BOKKA, Henric de la Cour, Kite - Prague 2024
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In the hallowed halls of Prague’s Futurum Music Bar, a venue steeped in history and legendary performances, a night unfolded that will linger in the memories of those fortunate enough to attend. Curated by the long-time friends behind Sanctuary.cz, this special evening brought together three extraordinary acts—each distinctive, each haunting in their own way. The return of BOKKA from Poland, Sweden’s KITE, and the enigmatic Henric de la Cour promised an eclectic mix of modern melodic electronica. What followed was a performance that transcended expectations, blurring the lines between reality and the surreal.
Opening the night was the audience was plunged into BOKKA’s universe. Their stage setup—minimal yet visually impactful—complemented their sound perfectly. Their music, which can feel like drifting through a dystopian dreamscape, was both soothing and unsettling, as though you’re not quite sure whether to relax or brace for something darker. As they played tracks like "Let It", the hypnotic beats and melancholic vocals wrapped around the audience, pulling them deeper into this futuristic noir. You could feel the weight of every sound, every pause, as if the air in the room had shifted. Despite the band's quiet, mysterious persona, their performance had a palpable emotional charge, reminding the audience why BOKKA remains one of Poland's most compelling acts.
Then came Henric de la Cour, stepping into the spotlight with a presence that was more than performance—it was an act of catharsis. Bathed in the soft glow of minimal lighting, Henric delivered something that went beyond music. It felt like watching someone pour out their soul, their very existence, into the space around them. Known for his deep, introspective sound, Henric brought a sense of raw drama to the stage, blending darkwave melancholy with a voice that seemed to carry the weight of years of battling unseen forces. His struggle with cystic fibrosis—a disease that should have silenced him long ago—was like an unspoken character on stage. But Henric, undeterred, seemed to defy fate with every note. His songs, steeped in personal reflection and existential reckoning, moved through the audience like a shared secret. There was something fragile yet unbreakable about his presence, each lyric landing with a mix of sadness and defiance. The audience was pulled into his world, one of dark glamour and introspection, where vulnerability and strength exist in a delicate dance. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a window into a life marked by struggle but also by a quiet, fierce resilience.
And then, as if the night had been building toward this singular moment, KITE took the stage.
The Swedish duo—Niklas Stenemo and Christian Hutchinson Berg—have been building a cult following over the past decade, and their return to Prague was nothing short of a revelation. Known for their emotionally charged synth-driven music, KITE has always stood out in the Scandinavian scene for their ability to create sonic landscapes that feel both expansive and deeply personal. While they’ve never released a full-length studio album, their EPs and live performances have become legendary, and this night at Futurum was a perfect example of why.
From the moment the first chords of songs like "True Colours" rang out, there was an immediate shift in the room’s energy. Niklas' voice, ethereal yet powerful, filled the space with a raw intensity that was impossible to resist. The stage was bathed in deep, moody lighting, creating a sense of intimacy despite the pulsating electronic beats. Every song felt like an emotional journey—tracks like "Panic", "the Rhythm" or "Losing" (a breathtaking collaboration with Henric de la Cour) brought waves of emotion crashing over the audience.
Niklas’ voice has a way of penetrating the soul. It’s delicate one moment, and then crashes over you like a tidal wave the next. His dramatic yet tender delivery made songs feel as though they were being sung directly to each person in the crowd, creating an atmosphere that was both personal and all-encompassing. And then there was the band’s visual element—simple, yet perfectly attuned to the emotional ebb and flow of the music. The entire performance felt like a carefully orchestrated symphony of sound, light, and emotion, leaving the audience spellbound.
What sets KITE apart in a live setting is their ability to make you feel like you’re part of something bigger. Their music, with its darkwave roots and pop sensibilities, taps into something primal—something that resonates on a deep emotional level. Songs like "Losing" hit with such emotional ferocity that it was impossible not to get swept up in the intensity. It’s in these moments that Kite’s brilliance truly shines—their ability to create music that is both accessible and profoundly deep, music that lingers long after the final note has faded.
The night at Futurum wasn’t just another concert—it was an immersive experience, a journey through the emotional spectrum of electronic music. Futurum Music Bar, with its storied past and legendary acoustics, proved to be the perfect venue for this trio of acts. The intimacy of the space allowed for a connection between artist and audience that’s rare, a shared moment where it felt as though time had stopped, and only the music existed. Thanks to the thoughtful curation of Sanctuary.cz, this event became more than just a night of performances. It was a reminder of the power of live music to connect, to heal, and to transport us to places we didn’t know existed.
Thank you!
Opening the night was the audience was plunged into BOKKA’s universe. Their stage setup—minimal yet visually impactful—complemented their sound perfectly. Their music, which can feel like drifting through a dystopian dreamscape, was both soothing and unsettling, as though you’re not quite sure whether to relax or brace for something darker. As they played tracks like "Let It", the hypnotic beats and melancholic vocals wrapped around the audience, pulling them deeper into this futuristic noir. You could feel the weight of every sound, every pause, as if the air in the room had shifted. Despite the band's quiet, mysterious persona, their performance had a palpable emotional charge, reminding the audience why BOKKA remains one of Poland's most compelling acts.
Then came Henric de la Cour, stepping into the spotlight with a presence that was more than performance—it was an act of catharsis. Bathed in the soft glow of minimal lighting, Henric delivered something that went beyond music. It felt like watching someone pour out their soul, their very existence, into the space around them. Known for his deep, introspective sound, Henric brought a sense of raw drama to the stage, blending darkwave melancholy with a voice that seemed to carry the weight of years of battling unseen forces. His struggle with cystic fibrosis—a disease that should have silenced him long ago—was like an unspoken character on stage. But Henric, undeterred, seemed to defy fate with every note. His songs, steeped in personal reflection and existential reckoning, moved through the audience like a shared secret. There was something fragile yet unbreakable about his presence, each lyric landing with a mix of sadness and defiance. The audience was pulled into his world, one of dark glamour and introspection, where vulnerability and strength exist in a delicate dance. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a window into a life marked by struggle but also by a quiet, fierce resilience.
And then, as if the night had been building toward this singular moment, KITE took the stage.
The Swedish duo—Niklas Stenemo and Christian Hutchinson Berg—have been building a cult following over the past decade, and their return to Prague was nothing short of a revelation. Known for their emotionally charged synth-driven music, KITE has always stood out in the Scandinavian scene for their ability to create sonic landscapes that feel both expansive and deeply personal. While they’ve never released a full-length studio album, their EPs and live performances have become legendary, and this night at Futurum was a perfect example of why.
From the moment the first chords of songs like "True Colours" rang out, there was an immediate shift in the room’s energy. Niklas' voice, ethereal yet powerful, filled the space with a raw intensity that was impossible to resist. The stage was bathed in deep, moody lighting, creating a sense of intimacy despite the pulsating electronic beats. Every song felt like an emotional journey—tracks like "Panic", "the Rhythm" or "Losing" (a breathtaking collaboration with Henric de la Cour) brought waves of emotion crashing over the audience.
Niklas’ voice has a way of penetrating the soul. It’s delicate one moment, and then crashes over you like a tidal wave the next. His dramatic yet tender delivery made songs feel as though they were being sung directly to each person in the crowd, creating an atmosphere that was both personal and all-encompassing. And then there was the band’s visual element—simple, yet perfectly attuned to the emotional ebb and flow of the music. The entire performance felt like a carefully orchestrated symphony of sound, light, and emotion, leaving the audience spellbound.
What sets KITE apart in a live setting is their ability to make you feel like you’re part of something bigger. Their music, with its darkwave roots and pop sensibilities, taps into something primal—something that resonates on a deep emotional level. Songs like "Losing" hit with such emotional ferocity that it was impossible not to get swept up in the intensity. It’s in these moments that Kite’s brilliance truly shines—their ability to create music that is both accessible and profoundly deep, music that lingers long after the final note has faded.
The night at Futurum wasn’t just another concert—it was an immersive experience, a journey through the emotional spectrum of electronic music. Futurum Music Bar, with its storied past and legendary acoustics, proved to be the perfect venue for this trio of acts. The intimacy of the space allowed for a connection between artist and audience that’s rare, a shared moment where it felt as though time had stopped, and only the music existed. Thanks to the thoughtful curation of Sanctuary.cz, this event became more than just a night of performances. It was a reminder of the power of live music to connect, to heal, and to transport us to places we didn’t know existed.
Thank you!
