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 1986 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 1996. Hans Diener remains the only founding member of the band still active.