I’ve been patiently waiting all year for Kelsey Bulkin to drop some new music. In 2017, the LA-based artist made her solo debut with ‘Andromeda’ and soon after released ‘West Coast Drama’, which really caught my attention. Then Kelsey capped off the year when she overshadowed ODESZA on their album track ‘Divide’. Finally, she’s given us a taste of what’s to come in 2019 with new single ‘Samsara’, co-produced by Vallis Alps’ David Ansari. And the wait has been well worth it.
Maybe feeling guilty for making us wait so long, Kelsey wastes no time launching into this short and sweet hip-hop inflicted electro-pop joint. Though the instrumental is largely cheerful, Kelsey’s yearning vocal delivery makes it clear that ‘Samsara’ originates from a place of trauma and heartbreak. Her angelic voice and a bouncy drum pad kick in simultaneously from the get-go. There’s no slow build here, either. Those swirling, gloomy synths, a key feature of Kelsey’s music, quickly set in like shoegaze-y walls of sound. It’s strangely relaxing and overwhelming all at once.
This song is even more special considering it’s made on a single octave midi keyboard and microphone in Kelsey’s home. Fair effort. Keep your eyes peeled for Kelsey’s debut EP in 2019, it’s sure to be a beauty.
Image by Canh Nguyen