Estrons

Estrons

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	2013 in Cardiff, Wales
Defunct	20 February 2019
Headquarters	Cardiff , Wales, United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles, music videos

Estrons was an alternative rock group hailing from Cardiff, Wales. The band's final roster consisted of Tali Källström on vocals, Rhodri Daniel handling guitar duties, Steffan Pringle playing bass, and Adam Thomas on drums.

They pursued an intensive touring agenda, alternating between leading their own tours and opening for acts including Slaves, Honeyblood, The Amazons, Garbage, and Pussy Riot.

Their inaugural album, You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough, launched in October 2018, garnered significant critical praise and earned a nomination for the Welsh Music Prize in October 2019.

The group officially ceased activities on 20 February 2019.

Formation and early years (2013–2014)

Estrons formed in 2013 when Welsh-Canadian vocalist Tali Källström connected with guitarist Rhodri Daniel in Aberystwyth. They joined forces with longtime collaborator and producer Steffan Pringle, who initially contributed as a drummer before becoming the permanent bassist in late 2016. Although performing as a four-member band, early promotional materials for their debut album often referred to them as a trio, listing "Taliesyn Källström, Rhodri Daniel, Steffan Pringle" as members. The name Estrons translates from Welsh as "misfits" or "strangers."

"Make a Man" (2015)

The band’s breakout garage-pop single "Make a Man" originated when Daniel composed the instrumental part at a nightclub in Berlin, while Källström crafted lyrics influenced by the assertive sexuality portrayed by female rappers such as Missy Elliott. The track was initially uploaded to their SoundCloud on 25 September 2015, followed by its music video debuting on Noisey on 3 November 2015. The single saw an official release on 4 December 2015.

"Drop" and She's Here Now (2016)

In March 2016, Estrons headlined the BBC Music Introducing stage at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, United States.

Their second single, "Drop," first appeared on SoundCloud on 7 April 2016. The lyrics were inspired by an event where Källström was briefly detained by police. She recalled, "I got arrested. And I was bored. So I just started reciting these lyrics," adding humorously, "No wonder I ended up getting charged; they must have thought I was mental." The single officially launched digitally on 5 May 2016 and was subsequently released as a 7" vinyl through Flying Vinyl, featuring "Make a Man" as its B-side.

On 26 August 2016, Estrons were announced as support for Slaves during their Back in the Van Tour scheduled for September.

Their following single, "Not Your Girl," was released on 14 October 2016 alongside news of their forthcoming extended play titled She's Here Now. The track received acclaim from NME, which described it as "intense, bold and catchy," considering it Estrons’ strongest work to date.

The EP She's Here Now was made available on 11 November 2016. Described by Noisey as "blistering," the collection confronts its subjects head-on with raw energy and spirited performances.

"Strobe Lights", "Glasgow Kisses" and "Cold Wash" (2017)

On 27 February 2017, Honeyblood revealed Estrons would support them on select tour dates spanning April through June. Shortly after, on 5 April, Amazons confirmed Estrons would join them for a two-week tour.

The single "Strobe Lights" was released on 28 April 2017, with its music video premiering on their Vevo channel on 5 June and receiving coverage from DIY on 6 June. Källström explained that the song explores "the competition between jealousy and love and the catastrophe that happens when a certain one conquers the other." Estrons wrapped up the year with a headline tour during September and October.

In August, they released "Glasgow Kisses," which served as one half of a double A-side single, followed by the release of "Cold Wash" in September. The video for "Glasgow Kisses" premiered in October.

Flying Vinyl issued a double A-side 7" vinyl featuring both "Strobe Lights" and "Glasgow Kisses" in August.

You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough (2018)

Estrons kicked off 2018 by announcing on 28 February that they would be supporting Garbage during their September tour.

Their initial single for the year, "Lilac," was released on 13 June. The track was produced and mixed by bassist and longtime collaborator Steffan Pringle. Alongside the release, the band revealed UK and European headline tour dates scheduled for September and November. "Lilac" was selected as Tune of the Week by Huw Stephens. Vocalist Tali Källström shared that the song addresses societal biases concerning gender. The accompanying music video premiered on 11 July.

On 25 July, Estrons announced their debut album, You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough, along with the release of the single "Cameras."

On 10 August, they confirmed they would support Pussy Riot during their six-night run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, taking place from 13 to 18 August.

The single "Body" debuted on BBC Radio 1 via Jack Saunders on 14 September, with its music video following on 21 September. Källström described the video as an ode to body positivity and embracing oneself. Although nominated for Best Editing at the 2019 UK Music Video Awards, it was ultimately surpassed by FKA Twigs' "Cellophane."

Their album was released on 5 October 2018 through their own label Gofod Records, licensed to Roll Call Records for distribution in the US, and globally distributed by the Orchard, a Sony Music affiliate. The record earned critical praise, garnering multiple four-star reviews from publications such as NME, DIY, The Independent, and Dork. In October 2019, it was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize, though it lost to Welsh post-punk band Adwaith's debut album Melyn, which was produced and mixed by Estrons’ Steffan Pringle.

In December 2018, Källström collaborated with Queen Kwong on an article for The Independent addressing misogyny within music culture.

"Strangers" and breakup (2019)

Ahead of Independent Venue Week, Estrons unveiled the video for their final single from their debut album, "Strangers," on 23 January 2019. The video features live footage from their sold-out Cardiff concert in December 2018. Källström described the song as a reflection on self-acceptance and personal evolution, touching on themes such as self-sabotage, redemption, failure, and triumph.

Their last live show took place at Scala in London on 7 February 2019, selling out in advance. Andy Duke of Louder Than War commended Källström's commanding vocal performance and praised the band's energetic twelve-song set that combined rock fervor with melodic sensibility.

After six years together, Estrons announced their disbandment on 20 February 2019, leading to the cancellation of a forthcoming UK headline tour.

Post-breakup (2019–present)

Toward the end of 2019, Källström collaborated with Cardiff-based post-rock duo Right Hand Left Hand on the track "Chacabuco," included on their third album Zone Rouge, released via Bubblewrap Records. She also performed live alongside them at release shows in London and Cardiff. Zone Rouge received a nomination for the 2020 Welsh Music Prize, marking Källström’s second nomination following Estrons’ debut LP recognition in 2019. A remix featuring her vocals was issued in November 2020.

Steffan Pringle, Estrons' bassist and producer, continues his work in Cardiff as a producer and engineer, collaborating with acts such as Future of the Left, Himalayas, and Boy Azooga. He produced and mixed Welsh post-punk trio Adwaith's debut album Melyn, which won the Welsh Music Prize in 2019.

In late 2019, Pringle formed a new group called Death Cult Electric. Their first single "She Comes Too Quick" was released in November 2019 and received notable airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Radio X. Their follow-up single "Deleter," featuring Dave Newington of Boy Azooga on drums, came out in June 2020 and enjoyed extensive playlisting and promotion on Radio X.

Singles

• "Make a Man" (2015)
• "Drop" (2016)
• "Not Your Girl" (2016)
• "Strobe Lights" (2017)
• "Glasgow Kisses" / "Cold Wash" (2017)
• "Lilac" (2018)
• "Cameras" (2018)
• "Body" (2018)
• "Strangers" (2019)

Music videos

• "Make a Man" (2015)
• "Strobe Lights" (2017)
• "Glasgow Kisses" (2017)
• "Lilac" (2018)
• "Body" (2018)
• "Strangers" (2019)

EPs

• Whoever She Was (2015)
• She's Here Now (2016)
• Estrons (2017)

Studio albums

• You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough (2018)

Members

• Taliesyn "Tali" Källström — lead vocals
• Rhodri Daniel — guitarist
• Steffan Pringle — bass guitarist
• Adam Thomas — drummer