keshi Loses Himself in the Irresistible Passion of "Touch"
The skeleton that makes up keshi is familiar yet indistinguishable. From traces of lo-fi hip-hop, intimate pop, and atmospheric R&B, one could attempt to piece together the various pieces that make up the Vietnamese-American artist but would likely always find a bone or connective tissue missing or just slightly out of place. It's a testament to keshi's unrestrained artistry, where compelling, emotionally-laden subject matter takes form over meticulously-crafted soundscapes that are simultaneously minimalistic and bursting with life.
"Touch" is the latest mesmerizing single from keshi that sees him juxtaposing the intoxicating rush of a forbidden relationship with a sonic backdrop that feels delicate, almost to the point of breaking. The single arrives as the latest stirring tease of keshi's forthcoming debut album Gabriel, set to arrive February 25. Taking its name from what keshi would likely name his child if he were to have a son, the project is an ode to parental love - a gift to his parents in the form of a sonic legacy.
"Wrong, but it feels so right / It don't make sense, but it feels so nice," confesses a pitched-down keshi before his angelic vocals illustrate his internal hesitation over what may be a relationship caught in a moment of hesitation, singing, "If you want me, say you want me." This emotional tug-of-war, torn between moments of intimacy and what should or shouldn't be, plays out with all the restrained passion of a pitch-perfect R&B slowburn and is accentuated by the muted color palette of the single's accompanying video.
Much like the subject matter of the single itself, "Touch" is irresistible and leaves us begging for keshi's long-awaited debut album. Till then, we're left with the promise of what's to come.
Watch the "Touch" video below:
