Kynsy has released her debut EP ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ alongside a video for her latest single, “Elephant In The Room”. Kynsy is the solo project of rising 23-year-old multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Ciara Lindsey. Written and co-produced by the artist, the tracks were mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer (Interpol / Sorry / Parquet Courts) and Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys / MIA / Bombay Bicycle Club). Having previously performed on the Other Voices Music Trail and at Ireland Music Week, the Dublin artist kicked off this year with a whole host of 2020 Hot List features.
‘Things That Don’t Exist’ is a confident and expertly crafted collection of tracks. Kynsy laces the EP in guitar-based thrills, electronic embellishments and agile lyrics which evoke emotion within the listener. This first-rate EP is overflowing with superb elements and details from exquisite guitar refrains and splintery bass manoeuvres to poignant narrations and soothing vocals.
An organ -esque intro leads us into EP opener ‘Elephant in the Room’ a darkly glamorous and brooding number smothered in razor-sharp guitar work and building rhythms. Kynsy balances raw indie rock with dazed electronics to create a sweet sting within the track. As swirling flutters on synths wisp about a pulsing beat and subtle elements of distortion the song simmers before the chorus explosion hits. Kynsy’s vocals coo and drag through the nostalgic woozy number with sweet tones ( which at times becomes aggressive ) offsetting the pop melody.
Kynsy is a master of melodies warping them into the moods and atmospheres she creates. Providing dramatic soundscapes, the EP elegantly shifts between the ethereal backdrop of ‘Elephant in the Room’ to the fizzy indie rock bravado of ‘Happiness Isn’t a Fixed State’.Blending cinematic soundscapes throughout, the song has a Tarantino residue while the smooth yearning melody cools the blazing instrumental backdrop. However, ‘Dog Videos’ is where Kynsy slaps us in the face with a sound unlike its predecessors. Brighter and with a sun-kissed radiance, this foot-tapping track is a refreshing gem. With triumphant horn elements, slinky bass lines and a breezy melody the track injects a dash of cheer into the EP. This liveliness is undercut by the sharp lyrics which describes the doom of time wasted and living within the Youtube/social media world.
Throughout ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ Kynsy excels at constructing settings and engulfing them in a dramatic, catchy melody. While exploring themes of struggling through modern life, the songs maintain an upbeat and engaging tone and exude an air of finesse and rawness that showcases the deft songwriting and musical ability of Kynsy. There is no lag within the EP just smasher after smasher until ‘Cold Blue Light’ ignites the EP in a fiery finale. A siren on guitar announces the track while the slap on drums drags through the swaggered soundscapes. The sultry, dark atmosphere unfolds into a blazing indie rock track as Kynsy coos over a smooth melody. Kynsy’s delivery is cool and nonchalant, allowing the rich instrumental backdrop build and slither into psychedelic territory toward the thrilling crescendo – a triumphant close to the EP.
Within ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ there are elements of The Strokes with flavours of The Kills and St. Vincent peppered on top, but they are subtle. It is more like Kynsy is tipping a musical hat to their sound, then swiftly moving on to do things the Kynsy way – personally I’m glad the artist does not linger in any style for very long and because of this the EP is heavily brushed in the musicians raw creative thought process. It is a rare glimpse into a talented creative mind. Kynsy’s sound is brilliant and mesmerising in every way. ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ is a wholly consuming collection of tracks which sets the bar high for 2021.
Talking about the EP Kynsy said: “A lot of the songs are based around the idea of how we as people are either being followed or chasing after things that don’t exist. We are followed by the things we see through technology, television, the news – things that derail and confuse our sense of reality. We also chase things that don’t exist. We ignore the fact that things could change in a blink, or chase idealistic dreams of the future based on things we’ve seen on TV or on phone screens. I found there to be a juxtaposition in the positive and negative aspects of things that don’t exist; how having hope can change peoples lives for the better, how art is made from things that were previously non-existent and how these life fulfilling aspects as well as the things that can derail us are constantly fighting each other in our thought processes.This EP is a dialogue between those positive and negative thoughts and emotions. I wanted the music to create a world of freedom, hope and playfulness while the lyrics focus on the struggle of fighting, running and coming to terms with all of the good and bad we find in things that don’t exist.”
Stream ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ below
Author : Danu
