Tender Ender, the solo project of Swiss artist Thomas Schmidiger, unveils “Darkness,” the first single from his upcoming second album, Red Kites, due for release on November 13, 2026. The track arrives alongside a self-directed music video by Schmidiger.
Built around the warm sound of a humble home organ and its charming built-in rhythm section, “Darkness” is a bittersweet duet that drifts between melancholy and hope. Featuring the rich baritone of Thomas Schmidiger alongside the breathy vocals of Sabine Ruch, the song evokes an intimate, living-room concert—timeless, understated and quietly uplifting.
Directed by Schmidiger himself, the accompanying video finds beauty in the ordinary. Set against the backdrop of the annual wheat harvest, it captures swarms of red kites circling over the fields, turning an everyday rural scene into a quiet reflection on nature, industry and indifference.
Less than a year after his acclaimed debut, Thomas Schmidiger continues to refine the singular sound of Tender Ender with Red Kites. Blending film-noir pop, ambient melancholy and piano balladry, the album pares his songwriting back to its essentials. Built around the home organ and enriched by harmonium, vibraphone, pedal steel and piano, the record embraces the idea of music made to be shared in the living room rather than passively consumed.
With its quiet confidence and emotional depth, Red Kites further establishes Tender Ender as a songwriter whose greatest strength lies in the power of restraint.
“Darkness” is available now digitally and Red Kites will be released on November 13, 2026.
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