Kidnap, London producer/DJ/multi-instrumentalist/lyricist (named for his youthful prank self-kidnap which got out of hand…) drops a third single from his second album (out October 4th on [PIAS] Électronique) with ‘Feels Like Home’ ft Gabrielle Aplin, out now.
Previous LP singles have resonated with fans and tastemakers alike, with BBC Radio 1’s Sian Eleri calling ‘Fortified’ ft. Dwara ‘a beautiful song I feel like I’ll turn back to every year for the rest of my life’, and support from Mixmag, BBC Radio 1, Kiss, SiriusXM, Mixmag, DJ Mag… Kidnap excels at getting right to the heart with his melodic layerings of house with his very distinctive use of indie, DnB and classical influences plus ambient sounds and textures.
‘Feels Like Home’ ft. Gabrielle Aplin: evokes that sweet ache of nostalgia both joyful and a touch melancholy, with a trance-y piano melody layered subtly with deep reverb, ‘singing’ indie guitar sounds, a breakdown of haunting, high synth chords shot through by strong, deep piano notes, and not least, the sweet, breathy vocals of Gabrielle Aplin singing heartfelt lyrics – all with a lively beat. Says Kidnap, ‘‘Feels Like Home’ captures the rush of reconnecting with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. The instant familiarity, unlocking a whole flood of memories from a life you hadn’t thought of in years.’
Folk singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin’s streaming stats – 1.3 million streams p/m on Spotify, up to 100s of millions for some releases – belie her current nature-loving quiet life, living with her beloved rescue animals of all kinds, which together with her uplifting, subtly emotional voice, makes her a perfect fit for the mood of ‘Feels Like Home’.
The Album ‘Something Lost, Something Gained’ emerged from pandemic isolation and new fatherhood, as Kidnap aka Matt Relton responded with new creativity and a body of songs chronicling the shift from his wild days playing 100+ shows a year at top venues worldwide, releasing on Armada, Anjunadeep… to welcoming his new phase of life.
It’s about looking back on the last 12 years of releasing music — the touring and the partying and the friends and the sleeplessness’, says Relton, ‘and realising that in order to fully embrace the life I have now, I need to let it all go.’
Across ten gorgeous, cinematic tracks, Relton traces his latest phase of growth, showcasing the finest songwriting of his career in the process. Warm, organic electronics sit alongside acoustic elements and yearning vocals befitting a mood of reflection and introspection, but the album is still firmly rooted to the dance floor.
Kidnap fans old and new will relate to the bittersweet sentiment captured in an LP that evokes magic memories while still finding plenty to celebrate in the here and now.
‘Feels Like Home’ ft. Gabrielle Aplin out now on [PIAS] Électronique, get it HERE. Kidnap’s LP ‘Something Lost, Something Gained’ drops October 4th, save it HERE
