Article by Philip Grasselli | Photo by Andrea Ripamonti
In the aftermath of Laura Pausini's double concert at the Unipol Forum, the Assago venue completely changes its look to welcome back Kygo eight years after his first time, again here, when he had just launched the album “Cloud Nine”.
It is difficult to replicate the success of the time, in fact the entire second ring was closed to the public and darkened with black sheets; however, the remaining ticket sales were more than enough to enjoy one of the most prolific DJs in house.
The dusting off of Klangkarussell
THE Klangkarussell they have never officially performed in Italy and they do it for a short DJ set as the first opening at Kygo's concert: a simple performance, in the name of their trademark, trop house.
On the huge LED wall behind them is their logo, which is shaped according to the vibes of the song on which they do the various crossovers: the version remixed by Martin Solveig of “Madan” by Salif Keita, but also “Far Away Place” of Xinobi and, in closing, certainly, “The Sun Don't Shine”.
This last song is the strong point of the Austrian duo, composed of Tobias Rieser And Adrian Held: the original version, titled “Sonnentanz” (“Danza del sole”) is only instrumental, without the voice of Will Heardand is included on their only album “Network” (“Net”). Released just ten years ago, this album was one of the first that drove the new wave of deep house tending towards tropical house, together with those of Robin Schultz, Sam Feldt, Klingande, Lost Frequencies And Kygoto name just a few.
A great revival moment, but it only lasted half an hour, perhaps one of the shortest DJ sets I've seen this year.
Second opening: Sofi Tukker
Slightly ahead of schedule, i Sofi Tukker they show up at 7.55pm again on the catwalk of the enormous stage of the Assago Forum with a setup that is unusual for EDM music: beyond the musical carpet, we find Sophie Hawley-Weld to electric guitars and Tucker Halpem on bass and DJ set. It's not the first time in Milan, as they were at Fabrique a couple of years ago.
In addition to this, another difference with the Klangkarussell set is the presence of this arch on which pads are hung to be hit to obtain both percussion and harmonic samples. Furthermore, the visuals are more elaborate, tending towards the good life of the American West Coast or Miami Beach, very colorful and often hybridized with the shots taken at the time.
Already since “Bread”the first track of Sofi Tukker's latest album of the same name, it is immediately clear how much the duo wants to involve the public who have almost completely entered the Forum: a very Latin dance sound, the electric guitar which has a very particular timbre, almost like an acoustic guitar, the effects on the voices, the dancers behind them.
In “Throw Some Ass” also the tutorial to make the audience dance, a successful experiment to give a definitive break to the chill of Klangkarussell: this does not also take away, every now and then, a few moments of respite thanks to some tracks from their past albums, such as “Original Sin”more house than EDM.
In about an hour the New York duo completely changed the atmosphere of the Unipol Forum, with the public now truly ready to welcome Kygo in the warmest way possible.
Kygo's moment on stage at the Unipol Forum in Assago
It's 8.55pm in Assago and the classic very humid climate of the Milanese hinterland is completely swept away by Kygo's DJ set. It feels like we've returned to that crisp climate of early June, with the idea in mind of the summer breeze, scents of jasmine and fresh cocktails: in short, all the possible synesthesias that tropical house offers.
Small digression on the tropical house
A small parenthesis concerns precisely this world, the tropical house: it's a rather recent phenomenon (even though… ten years have passed since 2014, I struggle to even say it) and Kygo himself is one of the founders and promoters of this genre of house music. Caribbean rhythms around 120 BPM, more ethnic musical instruments such as steel drums, marimba and bongos, but also saxophones, flutes and brass instruments in general. Many catchy songs from the 80s and 90s are often revived in this key, from Tina Turner to Whitney Houston as clear examples.
All this to recreate the effect of the beauty and hedonism of summer on the beach: the golden period was until around 2018, when the return to more traditional and more advanced electronics occurred, made evident in the post-pandemic period.
The beginning on piano and the assorted park of synths
One of the abilities that Kygo – the portmanteau of his first and last name (Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll at the registry office) – presents is certainly the piano, his companion in each of his compositions: in fact it starts with “Intro” of his latest eponymous album, and then running towards his spaceship elevated above the stage, composed of many of his favorite synths, such as the Nord Stage 3 or the Arturia KeyLab 25 for the most powerful sounds, but also the Pioneer DDJ console. SX3 to have fixed bases to throw at real voices.
He leaves later “Whatever”the trop house cover of Shakira's “Whenever, Wherever,” featuring recorded vocals by Ava Max: immediately therefore in comfort zone, with all the fans singing.
Zak Abel
The first of the three singers who were part of Kygo's five albums takes the stage, namely Zak Abel, a singer who declares himself “29% Italian”: more often than not he is a feature artist, with Don Diablo, Duke Dumont or Tom Misch , but above all with the Norwegian DJ he has had multiple partnerships scattered here and there. In this case he sings “For Life”, which also interpolates the lyrics from “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” by Modjo.
Justin Jesso
And I will still be here stargazing
I'll still lookup, lookup, lookup for love
Kygo – Stargazing (feat. Justin Jesso) (2017)
After a tribute to the “neighbor” Aviciinow imprinted in the hearts of anyone who listens to electronic music (and not only), takes the stage Justin Jessosinger-songwriter and voice of one of the biggest hits of Kygo's career, “Stargazing”. A climax ascending from the piano to the involvement of the audience, inviting two boys holding a beautiful piece of cardboard with writing “Justin, can we sing Stargazing with you?”to sing the chorus with him: a beautiful moment made of lights from the bracelets given to us at the entrance, flashes and selfies to immortalize the atmosphere.
The atmosphere and the visuals
Speaking of atmosphere, a separate chapter must necessarily be dedicated to the entire visual part of the concert: probably the most beautiful I've ever seen, they make the listening experience truly complete. The filters on live footage are very vivid, with colors that somewhat reflect the dreamlike nature of calm nights on the beach, or a summer sunset. The luminous bracelets integrate perfectly with the effects of LED headlights and, above all, lasers.
The most beautiful animation of all remains that of the panda “playing” the synths, unleashing the lasers below and really giving the illusion that he is actually playing the latter, in the remix of “Sexual Healing” Of Marvin Gaye. Often these visuals make great use of the optical illusion effect of the figures emerging from the LED walls, as in the best advertising campaigns in Times Square in New York or at Shinjuku station in Tokyo.
There are frequent karaoke moments
The karaoke moments are obviously numerous, both because Kygo has remixed numerous great hits from the past, such as “Higher Love”originally by Steve WinwoodThen Whitney Houston in 1990 he covered this song. As well “What's Love Got to Do With It”legendary piece of Tina Turner from 1984, included in the album “Private Dancer”. Or again, “Hot Stuff” Of Donna Summer. The medley that I perhaps liked least is the one that mixes up “Dancing Feet”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” and the Donna Summer cover, especially because the ABBA song is too different than the other two.
String sextet, finale and encore
The most introspective moment is when the string sextet enters, composed of two violas and four violins, which starts with “Louder” and continues, with Zak Abel on stage, with “Lose Somebody” And “Freedom”. Piano, voice and Kygo rise higher and higher, not to the same height as the platform, but further accentuate the solemnity of the choruses.
The final party starts with the two versions – one with piano and voice only and the one from the album – of “Firestone”the single that made him popular all over the world for the first time, sung however by Justin Jesso (and not by Conrad Sewell in the original song). The climax of the encore occurs among fireworks, flames, confetti and ribbons: “Higher Love” with the voice of Whitney Houston, as previously mentioned. Finally, the delicate “Freeze” as an accompaniment to the emergency exits.
The desire to go out, in fact, is almost zero, given the illusion of now being in the middle of summer sipping a drink on the beach, among the palm trees and the Mediterranean car: but, in the end, here we are with the fog of Assago and Milan -Genoa next door…
Click here to see the photos of Kygo at the Unipol Forum in Assago (MI) (or scroll through the gallery below).
KYGO: the lineup of the concert at the Unipol Forum in Assago
Intro (“Kygo” album)
Whatever (feat. Zak Abel)
For Life
I'll Wait
Me Before You
Forever Yours/Levels/Stay (Avicii medley)
Hold on Me
Stargazing (feat. Justin Jesso)
It Ain't Me
Can't Do It on My Own
The Feeling
Stars Will Align
Happy Now
Kids in Love
Hold On
Sexual Healing
Wait
Dancing Feet/Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)/Hot Stuff (medley)
Fade Away
Louder
Lose Somebody (feat. Zak Abel)
Freedom (feat. Zak Abel)
What's Love Got to Do With It
Woke Up in Love
Remind Me to Forget/Resurrection/Satisfaction (medley)
Stole the Show (feat. Parson James)
Fragile (feat. Justin Jesso)
Encore
Firestone (feat. Justin Jesso)
Higher Love
Freeze
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
