First envisioned by Torre Florim in 2006 as something of a challenge to himself; before there was a group, there was a one-man project in Nijmegen, Holland. “I was making so much music, all different kinds,” grins Torre. “I just wanted to see if I could make something that sounded like one thing!” Having wrangled said sounds together, that ‘one thing’ would soon become known as De Staat – translated as ‘The State’ – and their 2009 debut, Wait For Evolution. With a line-up completed by lead guitarist Vedran Mircetic, bassist Jop van Summeren, multi-instrumentalist Rocco Hueting and drummer Tim van Delft, what De Staat have achieved since those fledgling days is remarkable.