Lovelorn Dolls co-founder Bernard Daubresse passes away
Kritsell Louagie and Bernard Daubresse from Lovelorn Dolls
Belgian synth-goth band Lovelorn Dolls have announced the sudden passing of co-founder, guitarist and composer Bernard Daubresse, one half of the Brussels-based duo for the past 15 years. The sad news was shared by vocalist Kristell Lowagie on the band’s social channels.
In her message, Lowagie described Bernard Daubresse not only as her musical partner, but also as a close friend: “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the sudden passing of Bernard DAUBRESSE, one half of the duo LOVELORN DOLLS for the past 15 years.” She recalled their long collaboration, marked by “joys, laughter, pride, heartaches” and the frustration of not seeing Lovelorn Dolls reach the wider audience she felt his songwriting deserved. Lowagie closes with a direct address: “Don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s something in the afterlife. I love you. Rest in peace, my brother.”
On behalf of everyone at Side-Line Magazine, we want to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Bernard.
Over the past years, we had the privilege of working with Bernard and Kristell from Lovelorn Dolls on various occasions. Each contact showed the same things: quiet dedication, care for detail in his songwriting and production, and a strong, genuine partnership with Kristell. He was not someone who pushed himself to the foreground, but his musical fingerprints were present in every release the band shared with the scene.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Kristell, to Bernard’s family and friends, to the Alfa Matrix / Spleen+ team, and to all Lovelorners who grew up or grew older with this music in their lives. A collaboration of 15 years leaves a deep mark, both privately and within this music community.
About Bernard Daubresse and Lovelorn Dolls
Lovelorn Dolls began around 2010, when guitarist and composer Bernard Daubresse (Corpus Christi) and vocalist Kristell Lowagie (Ladyhell) started working together in Brussels under the earlier name Lovelorn. From the start, the project combined gothic rock, darkwave and synth-driven elements, with Daubresse handling guitars, keyboards, programming and production while Lowagie focused on vocals, lyrics and visuals.
Their first recorded work as a duo surfaced with the demo “An Intense Feeling of Affection” in 2011, followed by a deal with Belgian label Alfa Matrix. The band’s debut album “The House of Wonders” (2013) established their mix of heavy guitar riffs, up-tempo synth sequences and a visual aesthetic influenced by Tim Burton-style imagery.
Lovelorn Dolls continued with “Japanese Robot Invasion” (2014), pushing further into electronic textures while keeping their gothic rock foundations. Over the following years, Daubresse remained central to the band’s sound across EPs like “After Dark”, “The Thrill”, “Happy Valentine” and the re-worked “An Intense Feeling of Affection” EP.
After a pause in activity, the duo returned with the EP “Lament” and the album “Darker Ages” in 2018.
In 2024, Lovelorn Dolls released their fourth full-length “Deadtime Stories”, a “creepy cute” goth rock record that marked a strong comeback for the project.
More recently, the EP “True Crimes” on Spleen+/Alfa Matrix showed the project evolving into a trio, with Daubresse joined by guitarist and engineer Eric Renwart alongside Lowagie. But Daubresse’s role as the main architect of the band’s guitar work, programming and production was key.
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