Kanonia Proves That She Has Star Power On Her Latest EP, “Be Yourself”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
As a music writer, I’m always searching for artists that are pushing the sound of tomorrow. I yearn to find artists that are transparent with their songwriting, because that’s what helps listeners connect. We want to be able to immerse ourselves in your thoughts, and we desire to hear our own thoughts from someone else. Artists, especially singer-songwriters are here to speak the thoughts of those that can’t. One artist that I believe is doing this is emerging singer Kanonia.
Hailing from Benguela, Angola, Kanonia is no stranger to the music industry. She has been captivating listeners with her refreshing brand of indie-pop. The reason she stands out is because of her lyrical prowess. She’s genuine and her songs have an openness that provides comfort to those that listen. It’s almost like she has found a way to document her life in her story-like style of songwriting which is amazing. Although she does come from a family with musical roots, she hasn’t always been pushed to become an artist. It was her own curiosity that influenced her to rebel against the rules and chase her dreams. Now, shed debuts on our pages with her latest EP “Be Yourself”.
“Be Yourself” is a moving EP that is a physical representation of the singer’s alchemical process of transforming her greatest tragedies into art. The EP is the Kanonia beginning her “new chapter”. The persisting Spanish and American pop cultural influences interpolated with a diverse mix of instruments and subjects rooted in Africa, make for a unique pop fever dream experience. Be Yourself is a celebration of life and struggles overcome, sung from the heart of an ex-child, meant for the ears of another.
Overall, this has been one of the most polarizing projects that I have heard this year. Before listening to this project, I hadn’t even experienced Kanonia as an artist. Now, she is all I play on the way to work. Her music reminds me of home, and I get the strength to make personal changes when I hear her work. My favorite songs from the project have to be “Marionette” featuring Nerea & “FAME!”. I loved the lyrics “Why all these rules? Because if we run too fast, we might leave behind all our youth”. As a kid, I always wanted to get older because I hated following the rules. Now that I look back, I wish I could go back at times. “FAME!” is a dynamic record that is laced with lush melodies, warm harmonies, and an ear-worm hook that I have come to love. Overall, the entire project is golden, so stream it below!
