WILDES and St Francis Hotel (Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka) unite for new single "Kopfkino"

WILDES announces new collaborative project with St Francis Hotel

First single from WILDES and St Francis Hotel, "Kopfkino" out today (15th October)

Stream HERE | Watch visualiser HERE

- St Francis Hotel is the acclaimed project & production moniker of Declan Gaffney, known for his work with Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Wasia Project, Lip Filler and more

- WILDES is the project of singer-songwriter Ella Walker who released her critically acclaimed debut album 'Other Words Fail Me' in 2023 - featuring The Flaming Lips-collab "True Love" - along with self-produced 2024 EP 'Subsidence'

STREAM, new single from WILDES and St Francis Hotel - "Kopfkino":
https://ffm.to/kopfkino
 

(15th October) – London singer-songwriter WILDES today announces a new collaborative project with acclaimed producer St Francis Hotel - with first taste & new single "Kopfkino" released today.

WILDES is the recording project of Anglo-Irish musician and producer Ella Walker. St Francis Hotel is the moniker of Irish musician and producer Declan Gaffney, known for his work with Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Wasia Project, Lip Filler and more.

New single "Kopfkino" finds the two artists combining - not for the first time - with Gaffney responsible for producing WILDES' acclaimed debut full length 'Other Words Fail Me' - which drew glowing praise from NME, Uncut, Evening Standard, NPR, Notion Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, KEXP and more.

Exploring the interplay between fantasy and reality, "Kopfkino" opens with a dense, brooding rhythmic section before opening up into an array of atmospheric production flourishes - guided by WILDES' intoxicating vocals - as she reflects on the mind's power to create and destroy, and the struggle for meaning in a performative world.

Kopfkino, a German term literally translating to "head cinema," encapsulates the visual imagery that accompanies music or other auditory stimuli. Speaking more on the song's inspiration, her artistic relationship with St Francis Hotel and the influences at play within their new project - WILDES said:

"Kopfkino is an immersion in the mind, and explores both the light and dark that we experience as individuals. From dwelling on a difficult moment frozen in time, to escaping blissfully in to the imagination, and struggling to distinguish fantasy from reality, daydreams visit us all.

Though regularly collaborating for various projects, we chose to come together for this EP because of our shared experience and grounding in the emotive meaning behind the songs. Exploring and getting lost in our own minds, being shut out of the minds of others, and trying to navigate the world at the behest of our subconscious.

Production influences for this EP included 80s synth pop bands like Erasure, The Human League, Depeche Mode, as well as more trip hop for Kopkfino in particular, like Massive Attack and Portishead."

WILDES and St Francis Hotel's new single "Kopfkino" is out now. WILDES and St Francis Hotel will share more from their collaborative project very soon. WILDES headlines The Courtyard Theatre in London on 23rd October, tickets on sale here.

More about WILDES

Since the release of her debut single "Bare", WILDES has tenaciously carved out a path that has seen her release 3 EPs; 'Let You Go', ‘Illuminate’ and 2024's 'Subsidence' - along with her critically acclaimed 2023 debut album 'Other Words Fail Me' - with over 60 million accumulative streams across those projects to date; firm radio support across BBC Radio 1, 2, and 6 Music, as well as Radio X, KCRW, and European stations 3FM, Flux and Radio Eins.

The early success of WILDES grabbed the attention of Danger Mouse who became her publisher, and led to over 20 notable syncs on US TV shows like Suits, Scream and The Royals. On top of UK tours and supports with Isaac Gracie, Julia Jacklin, Hamilton Leithauser and Mr Jukes, WILDES' music has received widespread press support from outlets including NPR, Uncut, Evening Standard, NME, Consequence, The Line Of Best Fit, Metro, Stereogum, Wonderland, Notion, Clash Magazine, DIY Magazine, The Forty-Five, Far Out Magazine and many more.

LIVE DATES 2024 (tickets)

23rd October - London, The Courtyard Theatre

PRAISE FOR WILDES

"Her powerful and echoing vocal performance might just make her the UK’s answer to Lana Del Rey. Hauntingly stunning."
Evening Standard

"Walker's vocals are mesmerising - simmering with controlled rage...aching and elegant"
Uncut Magazine

"Ethereal charm"
NME

"Spacious, deconstructed...exquisitely arranged indie pop"
Stereogum

"Best new releases"
NPR

"Smouldering"
NARC Magazine

"The best indie pop song of the week...an atmospheric, layered climax, the singer’s voice is hauntingly beautiful."
Far Out Magazine

"Bewitching...deceptively brooding sound"
The Line Of Best Fit

"Deadpan and matter-of-fact... WILDES’ vocal harmonies dance around synthesisers which build just enough to make you crave a drop, before they eventually fade out and re-emerge into a lo-fi symphonic choir"
The Forty-Five

“A swirling expanse of echoing vocals and reverberating guitars”
Consequence

"Soul cleansing and thought-provoking"
Notion

"Heart-rendering and musically progressive, London singer-songwriter WILDES has a way with emotions... immersive and intelligent electronic pop that flaunts her serenading vocals and visceral writing"
Wonderland Magazine

"Capable of sending a chill down your spine...vivid, atmospheric"
Clash Magazine

"Sparse but moving"
DIY Magazine

“Hauntingly beautiful voice”
Metro

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Follow, WILDES

Instagram: @wildesofficial
X / Twitter: @wildesmusic
TikTok: @wildesmusic
Facebook: /wildesmusic
Spotify: @wildes

Follow, St Francis Hotel

Instagram: @stfrancishotel
X / Twitter: @stfrancishotel