Fans have been patiently waiting for Kami Kehoe to release her upcoming EP, Kandy, and the wait is finally over! After exploding into the music scene, Kehoe has been making a name for herself as she is steadily approaching the 1 million monthly listener mark on Spotify alone. I got a chance to sit down and really dive into the new EP, and all I can say is that it shouldn't be a surprise as to why Kehoe is as popular as she is. Each and every track on the release effortlessly showcases the talent of the artist while maintaining an aura of heaviness that is somehow comforting for listeners to digest. That's something not to be taken lightly.
Right away, Kehoe starts the EP with the title track, "KANDY", and it takes listeners on a whirlwind journey of emotions. "Can I use you like a drug" is a lyric that stands out to me in this song and hearing it in the tone used is throwing me for a loop. The entire song itself is almost like a double-edged sword in the sense that it almost feels like a love song yet deals with heartache. This isn't the only song to keep me in this sort of trance. Take my personal favorite song from the release: "DOPAMINE." It is the type of song that makes you have to run it back again because of how entrancing the melody and lyrics are. Kehoe has released a music video for the song, and it continues to showcase the massive talent that Kehoe has (not like fans weren't aware). Kehoe gives some insight on the single by stating how
"I wrote “DOPAMINE” when I was at a pretty low spot in my life, this song really healed something in me and I hope it can do the same for anyone who needs it.
Even the song "MAKE U HATE ME" has me on the edge of my seat as I try and analyze each word. It is the perfect song for those needing some sort of remedy but at a loss for what exactly that remedy is. When speaking about the EP, Kehoe states:
"I was going through a break up while writing this EP, each song helped me get through my heartache. I was able to pull from my own experiences from my perspective and there’s. The main concept of this entire EP is that even when something is good or feels good doesn’t always mean it’s good for you. I use a lot of metaphors relating to candy, drugs, and all these “wrong” things that may feel right sometimes and compared it to how I felt with my past relationship. I hope this EP can help anyone who needs it like it did for me."
I think that sentiment holds true with songs like "OBSESSED" and "COME DOWN". While I understand them to be gut-punching ballads, who knows what truth they may hold for someone going through their own relationship ups-and-downs. Lyrics like "Maybe we're better off not speaking" and talking about how the love is lost is something anyone can relate to and might be just the shred of hope knowing they're not the only one who feels this way.
There's not much more I can say about this EP except that you need to listen to it. Kehoe is, without a shadow of a doubt, the breath of fresh air that the music scene so desperately needs.
Tickets can be purchased to see Kami Kehoe as she heads out this fall in support of P.O.D., Daughtry, and Seether at the link here.
