Kindness

Kindness, a one-man indie disco-funk-R&B band led by Adam Bainbridge, made its commercial recording debut with the "Swingin' Party" single on Moshi Moshi Records in 2009. Splitting his time between London and Berlin, he cites influences that include American disco icons Arthur Russell, Larry Levan, and Leroy Burgess. The commercial recording debut of Kindness, "Swingin' Party," a disco-punk cover version of the Replacements song, was an MP3 blog favorite in 2009, as was its B-side, "Gee Up." Promotional videos were released for both songs, and numerous comparisons were drawn between Kindness and Talking Heads. LCD Soundsystem and the DFA label were also frequently drawn comparisons. In late 2011, Kindness released a second single, "Cyan," on Terrible Records in the U.S. and Female Energy in the U.K. The first full-length, which was co-produced by Philip Zdar (of Cassius), followed soon after in the first quarter of 2012. World, You Need a Change of Mind was issued by Female Energy/Polydor and featured all the previously released singles as well as an unexpectedly lovely and dubbed-out cover of Anita Dobson's "Anyone Can Fall in Love," a song best known as the theme to the popular U.K. television show Eastenders. During the tour that followed, Bainbridge began to warm to the idea of collaboration and the exciting uncertainty that can come with it. His next album featured a wealth of guests, including Robyn, Devonté Hynes, and Kelela, helping him achieve his more R&B-leaning vision. Otherness was released by Female Energy/Mom + Pop in October of 2014.