urgency of performing for algorithms. Cool Inside, the debut single from the Dutch duo Lena & van Dorst (renamed Suzy Pine,red.), is one of those rare moments of clarity. Coming directly from Rotterdam’s pulsating Old West, the project unites the classical sensibility and confessional lyricism of Suzanne Lena with the meticulous sonic architecture of guitarist and composer Pepijn van Dorst.
The track is not just a composition; it’s a manifesto on the illusion of time. The song’s genesis carries a latent emotional charge: Suzanne’s awakening after years of silencing her own creations under the pretext of lack of time. Confronting this stagnation, she joined Pepijn to transform piano sketches into a rich auditory experience, evoking the ethereal sophistication of Kate Bush and the melodic precision of Sting.
Musically, Cool Inside balances original pop with organically textured progressive rock. The production, done at Pepijn’s studio, preserves an elegant rawness, where the guitars, influenced by Robbie Robertson’s economical and precise touch, frame Suzanne’s versatile voice. The lyrics address the collective numbness of a society content with the comfort of isolation and the glow of screens, forgetting the unpredictability of human encounters and the vigor of nature.
The track’s ending, marked by birdsong, is not merely an aesthetic adornment, but a powerful symbol of the call to the outside world. Lena & van Dorst deliver a work of unquestionable artistic integrity, which sounds like a return home, both for the artists and for the listener who seeks, in music, a real connection with their own soul.” radioarmazem.net