The Drawer - Kelsie Kimberlin (Pop) Kelise Kimberline returns to the blog today with her 8-track collection “The Drawer”, which is an intimate depiction of leaving a toxic relationship behind and her road to recovery. Previously we’ve reviewed Kelsie’s “Road Trip Summer Remix”, “Turn Back” and “Parking Lot”, which show Kelsie to be a versatile artist considering the vast array of sounds and styles she covers across her catalogue. But before we dig into her latest project, let’s talk about Kelsie herself.
Kelsie Kimberlin is an American/Ukrainian musician and singer who strives in her music to balance entertainment and social themes with deep meanings underscoring her understanding of the power of music to make change. A student of music from an early age, Kelsie even took part in Yoko Ono’s Peace Project. A well rounded artist, Kelsie writes, records, performs and films.
“The Drawer” is Kelsie’s first EP, which birthed music videos for “Parking Lot” and “Twinkle”, with AI generated videos for the remaining six tracks. We were first introduced to this project with her song “Parking Lot”, which was accompanied by a vibrant music video. We called this a trap and latin infused hip winder with a plucky percussion production and seductive latin guitar. What surprised us in reviewing the “The Drawer”, on which “Parking Lot” comes later in the tracklist, is that this track is really an outlier on the project—a dancey record amongst a collection of intimate and personal tracks with a more straightforward pop sensibility.
Other single “Twinkle” is also a standout on the album, using the imagery from the nursery rhyme to depict the specialness she has found in another—that the things that are unique about them make them twinkle like a star. It’s a beautiful song and, along with “Parking Lot”, is a nice break from the heavier themes on the album.
Title track “The Drawer” caught our attention immediately with the deeply personal lyrics about finally being free from a toxic relationship. The specificity she uses to describe the trauma—the ex controlling her body and what she ate—was vulnerable and honestly shocking. It immediately hooks the audience to be invested in Kelsie’s story. Much like Adele and Taylor Swift’s tracks follow their exes, we assume “The Drawer” will haunt Kelsie’s.
“Fatal Attraction” continues the tale on a less somber note, as a plucky pop production backs a story about the chemical addiction one can feel to someone despite all of the red flags. It’s a Top 40 feeling cut with a very relatable message, as “Meet Me Anywhere” continues with a story of Kelsie trying to get the attention she needs.
“January Through December” is one of our favorites on the project, mainly due to the cleverness of the lyrics and catchiness of the melody. It’s a positive track about finding someone who actually stands beside her all year long, juxtaposed with “Summertime’s Gone” which laments the early collapse of that relationship.
But after her road to recovery, we get album closer “Recovery” which assures the audience that despite all the aftermath and turmoil, Kelsie has found herself again and returned to the girl she was. There’s a touching moment in this track as Kelsie thanks her friends and family for their support in her darkest hour.
With a clean production, heartfelt lyrics and a strong pop vocal, Kelsie shines on her first EP.