Career
Signed to Black Hole Recordings, they have performed internationally and work with vocalist such as Anita Kelsey, Neev Kennedy and Sarah Howells. The duo made their debut in 2005 with a self-titled 12". lieutenant was originally a duo consisting of Ralph Barendse and Sander van der Waal.
They released the album Time Frame in 2007, it features vocal contributions by Tiff Lacey, Anita Kelsey and Elliot Johns.
lieutenant was supported by the single "Falling" (feat Anita Kelsey) that was featured on the In Search Of Sunrise compilation. lieutenant was followed by "Sierra Nevada" and "Your Own Way" feat.
Elliot Johns. In 2008, the mixed compilation In Trance We Trust with James Brook was released in Australia.
In January 2009, the duo released the single "Office The Radar", although Barendse left the project in May of that year. In 2010, van Dien released the album Changing Lanes featuring vocal contributions by Sarah Howells, Kyler England (aka Relyk) and again Johns.
The album was considered to be a stylistical change and explored other genres. In March 2014, the third album Full Circle was released where van Dien again worked with Howells and England, as well as Tyler Sherritt, Neev Kennedy, Jaren Cerf (aka Fenja) and Quilla.
Besides using the name First State, van der Waal has also released under the name OneWorld and Deviod and the alias Sander van Dien.
A number of co-productions have appeared with his South African manager Shane Halcon.
