Kayowa - And, Scene
By Christianah Jesudass-Roberts @mstiaroberts
Scroll down to listen to ‘And, Scene’
Every so often, it is possible to come across a song that will take you by surprise when you first hear it’s different and unique in its interpretation of a genre that it stops you in your tracks and forces you to pay attention. I came across a tune like this, and more than just forcing me to pay attention, its tongue-in-cheek lyricism made me smile on a Thursday morning in a way I hadn’t expected.
‘And, Scene’ by Kayowa is UNAPOLOGETIC through and through. When I first met the song it gave me immense nostalgic vibes, similar to the UK RnB/pop vibes of the 2000’s - you know, the poetic expression of everyday life over a soft beat made famous by the likes of Lily Allen & Kate Nash - fun, insanely relatable, grounding and brazen. However as I indulged further into the tune, I was welcomed by Kayowa, quirky outstanding sense of humour - whilst remaining very honest in her storytelling, she also displays a comforting amount of confidence, showcasing an attitude of unbotherness draped in her quirky personality in ways.
“Her voice has an innocence and maturity to it which adds to the complexity of the song cured only by her expressions of fierceness and honesty on the tune.”
What I love about this tune is that is narrated as a musical diary entry, a multitude of thoughts, together with ad-libs, glittered with positivity and exuberant self-confidence, stating her truth in a tune that exists in its own unique space. Kayowa, has this endearing sound to her, she has a mellow wispiness, existing simultaneously & seamlessly in extremes, only broken by the strength in her spoken sound. Her voice has an innocence and maturity to it which adds to the complexity of the song, cured only by her expressions of her fierceness and honesty on the tune. Her voice compliments the bouncy beat, smooth, sultry yet light and fiery, she depicts a multifaceted sound that stands strong pulling on the influences on lo-fi, spoken word, RnB and pop, not only from a modern era, but with touches from across the last two decades. This is an example of a tune that stands independently outside of genre conformity, yet does so in a way that it becomes entrancing the deeper you sink into the tune.
‘And, Scene’ manages to be playful, direct, sexy and sweet all at the same time, listeners are immediately catapulted into a multigenerational, genre-defying sound, strong in its feminine energy and incredibly thought-provoking - this tune pushes all the boundaries, and goes way beyond thinking ‘outside the box’ which is commendable. ‘And, Scene’ by Kayowa is now available to stream on all major platforms.