The Official Site of KITES

DOWNLOAD - ART TASTES BETTER BLIND

One of Q Magazine's 'Essential Downloads' of 2011

PRESS

"Intensely physical and energetic live performances coupled with tightly constructed tracks have won the band an adoring fanbase, a wave of industry attention... hailed as the hottest unsigned band in the UK."

Musicweek

"I'm tipping Kites - think The Fall and New Order but a lot younger. I caught them the other night and they rocked. They're on tour at the moment so catch them if you can!"

The Sunday Mirror

"Just awesome!"

Absolute Radio

"Charismatic, passionate, dynamic, atmospheric, dramatic... 2012 is looking bright for these creative types who don’t just look the part but sound it too."

Notion Magazine

"Kites are a hot new band from London. Singer, Matthew makes Marc Almond sound like Lee Marvin circa ‘Wandering Star’."

Paul Lester

(The Guardian New Band Of The Day, Amazing Radio)

"A weird, 60’s schlock space synth line brings you into the world of Kites, where Patrick Wolf-esque vocals grab you and Depeche Mode chords hold you down. and punch you repeatedly in the musical kidneys."

Gill Mills (BBC Radio 1, NME Radio)

"Wondrous!

Kites look as good as they sound"

Gary Crowley (BBC 6 Music, XFM)

"Factory-indebted decadent disco."

The Evening Standard

"A high profile band with pushy guitar tracks and a big wall of sound."

Timeout

"Kites took to the stage with a physical and energetic live performance, which when tied with intricately constructed tracks took on a level of its own. Kites quickly became the crowd favorite."

Disorder Magazine

"...ambition fuelled pop full of drama and excitement.... and dazzling beauty"

Breaking Waves

"Kites are fast evolving into a band comprising all your favourite new wave/electro sounds in one... Wolfesque vocals... restrained synths and samples and the actual craft of songwriting and let’s not forget this, they look great."

Gill Mills (Best of Myspace)

"...catch a gig now before stadium sell-out shows makes the task a little trickier"

Never Enough Notes

"They seem to be producing hit after hit."

Just An Indie Music Blog

"A bewitching blend of Foals-esque guitars and synths. This is beautiful music! It's emotional crescendo channels Patrick Wolf and Pulp at their eclectic art-school best. Stirring and smart."

Totally Vivid

"The devastatingly hip foursome from London, serve up melodic synth-pop with a large dose of theatre. Despite being relatively new band, these guys have most definitely made their mark."

The Motion Magazine

"It is safe to that 'indie' bands have been messing about with synthesisers for a while now, trying to reignite the flame of Factory Records but few have succeeded... Kites most certainly will! Matthew's vocals are bold with a hint of Patrick Wolf, most notably in the forthcoming single, Brother which is progressive pop with a memorable hook and a euphoric atmosphere. Their future is bound to be bright"

Abolish Confusion Magazine

"Front man Matthew sings with silver-tongued precision and melancholia, regaling us with a tale of two brothers and their estrangement. A simple organ introduction is soon replaced with a dark bass line, building layer upon layer as the story develops... It is a fantastically crafted and heartfelt tale, a master class in storytelling through song."

Alphabet Bands

BIOGRAPHY

Kites is a London band composed of two classically-trained musicians (Jack & Jasper), a scholar of electronics (Richard), and a foppish pop-poet with a penchant for silk (Matthew).

In a recent interview, Kites’ front man Matthew, who brings an air of Wildean decadence to the band, described their sound as: “Melodramatic provocation for discontented dreamers”. His lyrics are obsessed over by fans and his interviews have become part of Kites’ myth and intrigue. The band release 'This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery' in Spring 2012.

Kites began writing tightly constructed tracks in 2010 that successfully blended synthetic textures with more organic instrumentation, creating a sound that was bold, affecting and, ultimately, irresistible. Their intensely physical and energetic stage shows have won them fans internationally and garnered comparisons to New Order, Patrick Wolf and Talking Heads in the mainstream music press. They have supported numerous, high-profile artists in recent months including Jarvis Cocker, The Maccabees, Gary Numan, The Mystery Jets, Peter Hook, Erasure, Bloc Party and many others. Their recent release ‘Brother’, was praised by Q Magazine as an "Essential Download of 2011', featured in Notion, The 405, and on BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, Absolute Radio, XFM, and other major printed press and across the blogosphere. Musicweek went as far as to hail them the "most exciting unsigned band in the UK". Artrocker Magazine premiered the single’s video, directed by George Harvey . Harvey is the principal film-maker for i:D and GQ.

Lead singer Matthew believes the band has many influences, but perhaps one of the most prominent influences stems right from his childhood:

“My household was populated with black and white photographs of Jim Morrison in the crucifix pose. Even as a toddler, I was seduced by his baritone timbre and assertive swagger. I’m not sure why my parents thought it suitable to expose me to a renowned alcoholic with a well-publicised Oedipus complex, but I certainly found him influential.”

As well as having their own unique and captivating sound of electronic beddings with smatterings of guitar, Kites also have a strong sense of style. After all, as Matthew suggests: “Life is a stage and we are flowers to be looked at”. With his style icons including Sebastian Horsley, Sebastian Tellier and Anthony Andrews’ character Sebastian Flyte...- “Essentially, anyone called Sebastian or anyone who looks good with a cane” - Matthew has all the makings of a true fashion and music pioneer; a 21st century icon.

New material is currently being recorded and the band have recently debuted ‘This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery’ on their official site which has caused a huge amount of excitement amongst fans. The track is officially released in Spring 2012 and major world-wide tours for May and for August onwards are due to be announced soon.

NEWS

KITES RELEASE 'THIS JUMPED-UP BOY IN LIVERY' AND IT RECEIVES XFM AIRPLAY

"Never before have I had the audacity to pen lyrics that are so indulgently self-pitying - and, for me, that's saying something. Let's just say that it has been one of those months. Merry Christmas. Kites gift you 'This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery'." Matthew Phillips

KITES IN Q MAGAZINE AND ON THE 405

Kites track 'Art Tastes Better Blind' is featured in the February 2012 issue of Q Magazine as one of their 'Essential Downloads'. The band have also given an interview for The 405 as part of their 'Artist Picks' feature - read the article HERE .

KITES ON BBC INTRODUCING

Gary Crowley has chosen Kites to feature on BBC Introducing. Tune into London 94.9 FM on Saturday 19 November at 19:30 to hear Kites’ track ‘Art Tastes Better Blind’. Charlie Ashcroft will also be playing the new single ‘Brother’ on his Audition show on Monday afternoon from 13:00 on Amazing Radio (National DAB and online).

NOTION FEATURE KITES

Planet Notion have featured Kites. Read the full feature HERE . There have been many reviews, features and interviews with the band in the past week. To view all of these and to stay up-to-date with Kites’ news, live dates and new music please follow them at www.facebook.com/wearekites.

ARTROCKER KITES VIDEO EXCLUSIVE

Kites latest video ‘Brother’ (from film maker George Harvey of ID and GQ magazines) has had it’s exclusive premiere on Artrocker TV. The video will be available here and across the internet from 04/11/11 but you can see it now on Artrocker HERE . Major features and interviews with the national music press will be coming out soon in the run up to the release of the single.

See an exclusive interview with Matthew Kites in Who’s Jack magazine, in stores at the end of November.

SANFERNANDO SOUND REMIXES KITES

Subba Cultcha are providing an exclusive free download of The Sanfernando Sound’s latest Kites remix of ‘The Disappearance of Becky Sharp’. Download it HERE . Sanfernando Sound has caught the ears of countless record labels around the globe and has even been featured in International DJ Magazine. You may well know him from his bouncy electro remix of Two Door Cinema Club’s ‘What You Know’.

Electronic Rumours (part of the Vice Blog Network) described his latest Kites remix as a...

“compelling remix from the hauntingly beautiful Kites, surely the best unsigned band around.”

NEW TRACK RELEASED ONLINE TODAY

Kites have released another new track today, ahead of the official release of single ‘Brother’ on 24th October. The band’s latest offering is ‘The Blue Door’ and can be heard streaming from this website, Soundcloud and Facebook. Further new material is currently being written, recorded and produced.

KITES ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF BROTHER

Kites are pleased to announce that their new single ‘Brother’ will be released on 24th October 2011. The track has received rave reviews from the mainstream music press and follows a sold out launch show at The Old Blue Last earlier this week. George Harvey is currently working with the band to finish a film that will accompany the song and this will be released shortly. ‘Art Tastes Better Blind’ is the b-side of the single.

KITES IN THE PRESS

A huge number of reviews, interviews and features with Kites have been released in print, online and on the radio in recent weeks. We are unable to keep this page as current as the Facebook feed, so for the very latest news, follow Kites on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wearekites.

ART TASTES BETTER BLIND RELEASED

Kites' new track, a reworked version of 'Art Tastes Better Blind' is available to listen to on this site, facebook (www.facebook.com/wearekites) and Soundcloud (www.soundcloud.com/kites).

YELLOW LETTER RELEASED

Kites' new track 'Yellow Letter' is available to listen to on this site, facebook (www.facebook.com/wearekites) and Soundcloud (www.soundcloud.com/kites). Yellow Letter has also been playlisted on Amazing Radio.

NEW MATERIAL FROM KITES

Kites release new versions of Art Tastes Better Blind and Yellow Letter in the coming days. The new versions of these two favourite Kites' tracks comes ahead of a national single release in October.

Yellow Letter - 08 September 2011

Art Tastes Better Blind - 13 September 2011

KITES PERFORM AT UK FESTIVALS

Kites will be performing on the main stages of Aeon Festival (in Exeter) on Saturday 27th August and Strawberry Fields Festival (in Leicestershire) on Sunday 28th August.

KITES' TRACK 'YELLOW LETTER' PLAYLISTED BY AMAZING RADIO

Kites' track Yellow Letter, has been officially playlisted by national DAB station 'Amazing Radio'.

KITES DEBUT 'YELLOW LETTER' ON AMAZING RADIO WITH GILL MILLS

Kites' latest offering, 'Yellow Letter' received it's debut national airplay on Amazing Radio. Gill Mills played the track first on national DAB and online. Charlie Ashcroft will also feature the track on his Monday lunchtime show between 1-3pm (Monday 15 August).

www.amazingradio.co.uk

MATTHEW KITES ON RECHAGED RADIO'S FRIDAY NIGHT FORUM SHOW

Matthew Kites will be the guest for Recharged Radio's Friday Forum show. Tune in when Matthew is live in Maple Street Studios in Soho on Friday 12th August.

MATTHEW KITES INTERVIEWED BY REVIEWEDMUSIC

Matthew Kites was interviewed recentl by Nils at ReviewedMusic. Read the interview HERE . Previous interviewees include Foster The People, Metronomy and Tame Impala..

MATTHEW KITES INTERVIEWED BY MOTION ONLINE

Matthew Kites latest interview can be read at The Motion Online. Matthew talks about the last frenzied 6 months, the plans for 2011 and sandwiches!

Read at www.themotiononline.co.uk

KITES LIVE (WITH DJ SETS FROM KASABIAN AND NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB)

Kites will be performing live this Saturday (16 July) at The Queen of Hoxton. The band will take to the stage at 9pm and DJ sets from Kasabian and The New Young Pony Club will follow into the early hours.

KITES FEATURED ON THE MYSPACE HOMEPAGE

Kites are currently featured (for the second time) on the Myspace homepage. Myspace are offering a free download of ‘The Disappearance of Becky Sharp’ for a limited time. Of the track Gill Mills (BBC Radio 1, NME Radio, Best of Myspace) said...

KITES REVIEWED BY DISORDER MAGAZINE

"Kites took to the stage with a physical and energetic live performance, which when tied with intricately constructed tracks took on a level of its own. Kites quickly became the crowd favorite lead by Matthew Phillips. As their set came to and end the crowd unleashed a chant of “One more song!” which the venue obliged and for their last song the band threw everything into it, moving around the stage as the audience grabbed at them."

KITES PERFORM WITH GARY NUMAN AT XOYO

Kites, along with Cyberpunkers and Drums of Death performed a show at XOYO featuring electro icon Gary Numan this week. Thanks to all those that came to the show.

KITES INTRODUCED BY BBC LONDON

Kites' 'You Are Dead (To Me)' was introduced by Gary Crowley on BBC London this week.

NEW MATERIAL COMING SOON

Kites are currently working on new material plus a reworking of their early track 'Yellow Letter'. Details soon.

KITES AT STRAWBERRY FIELDS FESTIVAL WITH KELIS AND MYSTERY JETS

Kites will be performing on 28th August 2011 on the main stage at Strawberry Fields Festival. The Leicestershire festival will also feature artists including Beardyman, The Mystery Jets and Kelis.

KITES TO ANNOUNCE FURTHER UK SHOWS

Following recent performances with Peter Hook, Andy Bell, Vince Clark, Jarvis Cocker and Kevin Rowland, Kites will announce further UK shows shortl.y. The band will be supporting Kitty Daisy and Lewis for a special show in Newcastle soon.

KITES ANNOUNCE SHOW WITH ERASURE LEGENDS AND S-EXPRESS

Kites will play an intimate Queen Of Hoxton venue alongside Erasure and S-Express on Friday 13th May. The event is part of Mute Records weekend take over of the venue.

KITES PERFORM ALONGSIDE JARVIS COCKER, KEVIN ROWLAND AND OTHERS

Kites recently performed for Amy Lame as part of The Mayoress' Ball in Camden and debuted 'Art Tastes Better Blind' live. Kites were later joined by friends Jarvis Cocker and Kevin Rowland for exclusive DJ sets.

KITES PERFORM TO A SOLD OUT SCALA IN LONDON WITH PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT

Kites recently performed a triumphant show at the Scala venue in London's Kings Cross. The 1300 capacity venue celebrated Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' album with a full live set from Kites in support of Peter Hook and The Light.

THE VINYL DISTRICT PRAISE KITES

Art Tastes Better Blind is The Vinyl District's Track Of The Day. The Official Blog for Record Store Day praised the band for their 'spectacular stage show'.

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New images. Photographer Charlie Ward

BLOG AND VIDEO BLOG

(KITES VIDEO BLOG) Part 1 - Wayward Girls and Wicked Women

(KITES VIDEO BLOG) Part 2

New updates coming soon from KITES' UK Tour

22 AUGUST 2011

I've gone outside and I have been away for some time.

For a number of weeks, the walls of my blog have been bare and undernourished. Do not, for one moment, think that this represents any measure of languor on my part. In truth, Kites have entered the most assiduous stage of their career thus far.

New material and an explosion of live performances are presently underway. I'm excited - tremendously so.

"Oh Brother, how will you wrench that albatross from your chest?

How will you start moving on?

I've seen it written that your future is not terrible

And if you take my hand I swear to make life a little more bearable

For you."

My friends, the devil is in the details.

12 JULY 2011

I Can’t Get No Sleep.

(A grammatically unsound title - and guilty of a double-negative - but you get the idea)

They say that sleep deprivation is an infamous form of institutionalised punishment. I can now see why.

This week has been stained by insomnia, temper-tantrums and – obviously - Faithless’ hit single.

Please be aware that I write this missive under the ever-present threat of narcolepsy. If I lapse into delirious gobbledegook midway through this blog entry, please be clement. Or, failing that, despatch some diazepam to my London address at your earliest convenience. I fear that if I do not soon return to Bedfordshire, I shall be eternally imprisoned in the land of the living and who, apart from Sleeping Beauty, would want that?

The bags under my eyes have become the totems of my fatigue.

Indeed, I’m giving some very serious thought to enlisting Jónsi’s services as my personal lullaby soloist. I have no doubt that his mellifluous melodies will throw me into a slumber worthy of Lazarus.

There is, of course, one other solution to this perennial sleeplessness: to stop thinking.

I don’t need to remind the learned readers of this column that thinking is an extremely dangerous activity. Let’s empty our minds, indulge in reality television, and join the devolutionary ranks of society.

30 JUNE 2011

"For years I have been notating my thoughts until they have come to line my pockets like the receipts of yesterday’s misadventures."

- Matthew Kites

MUSIC

KITES - This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery (Single)

1. This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery 4.56

KITES - Brother (Single)

1. Brother 4.52

2. Art Tastes Better Blind 4.33

KITES - Debut Collection

1. This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery 4.56

2. Art Tastes Better Blind 4.33

3. The Blue Door 4.55

4. Brother 4.52

5. Yellow Letter 4.16

6. You Are Dead (To Me) 3.12

7. The Disappearance of Becky Sharp 4.54

8. Take the Reins 3.19

KITES - The Remix Project

1. Kites - The Blue Door (Tromsø Twilight Mix by Stakker) 5.33

2. Kites - The Disappearance of Becky Sharp (The Sanfernando Sound Remix) 6.42

3. Kites - A Flower Is All That Remains (The Sanfernando Sound Remix) 6.011

4. Kites - The Seamstress (Modern Manners Remix) 3.40

5. Kites - Yellow Letter (Stakker's Quesadilla Mix) 4.09

6. Kites - The Disappearance of Becky Sharp (Tribal Riot Remix) 7.03

7. Kites - Take The Reins (Steelo Remix) 9.11

8. Kites - Black Dog (Kontraband Remix) 4.42

9. Kites - The Disappearance of Becky Sharp (Le Chocolat Noir RMX) 6.08

10. Kites - The Florist (Remastered) 3.31

VIDEO

Kites - Brother

Kites - ID Magazine Session

Kites - Strawberry Fields

MORE VIDEOS

EVENTS

UPDATE - Nationwide UK and festival dates to be announced

2012

Saturday 17 March

93 Feet East (Sheltered)

(with support from Native Tongue)

Saturday 25 February

Queen of Hoxton

(with support from Lois and The Love and DJ sets from The Maccabees and BBC 6 Music)

Thursday 09 February

Hoxton Bar and Kitchen

(with Midnight Lion and Look, Stranger!)

Saturday 04 February

93 Feet East, London

(With XFM DJ's and NME DJ's)

Wednesday 25 January

Notting Hill Arts Club, London

(Headline show with support from The Thespians)

2011

Friday 02 December

Silver Bullet, London

(with Lois Winstone and new 'Young and Lost Club' signing 'Little Racer')

Thursday 27 October

Electricity Showrooms, London

(Strangers Club)

Wednesday 28 September

The Old Blue Last, London

(with INTL and Georgie Okell from T4 DJ)

Sunday 25 September

O2 Islington, London

(Private - closed show for Live Nation and Sony ATV)

Tuesday 06 September

Proud Galleries, London

(Mi7/Island Records showcase)

Sunday 04 September

The Wheelbarrow, London

(All day event with 'Bloody Awful Poetry Presents')

Sunday 28 August

Strawberry Fields Festival

Leicestershire, UK

(Mainstage)

Saturday 27 August

Aeon Festival

Devon, UK

(Mainstage)

Tuesday 23 August

Barfly Camden, London

(with Waylayers)

Wednesday 12 August

The Old Queen's Head, London

(Headline show)

Wednesday 03 August

Morton's Club, London

(Headline show)

Saturday 16 July

Queen of Hoxton, London

(with Kasabian and New Young Pony Club DJ sets)

Thursday 07 July

CAMP, London

(Headline show)

Saturday 02 July

XOYO, London

(with Gary Numan)

Friday 13 May

Queen of Hoxton, London

(with Erasure)

Friday 06 May

Barfly, London

(with Jarvis Cocker and

Kevin Rowland)

Saturday 23 April

Scala, London

(with Peter Hook)

Email band_wearekites.com if you require details of previous shows to these.

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CONTACT

CONTACT

General - band_wearekites.com

Manager - Merrington

matt_medinamusic.com

+44 (0) 7531 22 33 58

Press Agent - Kate Stuart

Be # Sharp PR

kate_besharppr.com

+44 (0) 207 9363722

Live Agent - Kris Tomkinson

Industry Music Group (Industry Originals)

kris_industryoriginals.com

+44 (0) 203 5867002

Publisher - Gareth Allison

Reprise Publishing

gareth_reprisemusicgroup.com

+44 (0) 207 729 0686

Page 15

Kites - Get Your Ears Out

Kites - Video Blog 1

Kites - Video Blog 2

MORE VIDEOS

Page 16

Kites - Electricity Showrooms

Kites - Electricity Showrooms

Kites - Notting Hill Arts Club

MORE VIDEOS

Page 17

Kites - Acoustic Blog

Kites - Photoshoot

Kites - Indig02

MORE VIDEOS

Page 18

Kites - Fan footage

Kites - ID Magazine Session

Kites - Strawberry Fields

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