Kenya Grace's Debut EP 'The After Taste' Leaves a Colorful, Euphoric Impression
Photo: Michelle Hèlena Janssen
Singer-songwriter, producer, and dance disruptor Kenya Grace has finally released her much-anticipated debut project, The After Taste. Written, produced, and performed entirely by Grace, the record is a rare concoction that reinforces the breakout star as one of the scene's most formidable artists and songwriters. Pangs of euphoric rave ecstasy mix with reflective whispers and moody alternative angst, all unified by intoxicating pop hooks that cut deep like emotional shrapnel. Thematically, the project is about rediscovering yourself after a breakup, boomeranging between heartbreak and positive affirmation.
The intro injects a touch of drum 'n' bass energy into the mix before jumping straight into the viral hit "Strangers." Her latest single, "It's not fair," turns the dial down as she puts her vocal prowess front and center on the otherwise stripped-back track. She's at her most vulnerable in "Someone Else," a tragic anthem grappling with an identity crisis after a breakup. Leaving scorched ruins where love once blossomed, her tormented vocals bleed molten jealousy over melancholic guitar licks.
True to its name, "My Baby Loves to Dance" helps kick up some energy for dancefloors with its subtle, shuffle-inducing beat. On "Hey, Hi, How are you?" the artist pairs her emotion-fueled lyricism with a breakbeat to create an intoxicating soundscape perfect for late-night drives through the city when it's raining outside.
Grace then traverses the emotional vertigo of the fallout in the intoxicating "Only In My Mind," a cathartic dance record that moonlights as a compelling cry for help. Here, quivering synths and hyperactive percussion soundtrack a descent into passion's delirious depths. She sings over the maddening soundscape, "You say you love me, we lie together every night / You touch me, I'm losing track of time / You kiss me, I look into your eyes / But it's only in my mind."
Overall, The After Taste is a prime example of what happens when an artist reclaims herself after someone drains the color from her world. Finally, free from the lie of their affection, Grace manages to craft a remarkable debut effort that will hopefully give others permission to embrace their own sadness, rage, and freedom. Grace is now taking The After Taste on the road for a North American tour, which will wrap in April after her landmark debut at the iconic Coachella festival in Southern California.
Listen to The After Taste below:
