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Photo by Erika Kamano

Discovering the experimental popstar that is iKeda has been one of the highlights of my year. Her EP Bangs N Braces put her on the map (pun intended) and within weeks, every cool person I know had tapped in. Leading up to my favorite holiday, she’s graced us with a double single pack, which unexpectedly completes and elevates my near perfect Halloween party playlist. 

“For Me” + “The Principle” are two sides of the same coin, both sonically and lyrically. While “For Me” is more bouncy and playful in its delivery, “The Principle” takes a darker, more subdued route and expands upon the subject of its predecessor. 

In our Bangs N Braces conversation, iKeda revealed that what she initially thought may be a weakness, turned out to be her biggest strength. She shared, “I remember being in the studio for the first EP and not feeling as confident about my melodies, thinking they sounded a bit silly or too much like a nursery rhyme. But after hearing that feedback, I actually embrace it.” In “For Me,” this unique perspective shines brighter than before. 

The track is iKeda’s version of a classic fairytale, like Beauty and The Beast for electro-pop girlies. What makes it even more singular is its structure. Listeners aren’t teased with an epic beat drop because it happens only 30 seconds into the track. What makes iKeda in a league of her own is her ability to keep you guessing. But no matter how out of left field a song’s choice feels, it somehow still stays true to pop’s necessary structures. This brilliance can be summed up in a potent lyric from the song’s first verse: “It may seem a little strange / But it turns me on to see you change.”

“You’re a beast, you’re ugly / Out of your league, but you’re all for me” she exclaims on the bridge, a feeling women know all too well. It’s the modernization of falling in love with a monster, of looking for power over a relationship by dating grotesquely. iKeda is in on the joke, though. Her giggle in the second pre-chorus adds a lighthearted layer to the track, signaling listeners her commitment to the spooky concept.  

If “For Me” is falling in love with a beast, “The Principle” is the result of expecting a monster to act human. The second single has a darker undertone, with a satisfyingly murky bass line and an attitude adjustment. It’s a song about pain, but also the release of frustration from the body. The disappointment is palpable, because she’s clearly given this person many opportunities to correct their behavior. She specifically points out, “It’s not the act / It’s the principle.” How could this person take for granted a chance they weren’t deserving of in the first place?

The cover art for this double single is one of its most intriguing parts. There’s two identical iKedas standing side by side, plastered on a photo of an uninviting, dark tunnel. It’s “The Principle”’s chorus personified: “Two of hearts, Fell apart / We went our ways, our separate ways.” 

If this is iKeda’s version of Halloween themed music, we can only hope for more spooky songs from one of music’s brightest rising stars. I’m looking forward to surprising everyone when these tracks come on shuffle on my now completed Halloween party playlist. 

Listen to “For Me” + “The Principle” below: