Kyra - Xanadu [EP Review]
West London songstress Kyra boasts the refinement and sophistication of an artist devoted to her craft. Having established herself in the early 2010’s, supporting the likes of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora and Wretch 32, December 2020 saw the singer expertly navigate a diversion in her musical journey with the release of her debut EP ‘Xanadu.’ Taking inspiration from the 80’s cult classic film of the same name, Kyra’s conceptual exploration of cosmology, femininity and self-discovery is set against an ethereal R&B soundscape, resulting in an otherworldly listening experience.
Kyra’s deft songwriting ability is an aspect of her artistry that immediately pervades through the project’s luscious production. The EP comes in at a dwindling 25 minutes, which the singer uses to her advantage by loading each lyric with purpose. She executes her concept masterfully, tethering her own lived experiences to the central plot of her music’s inspiration. The eponymous Robert Greenwald film upon which Xanadu is based, sees one of the nine Ancient Greek Muses struggling between her deific duties and her newfound human experience of love, as she falls for a mortal man. Kyra portrays this candidly, singing “this could be the only time we share the night,” against the thundering kicks and claps of ‘Falling From Grace.’ Likening the Muse’s internal conflict with her own struggle to reconcile her choice of lover to her family’s expectations, Kyra showcases a sense of intimacy in her creative writing. Other parallels can be drawn with the film’s plot; on idyllic ‘Cali Dreamin,’ a cut inspired by her own LA travels, the singer’s wisped refrain of “don’t wake me up, I’m staying here,” evokes the Muse’s desire to remain with her lover on Earth.
Production wise, Xanadu marks a sonic departure from the polished Soul of Kyra’s available earlier work. Alongside producers The Garden and Youngr, the ‘Cause & Cure’ singer crafts a synth-heavy, psychedelic signature, placing herself in the company of the likes of Janelle Monae. The swathing ‘Stampede’ is a funk-tinged cut that maximises Kyra’s vocal range. Interplaying with stop-start drums, she intones, “you didn’t ask if you could have my heart but you took it anyway,” building up to the power chord-driven chorus reminiscent of early St. Vincent. Kyra stated her intention to “sonically demonstrate this difference between heaven and earth,” a juxtaposition reflected in the EP’s trippy pulsating intro, ‘Higher Ground.’ Her soothing harmonies cut through the atmospherics with precision, flexing her remarkable control as she sustains, “I think I need release, something to bring me peace.” ‘Planets’ is a swelling electronic cut with fluctuating, filtered vocal chops, adding to the celestial feel of the project.
As far as concept albums go, Kyra’s debut effort is a stellar example of how to weave in just the right amount of reality for the sake of connecting with the listener. On its own, Xanadu is a bold experimental effort, Kyra’s meticulous execution results in a commendable blend of R&B, Trip-Hop and Soul into one psychedelic cosmic journey.