Roxanne De Bastion

Country of Origin

Germany

Styles

Singer-songwriter

Merchandise and Music (Referral Links)

'The Piano Player of Budapest: A True Story of Survival

Biography

Roxanne de Bastion is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and founder of the artist advocacy organization From Me To You. Based in Berlin, she has established a career as a thoughtful and introspective artist, blending personal narrative with rich musicality. Her work is deeply influenced by her family history, particularly the legacy of her Hungarian grandfather, Stephen de Bastion (born Istvan Bastyai Holtzer), a renowned pianist who survived the Holocaust and whose music and life story have profoundly shaped her artistic journey.

De Bastion’s connection to her grandfather’s past was solidified after his death, when she and her sister discovered a trove of memorabilia, including handwritten sheet music, concert pamphlets, film scripts, and cassette recordings. Among the most treasured heirlooms was her grandfather’s baby grand piano, which had been smuggled out of Hungary and remained a central presence in her family home. These discoveries became the emotional and thematic foundation for her 2021 album Heirlooms and Hearsay, a critically acclaimed work that explores memory, intergenerational trauma, and the act of preserving legacy.

The album features reworked versions of songs like “Wasteland” and “Rerun,” originally released on the Seeing You EP, and includes a delicate reimagining of her grandfather’s composition “Do You Remember” (“Emlegszel Meg”), which became a hit in post-war Hungary when recorded by jazz singer Kato Fenjesh. Heirlooms and Hearsay was praised for its emotional depth and nuanced production, with The Sunday Times calling it “astonishingly assured.”

De Bastion is also known for her cover of Sufjan Stevens’ “I Should Live in Salt,” which she performed live at London’s Moth Club and released as a follow-up to her original material. Her music often reflects on isolation, connection, and resilience, themes that resonated during the pandemic, a period in which she remained active in supporting fellow artists.

In addition to her music, de Bastion founded From Me To You, an organization dedicated to demystifying the music industry for independent artists. Inspired by a “schnappsidee” (a German term for a spontaneous, perhaps drunken idea), she launched a conference that offers artists practical insights into touring, royalties, and industry structures—perspectives often hidden from public view. She has also been vocal about the economic challenges musicians face, speaking on Sky News and LBC Radio about the impact of the pandemic on the arts.

A graduate of the University of Sussex and Goldsmiths, University of London, de Bastion continues to write and record new music, with a forthcoming album in development. Her work stands as a testament to the enduring power of art, memory, and familial connection.

Social Media and Links

Upcoming Concerts

Date	Time	Venue	City	Country
November 14, 2025	19:00	Union Chapel	London	UK