PREMIERE: Kieran T. Stevenson Delivers Enigmatic Debut EP ‘Go’
Late last year, singer-songwriter Kieran T. Stevenson released his first single Go. Now he’s back with a five-track EP under the same name, and there’s no doubt that he’s going somewhere. Inspired by such tastemakers as David Bowie, Haim, and Kate Miller-Heidke, and influenced by 80s pop, ‘Go’ is as emotive and energetic as it is enigmatic.
An intriguingly delicate opening to Standing In The Way Of You builds up to anthemic drums and a pulsing backing melody. Beginning on an unexpected tangent to the melody, Stevenson’s assured vocal performance shows impressive ability and restraint, his sustained falsetto the musical equivalent to fairy floss: sweet, soft, and weightless.
The electric guitar throws a grungy contrast into the mix as the lyrics echo the restless sentiment of youth,“Do you ever think about settling down, having found the one?/I do, right now I’m young and I’m busy/it’s true”. Although it never fully resolves, the chorus works the complex melodic strands into a beautifully discordant pattern.
“…an unexpected saxophone feature takes the track into a glorious jazz-influenced space, imagine a Lion King-influenced version of Stand By Me.”
A raucous energy stemming from a deep pulsing bass melody leaves room for another off-kilter entrance to Black & Blue. Pitching his starting note out of thin air, Stevenson begins, “I was not true/I wasn’t letting myself go/I was not not true/I didn’t leave a suicide note”.
A shot of electric guitar breaks up the lyrical intensity, leading into the second verse where a rhythmic pulsing guitar melody and gauzy synthesiser-infuse the track with lightness. The breakdown pulls right back to a thin web of smooth vocal harmonies before an unexpected saxophone feature takes the track into a glorious jazz-influenced space, imagine a Lion King-influenced version of Stand By Me.
After such unusual beginnings to both of its predecessors, the subdued synth and warm, sweet vocals that start Stevenson’s third track Lighting A Fire make a lot of sense. Sparing touches of harmony in the second stanza are the first and only hint of direction before the sudden guitar and drum entrance halfway through. Featuring lines like “Everybody but not everybody is looking out/for love/When I see you, I judge you like a/book that’s never been read”, Stevenson’s endearingly awkward lyrics align seamlessly with the ambling melody.
The title track Go starts with glowing wind chime synth and a buzzing backing melody, a combination that would have been right at home on a cinematic Jonsi number. Like Lighting A Fire, there’s an alt-pop sensibility to this song, think Passenger meets James Blunt.
“Stevenson’s vocals draw the listener in, flying neatly under the radar through the chorus, until they are finally allowed to soar over the bridge.”
Touches of synth-percussion combined with bass and searing electric guitar proves the perfect complement to the original melody and support to Stevenson’s subtly passionate vocals. The song finishes with an intricate yet restrained web of harmony, Stevenson balancing repetition against intricacy in a way that will have that final minute buzzing between your ears for hours.
The constant flowing motion of piano and strings allows Stevenson to stray from the rhythm in his final track The Comedown and keep everyone guessing until the very end. A beautiful flowing electric guitar riff balances the punchy, offbeat percussion and brass, fuelling the track with potential energy. Stevenson’s vocals draw the listener in, flying neatly under the radar through the chorus, until they are finally allowed to soar over the bridge. The EP closes with a discordant piano outro, never fully explained, but also never really requiring an explanation.
‘Go’ was launched in Brisbane on Saturday, but lucky Melbourne fans can catch Kieran T. Stevenson playing his new tracks later this month, details below!
Kieran T. Stevenson ‘Go’ EP Launch
WED 31 AUG
Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
w/ Hannah Cameron & Erin Fitzsimon
Tickets On The Door
