Dutch indie rockers Lemon deliver a biting, high-energy commentary on internet fame with their new single “Insta Queen” – a raucous garage-rock stomper that captures the addictive dance between influencer and follower. The fifth installment in their ambitious #lemon12 project, the track showcases the band’s signature Nedchester sound – their Amsterdam-bred take on Madchester’s psychedelic swagger.
From the opening line – “She’s posting pictures / She wants to be seen” – singer Ralf Hesen leans into the song’s provocative premise with unapologetic glee. Over jangly guitars and a Primal Scream-worthy rhythm section, Lemon paints a portrait of a 17-year-old social media savant and her obsessed follower, leaving listeners to judge who’s more trapped in the attention economy. The lyrics walk a tightrope between satire and sympathy, delivered with the band’s trademark wry humor and infectious energy.
What makes “Insta Queen” stand out is its refusal to moralize – this isn’t a lecture about screen addiction, but a mirror held up to our collective dopamine chase. The production mirrors this tension: sleek hooks clash with gritty, live-wire instrumentation, creating a sound that’s as instantly gratifying as a double-tap.
Having shared stages with The Charlatans and Stereo MC’s, Lemon proves once again why they’re Europe’s most exciting purveyors of Nedchester – a sound that’s equal parts baggy rhythms, punk attitude, and psychedelic flair. With upcoming slots at De Parade and Bergen Live Festival, “Insta Queen” is set to become a mosh-pit anthem for the digital generation.
Insta Queen’ is Lemon at their punchiest. It’s a dopamine-fueled anthem for a generation caught between validation and voyeurism.
