Kaat Van Stralen refuses to be pigeonholed. What started as a unique solo project has grown into a genre-defying punk band, now joined by Melvin Slabbinck (drums), Anton Robberechts (guitar), and Faust De Vogelaere (bass).
Strict but fair, Kaat calls every genre to the stand—from punk and psychedelia to alternative spoken word. Expect heated linguistic uproar, crackling beats, biting guitar riffs, and thunderous bass lines. Kaat Van Stralen claimed victories in De Nieuwe Lichting 2025 by Studio Brussel and Sound Track Vlaams-Brabant 2024, the stage and opportunity program organized by VI.BE and Het Depot, where she has since become an artist in residence.
At the end of January 2025, Kaat Van Stralen released her debut single ‘Stop Met Wenen’—a punk rock anthem for all women, misfits, and feelers. With influences such as Amyl & The Sniffers, Wet Leg, and Fiona Apple—though gloriously in Flemish—Kaat proves her unique style and vocal presence. The song breaks the taboo around crying and encourages open emotional expression. HUMO hailed the track as “the most important Belgian song in years.” It held the number one spot in De Afrekening for three weeks and gained notable online traction, quickly becoming the biggest hit of this year’s edition of De Nieuwe Lichting. “Anyone browsing TikTok saw more than eighty videos—often of young women lip-syncing the song while defiantly staring into the lens.” (De Standaard)
Her debut EP will be released in November, with ‘Aerobics’ as the first single, produced by Pieter-Jan Decraene. She will present it live at venues such as Het Depot in Leuven (December 8), Merleyn in Nijmegen (December 17), and MEZZ in Breda (December 20). But first, Kaat Van Stralen will appear at numerous summer festivals across Belgium and the Netherlands (see below). Her live shows are known for their intense energy, powerful messages, and expressive force.
