Put Em High Is 20 Years Old

It's a true Hedkandi anthem and did you know it's 20 years old? Therese returns to the UK for the first time in 10 years for Disco Heaven.

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Date published: 14th May 2023

This Year "Put Em High" is 20 years old!

For one night only we welcome Therese back to the UK to perform Put Em High, Take Me Away & one or two more Kandi anthems. Hedkandi Presents Disco Heaven @ Bush Hall London on Saturday June 3rd.

Tickets : skiddle.com/e/36321076

Mark Doyle has a story to tell you.

As soon as I was able to confirm Therese for her appearance I started thinking about how "that" track came to be and the affect it had on all our lives.

The album itself (and the resulting hits) were comissioned over a drink or 6 at Midem (a legendary music conference in the South of France). I was introduced to Stonebridge and the conversation went along the lines of

(Me) "You're an utter legend, Robin S, Donna Giles, Ann Consuelo, Kristine W such amazing remixes. Why have you never made an album of your own?"

(Stone) "No one has ever asked me"

(Me) "Okay I'm asking, make me an album for Hedkandi

(Stone) "Okay"

And back he went to Sweden to make an album

Alot of time there's alot more time spent on Budgets, Artist Viability, Marketing and all sorts but we both thought it was a great idea . The majority of the album was delivered in April 2003 and I instantly picked out two tracks featuring a singer called Therese. Put Em High and Take Me Away just stood out and we decided on these as the first two releases. The final single release version was completed in July 2003 and featured a mix by JJ who had his studio next door to Stonebridge and loved the track. During the 2003 we tested the track in Ibiza and around the world and released the first vinyl promo. It was one of those tracks that INSTANTLY worked on the dance floor. In early 2004 the track charted at 73 in UK chart with no real radio play. There was no video and virtually no promotion but it started to get some real attention just from the vinyl promo. It was already a Hedkandi anthem a was played at all our events.

Although Hedkandi had released a number of dance promos we had never comitted to a full single release. It was an entirely new (and fairly expensive game to play). Both Stonebridge and I pushed for a full release and like most decisions I made in the early days of Hedkandi it was my job on the line if I lost the company a load of money.

Initially my concept for the video was to film all three potential singles in a "lord of the rings" style with a story running through all three in the hopes of keeping the costs down. I finally got approval for the first two and the third eventually got made as well. We secured an up and coming director called Justin Dickell and made our first music video.

Matt Waterhouse stepped in to help us with music promotion and the track was released on CD and Vinyl in July 2004. The video was played on all the music channels but radio wasn't overly interested and still it went to number 6 in the UK chart in August. Put Em High has appeared on hundreds of compilations, charted around the world and is one of the definitive dance anthems of the naughties. (It even had remixes by Axwell, Ingrosso & Angello and they went on to do quite well under another name).

I can honestly say it was quite simply a product of it's time. It was a hit because people heard it and loved it .. It had no massive marketing plan and most of us at Hedkandi didn't have a clue what we were doing (I certainly didn't).

From a drink in a hotel bar to number 6 in the UK charts. Happy Birthday "Put Em High" You Are 20 Years Old This Summer, Thank You Stonebridge, Therese & Team Kandi".

Come and see Therese perform Put Em High & Take Me Away @ Bush Hall on Saturday June 3rd. It's going to be another piece of true Kandi magic

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