Format Digital download Length 3:30 | Recorded 2015 Label Chess Club
RCA Victor | |
Released 15 October 2015 (2015-10-15) Genre Indie pop
alternative dance
electropop | ||
"Kamikaze" is a 2015 song by Danish singer-songwriter MØ produced for her second studio album. The song is another collaboration between MØ and Diplo of Major Lazer and was also co-produced by Jr. Blender and Boaz van de Beatz. "Kamikaze" was released through Sony Music Entertainment and premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 14 October 2015 at 7:30 PM BST at Annie Mac. It was released worldwide on October 15. It has also reached the top 40 in Belgium and Denmark.
Contents
Background
The antecedent draft of "Kamikaze" was authored by MØ's confidante Mads Kristiansen in April 2015. MØ says she "fell in love" with the song instantly, and immediately set about making it her own. MØ then hooked up with American producer Diplo in New York City, working on versions of the song. In a press release MØ praised the creative energy and affection she contributed with Diplo and also analyzed working with him.
It's about making memorable songs but, more than that, it's about making pop music that wants to push boundaries.... I've been loving all kinds of pop since I first fell in love with the Spice Girls, but pop needs to bring something new to the table, it needs balls. And that's what you get working with Diplo.
The official audio later premiered on October 14, on MØ's Vevo channel.
In popular culture
The song was sampled in the film, Nerve and was included in the film's soundtrack. It also was featured as a soundtrack in the American television series Quantico in episode 1x17.
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Kamikaze" was filmed in Kiev, Ukraine. It was also shot and directed by Truman & Cooper and produced by Amalia Rawlings and Corin Taylor. It premiered on MØ's Vevo channel on October 27. Vevo UK stated that the video was also identical to British recording artist M.I.A's single "Bad Girls". Billboard magazine likened the video of "drag-racing motor bikes and riding around on what appears to be a chariot made of an old sofa and a tractor" to scenes from Mad Max: Fury Road. The music video was included in Pigeons & Planes' "Best Music Videos of the Month". The music video also gained 1 million views in its initial three days.
Reception
"Kamikaze" was premiered by Annie Mac as "The Hottest Record of the Year". The song also came in at #60 on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015.