At just 22 years old, British-Indian singer-songwriter Kayla Grace is already making waves in the indie music scene. Returning with her second EP cats can surf, she takes fans on a journey across seven tracks, guiding them through some of the most formative moments of her life as she explores the complexities of mental health, grief, love, and loss.
Grace dives straight into the deep end with in for the kill, combining upbeat instrumentals with shocking lyrics to catch you off guard. Her self-proclaimed “self-sabotage anthem” is a candid depiction of the fear of healing that can follow prolonged periods in a dark place. Continuing with her brusque honesty, berlin adopts a gentler tone, led by acoustic guitar and delicate vocals. Its lack of euphemisms is refreshingly direct, as Grace speaks her truth without hesitation.
The EP’s title track, cats can surf, ticks all the boxes. The witty chorus – “And pigs can fly and cats can surf, it doesn’t even matter” – paired with Grace’s faux nonchalance and a strong drumline, unites to create a lively, satirical take on denial. Self-aware yet still clinging to illusion, the song is laced with moments of clarity that are immediately coated in contradiction.
Shifting from groovy synths back toward her acoustic guitar, the following two songs delve deeper into Grace’s experiences with mental health – a topic she is known to speak about openly and sincerely. til the lady sings explores the struggles of staying clean, followed by 99 and counting, the EP’s first single. In this poignant reflection on grief and healing, Grace examines her evolving relationship with death, recalling: “I was ready to die at fifteen.” Yet as the song reaches its climax, a sense of optimism takes over: “Somehow I chose right, so much more to life,” marking a powerful moment of personal growth.
A hopeful and airy exploration of queer love, Grace reveals a new side of herself in a lieth ross song, before reaching the EP’s conclusive track, woe is me. Despite its gentle introduction, woe is me builds to a monumental crescendo and serves as a somewhat sardonic reflection on the rest of the EP.
In her post celebrating the release, she wrote, “life is so hard but so beautiful” – a sentiment that manifests throughout the project. Anyone who has experienced grief, depression, love, loss, or hope will find something that resonates across these seven tracks. Grace writes with inspiring candour and an emotional insight beyond her years. Her growth as a musician is as distinct as her personal growth, and it is clear she has poured her heart and soul into this music.
Tickets for Kayla’s headline show at The Grace on the 8th of April can be found here, and you can follow her here to stay up to date with future shows and music.
cats can surf is the second EP from singer-songwriter Kayla Grace, and is available now across all major streaming platforms.
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