East Coast-based, Ukrainian-born alt-pop artist Kelsie Kimberlin has truly run the gambit in showcasing their unique abilities to create a diverse body of work through their musical medium. From anthemic calls to action to sentimental ballads, their humanitarian philosophical approach to their songwriting has anchored their work from the beginning, giving fans a feeling of connection with the artist’s deepest altruistic beliefs. Their latest single “Sally” proves to follow this theme as it chronicles the deep personal tragedy of losing a loved one amidst a national tragedy and the resilience it takes to pick yourself up after all feels hopeless.
The piece begins with a brief mellow electric guitar introduction that prompts a rhythmic percussive beat that quickly establishes the energy of the musicality. Kimberlin’s vocals appear soon after to begin the narrative with the opening line “Sally did some crying. Sally lost her father. Sally felt like dying. Sally can’t be bothered.” Wasting no time getting to the heart of the story, we are immediately thrust into the emotional thesis of the piece with this heavy introduction.
Rather than focusing on the negative, the music takes on an optimistic tone and lyrically focuses on the journey of reclaiming one’s own happiness and agency through leaning on one’s own community and discovering confidence in oneself. At its core, “Sally” reflects as an ideal example of Kimberlin’s writing style and musical proclivities. Acknowledging the most difficult parts of life without sugar coating the pain, but offering an inspiring take that no pain is truly permanent, she continues to inspire fans across the world with every release.
Written by Nick Gumas
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