Thrill of the Chase explained

Thrill of the Chase is the fourth studio album by Norwegian record producer and DJ Kygo. It was released on 11 November 2022 through RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from James Gillespie, Zoe Wees, Dagny, X Ambassadors, R.I.Pablo, DNCE, Lukas Graham, Gryffin, Calum Scott, Sam Feldt, Emily Warren, Dean Lewis, Plested, and Stuart Crichton. Production was handled by Kygo, Gryffin, Feldt, and Crichton themselves, along with Robin Stjernberg, Petey Martin, Cirkut, David Stewart, Andrew Jackson, and Duck Blackwell. Serving as the follow-up to Kygo's previous album, Golden Hour (2020), Thrill of the Chase blends pop and dance music much like his previous releases.^[1]

Background

The album was released as a surprise with no prior announcement. However, Kygo hinted at a new album in an August 2022 interview with Audacy.^[2] The day before it was released, he announced that there would be a surprise coming at midnight, which would be the next day.^[3] On its release date, he explained the recording process of the album and shared his thoughts on it through a statement shared to EDM.com:

Thrill Of The Chase is a collection of songs I worked on over the last two years that started during Covid and ended with sessions in Los Angeles. I've had the chance to play or tease the unreleased music throughout the year at shows and the feedback was unbelievable. A few of the songs on Thrill Of The Chase are different from anything I've ever made in the past and I'm really excited for everyone to finally hear the album in its entirety.^[4]

Singles

• The lead single of the album, "Gone Are the Days", which features Scottish singer-songwriter James Gillespie, was released on 16 April 2021.^[5]
• The second single, "Love Me Now", which features German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees, was released on 13 August 2021.^[6]
• The third single, "Undeniable", which features American band X Ambassadors, was released on 15 October 2021.^[7]
• The fourth single, "Dancing Feet", which features American band DNCE, was released on 25 February 2022.^[8]
• The fifth single, "Freeze", was released on 6 May 2022.^[9]
• The sixth single, "Never Really Loved Me", a collaboration with Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis, was released on 1 July 2022.^[10]
• The seventh single, "Lost Without You", another collaboration with Lewis, was released on 8 July 2022.^[11]
• The eighth and final single, "Woke Up in Love", a collaboration with American record producer Gryffin and English singer-songwriter Calum Scott, was released on 9 September 2022.^[12] This song is also part of Gryffin's sophomore studio album Alive (2022).^[13]

Track listing

Notes

• signifies a co-producer

Personnel

Musicians

• Kygo – strings (1)
• James Gillespie – vocals (1)
• Sean Lascelles – strings (1)
• Zoe Wees – vocals (2); background vocals (2)
• Dagny – vocals (3)
• Sam Harris – vocals (4)
• Casey Harris – keyboards (4)
• Adam Levin – drums (4)
• Joe Jonas – vocals (6)
• Jack Lawless – drums (6)
• JinJoo Lee – guitar (6)
• Lukas Forchhammer – vocals (7)
• Calum Scott – vocals (8)
• Emily Warren – vocals (9)
• Dean Lewis – vocals (10, 12)
• Stuart Crichton – vocals (13)
• Andrew Jackson – vocals (14)

Technical

• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• John Hanes – engineering (1–2, 4–6, 8–10, 13, 14)
• Andy Hall Hall – vocal production (1)
• Patrick Pyke Salmy – recording (2)
• Ricardo Muñoz – recording (2)
• Bryce Bordone – engineering assistance (2–5, 7–9, 11–13)
• Ryan Dulude – recording (4)
• David Stewart – vocal production (6)
• Sean Lascelles – additional studio production (6)
• Lorna Blackwood – vocal production (8)
• Daniel Mirza – vocal production (9)
• Alex Borel – vocal production (10, 12)
• Colin Foote – vocal production (10, 12)
• Patrick Gardner – recording (12)

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[14]	46
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[15]	59
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16]	27

Notes and References

1. Kygo Drops Surprise Album 'Thrill of the Chase': Steam It Now. Billboard. Bain. Katie. 11 November 2022. 11 November 2022.
2. Web site: Kygo Reveals New Album In the Works. EDM.com. Sunkel. Cameron. 2 August 2022. 11 November 2022.
3. Kygo Is Feeling the 'Thrill of the Chase' With Surprise Album Release. Rolling Stone. subscription. Paul. Larisha. 11 November 2022. 11 November 2022.
4. Web site: Kygo Drops Surprise Album "Thrill Of The Chase". EDM.com. Heffler. Jason. 11 November 2022. 11 November 2022.
5. Web site: Kygo Drops Emotional New Release "Gone Are The Days" ft. James Gillespie [LISTEN+ LYRICS]]. Your EDM. Powell. Karlie. 16 April 2021. 11 November 2022.
6. Web site: Kygo Recruits Zoe Wees for New Song "Love Me Now". Nylon. Wang. Steffanee. 13 August 2021. 11 November 2022.
7. Hear Kygo, X Ambassadors Team Up for 'Undeniable'. Rolling Stone. Zemler. Emily. 15 October 2021. 11 November 2022.
8. DNCE Reunites for 'Dancing Feet' With Kygo: Stream It Now. Billboard. Aniftos. Rania. 25 February 2022. 11 November 2022.
9. Web site: Kygo releases 'Freeze'. The Music Universe. Iahn. Buddy. 6 May 2022. 11 November 2022.
10. Web site: Kygo Teams Up With Dean Lewis For Latest Single 'Never Really Loved Me'. CULTR. Bharathi. Pradeep. 1 July 2022. 11 November 2022.
11. Web site: Kygo Returns With Dean Lewis On 'Lost Without You'. EDM Tunes. Barkin. Drew. 8 July 2022. 11 November 2022.
12. Web site: Kygo, Gryffin And Calum Scott Join Forces On New Single 'Woke Up In Love'. The Music Essentials. Bhanawat. Akshay. 9 September 2022. 11 November 2022.
13. Web site: Goldenberg . Ross . 2022-11-04 . Gryffin comes 'Alive' on two-year path to expansive sophomore album [Stream] ]. 2023-04-08 . Dancing Astronaut . en-US.
14. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dia/w/2022-11-21/p/5/. ja:週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2022年11月21日付 （2022年11月07日～2022年11月13日）. Weekly Digital Album Ranking dated November 21, 2022 (November 7, 2022 – November 13, 2022). Oricon. ja. 16 November 2022.
15. Web site: 2022 46-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. 18 November 2022. 18 November 2022.
16. Web site: Veckolista Album, vecka 46. Sverigetopplistan. 18 November 2022.