Zimbabwe-born, London-raised, Naarm/Melbourne-based vocalist KYE returns today with Sampa The Great and 18YOMAN (Kid Cudi, Cordae) on ‘Gold’, listen HERE.
With her debut release ‘Sometimes’, KYE demonstrated her ability to shine across impactful earworms. Now with ‘Gold’, she proves herself as an undeniable talent, with a voice destined to take on the globe alongside like-minded stars Jorja Smith, Mahalia, and more.
‘Gold’ radiates both lyrically and musically as keys glisten, percussion shimmers, and KYE glows, with her presence felt just as immediately and as spine-tingling as powerhouse performer Sampa The Great. Together they stand side by side, guided by the yellow brick road of 18YOMAN’s beaming production.
“It’s to date, my favourite way I’ve ever written a song, sprawled out in the sun, next to someone I love,” shares KYE. She continues, “I was lying on the couch on a surprisingly sunny day during winter last year and I remember just being the happiest and most at peace I’d felt all year. I was hanging with someone I really loved and we were going through some beats 18YOMAN had sent and I wrote the first half off the top of my head.” For 18YOMAN, ‘Gold’ “means a lot to me as it’s one of the first songs I’ve entirely produced, I’m so excited for the world to hear it” he shares.
Sampa The Great reflects, “It may seem like a different vibe to what I usually put out but I’ve grown accustomed to surprising people with the range I’m able to express myself in. It was one of the easiest writing processes for me and when I sent through the draft and got the green light, it was straight to recording in the studio. It also helped that the person who wrote it happens to be someone whose music I love and whose songwriting skills shine through evidently.”
KYE’s relationship with music blossomed as a young child growing up in the UK. In between vivid memories spent singing through sickness and in health, gospel songs, talent shows, girl bands and more, her voice flourished with each deep embrace of her identity. Deeply informed by her experience as a young black woman experiencing life through a predominately white societal lens, KYE finds herself today confident, strong and humble, ready to share her mantra of embracing openness and finding joy in it, with the world. Stay tuned for more from KYE coming soon.
‘Gold ft. Sampa The Great, 18YOMAN’ is out now via Sony Music, buy/stream it here.