Insert headphones and prepare to look back as you step into the deceivingly complex, atmospheric space of Kingo Halla in new EP Reflections.
This journey through emotional waves spins poetic phrasing with the construction of intricate textural skyscrapers; the connective power of neo-soul keys and percussion ties a bow on a refreshing parcel of musical merit and sincerity.
I can’t tell if I want to be listening to these songs beachside while the water’s movement lulls me into a peaceful sunburnt daydream, or while I’m staring out through frozen glass at a downtown traffic breaking its way through the iceberg-like portions of slush. Regardless, it takes me somewhere every time I listen to it.
From the first moments of warm, analogue, nylon-stringed guitar chords to the crescendos of bass-led builds above layers of powerful strings and moody synth textures, this EP showcases a depth of awareness around production that sinks listeners into an experience of their own.
At times, in songs like Growing Pains I feel like I’m in a pool, laying on my back floating, spiraling, descending into difficult memories. At other times, I feel like strutting through packed summer streets, nodding to everyone I pass.
Kingo Halla understands the importance of breathing, made clear in the standout track Hotel. Reminiscent of Anderson Paak, or Justin Vernon’s 22 A Million, lines are delivered with the ‘not-too-much/ not-too-little’ tasteful precision that allows them to quickly develop into unavoidable hooks. Lines like “you had a flashlight” and “we walked all night” are otherwise simplistic sentiments that become memorable ear-worms.
Seemingly without exerting too much effort, Kingo Halla manages to express each vocal concept in a boundless comfortable fashion. Often laid-back and mellow with flourishing moments of impressive vocal tone, it is clear that this is an artist who sings for the song, knowing how to adapt and capture each concept sublimely.
Soul textures, heavy drum parts, R & B bass lines and jazz piano serve as the backbone to most tracks, creating a spheric playroom of sound, while surprising interjections from mandolins, organs, and sitars come out of left field and seem to fill sonic gaps that I didn’t know I needed filling.
Between phrasing, delivery, background vocal orientation and the position of melody in the mix, the expression of Kingo Halla’s musings can almost be interpreted without hearing the lyrics themselves. That said, there isn’t a single line sung on this EP that isn’t clever in its own right. It manages to speak to feelings we have all felt without relying on clunky cliches, which makes the poetry of this album a rewarding experience in itself.
This collection of songs fits together seamlessly through an emphasis on dynamic shifts, lifts and falls, mellow moments and energized endurance runs, weighted themes to brevity and air. Listeners will love this EP’s intrinsic ability to maintain our focus while imploring us to sit still and reflect on both the present and the past. This album feels like it speaks to the lack of ability to change the past and the liberation that comes with owning what is in front of you.
Inspirations from the likes of the: Ah Lah Lahs, Thee Sacred Souls, Anderson Paak, Robert Glasper, Bon Iver, and ingenuitive artists like Dijon feel apparent. However, Kingo Halla is a clear example of an artist who has come by their own sound honestly.
I’d love to tell you when and where to listen to this album, but feel strongly that it will speak to each listener differently. So, listen to Kingo Halla’s Reflections for yourself. You’ll soon see where it fits into your own life.
Written by Marshall Veroni
