Kites was a London band composed of guitarist (Danilo), a scholar of electronics (Richard), former percussionist of The Holloways (Edwin) and a foppish pop-poet with a penchant for silk (Matthew). 

In a 2012 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.

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 The Maccabees, Jarvis Cocker, Gary Numan, The Mystery Jets, Peter Hook, Erasure, Bloc Party and many others. 

Their recent release ‘Brother’ and new track 'This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery', have received rave reviews from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, XFM, Absolute Radio, Strong Room Alive and Q Radio . Enthusiastic support also came from the printed press including Q Magazine, Musicweek, i:D Magazine, Notion Magazine, Artrocker, Time Out, The Evening Standard, The Sunday Mirror, The Sun (Scotland) and across the blogosphere; The 405, This Is Fake DIY, Breaking More Waves and so on. Q Magazine also chose 'Art Tastes Better Blind' as one of their best tracks of 2011 and an essential download in their January 2012 issue. Artrocker Magazine premiered the single’s video.

The band release 'This Jumped-Up Boy In Livery' in April 2012 on CD, 7" and digitally. The band will be playing at various festivals nationwide this summer and are touring the UK and EU relentlessly for the rest of the year.

VIDEO
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GX6Gvz8eCk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj_8SX_9Zxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n1ZCrXGNrU

CONTACT
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MANAGER

Matt Errington
matt@medinamusic.com
+44 (0) 7531 223 358

PRESS

Kate Stuart
kate@besharppr.com

LIVE

Kris Tomkinson
kris@industryoriginals.com
+44 (0) 203 5867002

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Belleville is a London based collaborative project comprised of producer and ex-Kites keyboardist, Richard Baldwin, and vocalist Maria Christofi.

Summer 2016 saw the release of a new collaboration with ex-Kites frontman, Matthew Phillips. This came months after Belleville's stirring cover of an 'Of Montreal' track. Belleville first appeared with their mystical November 2014 debut 'Capture', which was followed in December of that year by the instrumental 'Slowfall'. 2015 saw them intone the atmospheric incantation of 'Ceremony'. 

"...you will find us some place between the sunset and the nightfall."

Richard Baldwin, aka Stakkr, has been writing, producing and remixing music for over a decade, developing a signature cinematic, synthwave style along the way. 

Between 2010 and 2013, he gigged extensively, co-writing, producing and playing keyboards with much lauded 'fop-pop' band 'Kites'.

At the beginning of 2014, Richard began work on a new collaborative project, and released two tracks under the moniker 'Belleville' as the year drew to a close.

An experienced DJ, Richard has also organised a number of regular, intimate club events in London's clubland.

A self-confessed addict of 1970s & 80s synthesizers and drum machines, Richard pulls his influences from early electronica, 80s film-scores, and dance music right up to the present day. Creating music in one way, shape or form, for many years, first using samplers and 16-bit computers in the 1990s, and later employing vintage synthesizers and drum machines, Richard began using softsynths in the early 2000s before returning to classic hardware over the last few years.

Contact  for further info, collaborations or remixes.

Julia Edgington is following