Kohla - 'Sweetest Love'
Nearly three years to the day on from her mesmerising debut EP ‘Flux’, the new era of Edinburgh singer-songwriter Kohla isn’t so much a new chapter as an entirely different book.
‘Sweetest Love’ is the first taste from an as-yet-untitled larger project due for release later this year. It sees Kohla unplug the boombox and dust off the R&B fingerprints which were abundant in her debut. In its place is a more vintage piano-led sound which, gentle as it is, still knows how to deliver an almighty gut-punch.
Taking a starring role are the lyrics which paint a vivid and beautiful picture of a lost relationship which failed to reignite after the flame suddenly flickered out. Lines like ‘And it wasn’t perfect, but sometimes it’s worth it’ will transport the listener to a time they found themselves spellbound by love and in a place where the cracks weren’t always in eyeline.
The gentle piano stumbles along at its own pace in a way that suggests each keystroke was heart-wrenching. This brings with it a feeling that the song is in some way acting as a therapeutic memoir and it needs to be written whether the artist wants it to be or not.
While they were undoubtedly strong on her debut, Kohla’s vocals have levelled up and carry a new range which adds to the irresistibly 60s Hollywood vibe present throughout the track and accompanying visuals.
I’ve always been in complete awe of Kohla’s interdisciplinary abilities. This extends beyond the songs to the artwork, videos, photography, and now poetry. Everything serves a purpose and adds value to the overall narrative. This song is just the first piece of the puzzle and as the rest of the project begins to reveal itself you should get a clearer indication of the overall picture.
‘Sweetest Love’ is maybe not one to stick on before you head out on a Friday night with mates, but one to treasure, revisit, and perhaps even shed a tear to when you need it most.
Words by Richard Cobb
