Kayla Grace – 'Bird in a Cage'
Bedroom pop newcomer Kayla Grace puts a sonic spin on feelings of frustration, despair and helplessness with cathartic debut single ‘Bird in a Cage’.
To an intimate backdrop of solemn guitars dancing alongside layered harmonies and intricate melody lines, ‘Bird in a Cage’ is an all too relatable reflection on the past year. “These days, we stay same place no change. Each day, we say same shit same way,” Kayla sings with heartfelt intensity. Her vocals - as clear as they are beautiful - wrap around the track’s poignant chorus, but it’s the final line that holds the full extent of last year’s painful reality: “My last teenage days have been stolen from me.”
Talking about the inspiration behind ‘Bird in a Cage’, Kayla reveals: “I think it’s something I needed to get out of my system to comprehend how much life has changed for everyone since coronavirus. It’s got this kind of irony because I’m complaining about my birthday being on a zoom call while people are literally dying, but I think it just shows the reality of the situation and how differently it's impacted everyone.” She adds: “I think a lot of people will resonate with the feeling of being isolated and trapped (like a bird in a cage) and all I’m hoping is that the song will help them realise they’re not truly alone. We’re all in this situation together and one day it’ll be okay again.”
‘Bird in a Cage’ is a stunning debut and an unforgettable introduction to an artist that, hopefully, we will be hearing much more of this year. With wonderfully expressive vocals and the lyricism to match, Kayla Grace is a must listen for anyone in love with the genius of Holly Humberstone and Phoebe Bridgers.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven