After having featured her latest single ‘Live Again’, we were simply hypnotised by Serena Kaos’ luscious and cinematic character, allowing her to write music that feels spacious, universal, and celebratory. In fact, we were so gassed about the record to proudly declare: “A sea of luscious indietronica builds a poignant, heartfelt sonic backdrop, upon which light and ethereal vocals deliver the sweetest melodies, placing the listener into a temporary alternative universe”. Now, Kaos returns with an even bigger and more glorious release, an EP titled ‘Slowly This Time’.
There’s a lot to unpack here: first, what’s the reference? Kaos describes herself as an art-pop outfit, and perhaps she’s right. Her sound balances over elegant, orchestral tones and more dreamy, leftfield elements, creating a muscular tension between the project’s more pop and relatable side and its experimental flair. ‘Slowly’ is the perfect example of that. After the richness of the title track, the song layers poignant piano tones and Serena’s evocative vocals, delivering a timeless, approachable classic.
‘This Time’ follows the same script, employing haunting guitars over gentle and bucolic electronic beats. ‘Shout’ is perhaps the most conventionally pop effort on the record, echoing a certain ‘Lana Del Rey’ character in the process. Lyrically, the EP expires the depth of human consciousness and its experience with reality. As Serena Kaos explains: “Each song tells a different life lesson and the whole album means to deliver a powerful message (I recommend you read the track list as text!).”
Recommended! Discover ‘Slowly This Time’ on Spotify:
