Last week, Kite dropped a gut-wrenching new single called “Losing” that cements the Swedish duo as the best synthpop band in the world. “Losing” is a six-minute-long epic that is among the best songs of the year—of ever really.
Part of the reason “Losing” is so successful is that Kite lead singer Nicklas Stenemo is accompanied by other voices. Fellow Swedes Anna von Hausswolff and Henric de la Cour add to the song’s glorious power. But it’s not the first time that Kite has joined forces with other artists.
Here’s a look back at the history of Kite and Nicklas’s collaborations.
Kite feat. Anna von Hausswolff and Henric de la Cour – “Losing”
“Losing” begins with a single piano note full of echoey reverb and dramatic tension. Nicklas begins to sing. Around the 90-second mark, he’s joined by Henric de la Cour for a proper duet. Swedish chanteuse Anna von Hausswolff arrives near the end with the type of cinematic wail we’re used to experiencing in historic shows like Vikings and The Last Kingdom. Everything about this is grandiose.
Kite – “Don’t Take the Light Away” (produced by Aasthma)
On 2023’s “Don’t Take the Light Away,” Kite worked with an outside producer, Aasthma, another Swedish duo comprised of musicians Pär Grindvik and Peder Mannerfelt. Peder is sometimes credited as The Subliminal Kid, and he’s worked frequently with Fever Ray. There’s no such thing as a bad Kite song, but I found this techno-oriented track somewhat confounding for the way its producers electrified Nicklas’ vocals. The best voice in the world does not need vocoder.
Memoria feat. Nicklas Stenemo – “Along the Sea”
Kite had a relatively quiet year in 2021 other than a few guest appearances. Nicklas performed a guest vocal on a gorgeous darkwave track from Stockholm artist Memoria, the solo project of Tess de la Cour. Their voices sound sublime together, and the song builds to a breathtaking crescendo.
Then Comes Silence feat. Nicklas Stenemo– “In Your Name” (live stream)
During the Covid years, bands turned to livestreams to replace concert performances that had been halted by quarantines. Swedish darkwave act Then Comes Silence performed a 2021 set at the Livrustkammaren museum in Stockholm’s Royal Palace. They tapped Nicklas to add something special to their song “In Your Name.” I don’t believe this version has ever been released officially, so this Youtube track is the only way to hear it.
Kite – “Hand Out the Drugs” (produced by Blanck Mass)
In 2020, Kite turned to music producer Blanck Mass for help producing a quartet of songs. Blanck Mass is British composer Benjamin John Power, one of the founding members of Fuck Buttons. I theorized at the time that Kite hoped to learn new studio tricks to add to their repertoire of mostly analog sounds. Blanck Mass lent them his trademark buzzsaw electronics. The best of those sessions is the Covid-era anthem “Hand Out the Drugs.”
Sweat Boys feat. Nicklas Stenemo – “Endlessly”
In 2019, Nicklas made a surprise appearance on the Nervous Prayers EP from Wisconsin-based synthpop act Sweat Boys. He duets with bandleader Benny Sweat on a magical ballad called “Endlessly.” It’s the only time on this list that Kite collaborates with an American artist, and I believe it came about first on stage when Sweat Boys opened for Kite at a show in Wisconsin.
Lizette Lizette feat. Nicklas Stenemo – “Rest”
The Kite inner circle includes numerous Swedish artists, none more compelling than Lizette Lizette. In 2017, Lizette made their debut with Queerbody, a collection of queer-positive electropop songs they co-produced with the Kite singer. Nicklas himself appears on one of Lizette’s most elegant singles, the song “Rest.”
Agent Side Grinder feat. Kite – “Beloved Fool”
Way back in 2014, Kite is credited as a featured guest on a B-side by the Swedish post-punk project Agent Side Grinder—they were label mates at the time on Progress Productions. I think I can detect Nicklas performing backing vocals on “Beloved Fool,” but just barely. Honestly, it’s a wasted opportunity, and this song is not one of Agent Side Grinder’s best.
