Kindness’ Frisson-Filled Rework of Robyn and Röyksopp Features South African Singer Busiswa

The UK pop explorer issues a thrilling spin on the Scandinavian collaborators’ “Monument.”

Photographer Katie Bagley
August 15, 2014

FADER PREMIERE

Straight off the back of announcing his second album, Otherness, and gracing FADER's Fall Fashion cover, UK pop explorer Kindness has turned in a frisson-filled, shuffle-paced remix of Röyksopp and Robyn's "Monument." I say remix—like his Blood Orange "remix" featuring Robert Owens, it's actually more of a tender reconstruction job. Retitled "A Monument To Everything," it features South African singer/performance poet Busiswa, who Kindness met through Ghanaian rapper M.anifest—another of Kindness' Otherness collaborators alongside Robyn.

"It's been a pleasure seeing how "Monument" started stretching its legs over time: from 5 to 7 to 12 minutes at one point," said Bainbridge. "When Robyn and I spoke about reworking the song, it was already so right, so hauntingly gossamer, that it seemed it could only be remixed by taking away—stripping things back to the core of its groove. I'm very happy to have Busiswa on this (even slightly slower) version of "Monument," making a deeper connection with the Kwaito shuffle I thought was lurking somewhere in the heart of the track. Takk & tack to Röyksopp and Robyn."

The Swedish pop star is just as happy with how it turned out: "I played "Monument" to Adam a long time ago way before it was finished so he's heard it grow and when he said he'd like to remix it I knew he was going to make something special," said Robyn. "He brought the song to a new place, his place. It´s a place that I love. Busiswa sounds so good on it too, I'm happy to have another girl on there."

Kindness’ Frisson-Filled Rework of Robyn and Röyksopp Features South African Singer Busiswa