Kianja Delivers Sharp Wit and Soulful Liberation in the Unforgettable 'Salty'
The single “Salty” by British singer-songwriter Kianja sounds like sitting back into a velvet chair, wrapping your fingers around the base of an Old Fashioned glass while you defiantly sip away with a smirk. Her forceful claims all gravy-thick vocals are smooth as honey, sharp as any perfect parry of wit. It had a track that just hugged, thanks to lush 80s-inspired guitar riffs; then delivered quite possibly the knockout blow [lyrically] akin to being punched in the face by only seconds-hideous Mike Tyson. It's an anthem of grown-up liberation, in which Kianja takes on ancient scars with the kind of elegance that comes from having truly moved on. The hooks? Infectious. The message? Unshakable. You can almost hear the eye rollover in her voice as she tries to figure out why it is that every grudge ends with her ex, creating a melody that structures throughout like sorrow which lingers.
Her words read less like an essay and more like late-night drinks, a friend telling you everything that finally came out. But, the maturity in her vocal delivery makes it more than just another visceral breakup ballad; “Salty” is an open wound that refuses to be ignored until fully scabbed over. The broad-appealing vocal arrangements which straddle modern R&B-referencing smoothness and retro soul nostalgia on this track aren't just about moving on, they suggest upping sticks in the face of someone trying to bring you back down. You only need to play the song once and it is a freaking earworm. Listen to it twice, and you will question how the hell anything other than this was ever allowed.
TRENDING NOW
That luscious calm rolling through Anthony Napolitano’s voice is nearly impossible to ignore, conjuring a sensation that might just give your restless heart its first real exhale of the day…
The hush wrapping around your ears is impossible to sidestep when Charlie Diamond’s new single, “Joni Mitchell’s Road To L.A.,” softly emerges from the midnight shadows. Dripping with…
Bubbling with unstoppable energy, “Yekaye” unleashes a radiantly upbeat sensation that defies any urge to skip a single second. Kroyan’s Afro-house masterpiece reverberates…
There’s a magnetic bravado to the single “Done” by Thoughty that renders the act of skipping it nigh on unthinkable — a slick gem of contemporary pop that buzzes with emotional…
Astonishingly chill, the elusive notes of the song “Walls (demo)” seep into your psyche with an effortless magnetism, making it nearly impossible to halt the track mid-breath…
Blossoming from Toronto’s eclectic groove and whispering its way into your consciousness, “What I Wish For” by Rosabell is a luscious sonic elixir too enchanting to bypass, swathed…
A lone spark of cool defiance flickers beneath the surface of “I Don’t Do Drugs, I Am Drugs,” radiating an aura equal parts swagger, introspection, and raw creative fervor. Soch, who steps…
One can’t help but tune in, as the velvet timbre of Jon Vinyl, floating through “Nothing Like Christmas,” refuses gently to let your heart wander. Every second of his vocal…
Drenched in an exuberant aura that refuses to let your ears slip away, “Travel On” sparkles with radiant vocal tonality and intricate folk-electronic textures that feel somehow simultaneously…
Surreal tranquility envelops your ears the moment Gabby Onme’s vocals glide in, demanding you press pause on your day, brimming with airy R&B rhythms, this track unveils…