Effective period / Period of releases: 1985 - 1995

Members: Hans Diener, Olaf Willemsen, Akki (2), Jeroen Geertsma, Mark Tan, Jos Van Den Bogert, George Tan

The Essence formed in 1984 and hail from Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The band signed to Midnight Music after a year of live shows in their native Holland, and in 1985 released their debut 12" single "Endless Lakes" and their first full-length album, "Purity".

After the release of "Nothing Lasts Forever" in 1991, the band went through a period of transition until the release of "Glow" in 1995. Hans Diener remains the only founding member of the band still active.