Review by Lucy Fudge
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 spanning seven songs, leading them through some of the most formative moments in 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 come after spending prolonged periods in a dark place. Continuing with her brusque honesty, ‘berlin’ adopts a gentler tone, led by its acoustic guitar and delicate vocals. Its lack of euphemisms is refreshingly honest, 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 the strong drumline unite to create a lively satirical take on denial. Self-aware yet still clinging to illusion, the song is laced with moments of clarity which are immediately coated in contradiction.
Shifting from groovy synths back towards her acoustic guitar, the following two songs delve deeper into Grace’s experiences with mental health, a topic for which she is known to speak 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 explores 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 significant moment in her personal growth.
A hopeful and airy exploration into queer love, Grace shows a new side of herself in ‘a lieth ross song’ before reaching the EPs conclusive track titled “woe is me”. Despite the gentle introduction, “woe is me” builds up to a monumental crescendo and acts 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 itself throughout the EP. Anyone who has ever experienced grief, depression, love, loss or hope will be able to find something that resonates with them across these seven tracks, as Grace writes with inspiring candour and an understanding of the world that is beyond her years. Her growth as a musician is as distinct as her personal growth, and it is evident that she has poured her heart and soul into the music.
Tickets for Kayla’s headline show at The Grace on the 8th of April can be found here, and you can follow her on Instagram 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.
Leave a Reply