Immersing us off the bat with a luscious, panning synthscape with glistening detailing and vocal textures, Check Your Feelings opens with the lyrics, “Slow down, catch your breath and Check Your Feelings again…”

The opus expands with intricate drums and percussion to deliver a meaningful and inspiring track which touches upon the themes of mental health and self-care.

Speaking on the release of Check Your Feelings, A.b. Violet confesses, “Check Your Feelings is a song I wrote when I was sad and overwhelmed. It serves to remind us to stop, breathe and check-in with ourselves. It’s sad, but pretty catchy though.”

A.b. Violet cites a mixture of 80s and 90s pop icons as some of her inspirations, including Annie Lennox, Madonna, Kate Bush and Alanis Morissette, although it is clear that she is creating a universe of her own!

We appreciate the wisdom of the message that A.b. Violet shares with the track. Something that we all need to do, multiple times a day, is stop and check our feelings. It’s refreshing to hear such a conscious perspective from an artist!

Elaborating on the meaning of the song, A.b Violet reminds us that Check Your Feelings is “Just a reminder to stop and take a breath every now and again, particularly when you start to feel overwhelmed.”

We are doing it right now, thank you A.b Violet! We have added Check Your Feelings to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we stream A.b Violet‘s wider discography!

The post A.b. Violet wants us to take a moment for ourselves, stop and breath with powerful and conscious new single, Check Your Feelings appeared first on KIMU.

We first discovered A.b. Violet when she released the vulnerable and expansive single, So Lonely, so we were very excited to hear that the rising U.K. artist’s new EP, EQUINOX was out!

EQUINOX opens with the track, Pedal to the Metal which immerses us with a celestial and textured frequency that evolves into a more robust production, as A.b. Violet humbly sings “This is all I’ve every wanted, I worked hard and I’ve not been one to flaunt it…”

With an atmospheric delivery, Pedal to the Metal tells the story of striving to move forward, referencing the human condition as A.b. Violet, “I’ve got my pedal to the metal, but I still can’t go… as fast I have got to, if I’m to get home…”

Speaking on the track, A.b. Violet explains, “It’s about feeling like you can’t keep up, no matter how fast you go. You can’t live up to expectations, because there’s always something to chase and it’s overwhelming.” We love the concept of the song and the soundscape reminds us of Madonna’s Ray of Light.

Speaking on the release as a whole, A.b. Violet says, “EQUINOX delves into matters of overwhelm, pessimism and regret. Each track’s melodies battle with a heavy, driving beat, symbolising the weight and pace of everyday life, that we can all sometimes struggle to keep up with.”

She continues, with wisdom, “However, embracing the symbolic time of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, this EP is a shift in energy- you may at least be able to tap your foot along- as we look forward to new beginnings.”

Next up is Rain, which opens with the lyrics, “You said things have never been better, under your arms I wish I could stay here forever…”, cohesively bonded with a pulsing beat, glistening sonic detailing.

Speaking about the track, A.b. Violet explains, “Rain is about being a bit of a pessimist and thinking that something bad is going to happen…”

The lyrics are romantic, and full of adventure, but in the back of our protagonist’s mind, there is a chance of rain. She sings with emotion and self-awareness, and the instrumental segments in the track are inviting and beautifully constructed.

Finally, we have Wasting Time which A.b. Violet describes as “about addiction and dependence, and how these sorts of toxic habits can take over your life.”

The song opens with a pulsing beat and piano, whilst the artist sings “I’m wasting time, wasting money, feeling fine, feeling funny, feeling reckless and free…” There are moments that remind us of The Corrs and Lana Del Rey, in delivery and lyricism respectively.

We love the narrative arc of the three track opus which delves into matters of being overwhelming, pessimism and regret. A.b. Violet‘s delivery is flawless and full of symbolism and references to the human condition.

When citing her inspirations, A.b. Violet cites London Grammar, Caribou, Massive Attack, Bombay Bicycle club, La Roux, Annie Lennox and house music, but it is clear that she is creating her own dimension with her artistry.

We have added Wasting Time to our New Music Spotlight playlist along with Pedal to the Metal.

The post A.b. Violet releases emotive and pulsating new EP, EQUINOX appeared first on KIMU.

A.b. Violet sets the scene with panning synths and waving arpeggiated guitar amidst vocal samples and textures featuring the hook and name of their recent release, So Lonely.

The mantra-esque delivery of the hook has us hypnotized as the beat undergoes various transformations throughout the song expanding with additional melodies and taking us to another dimension. We particularly enjoy the space the track creates with the drop outs and resurgences.

When discussing the theme of the track, A.b. Violet says, “So Lonely is about that feeling of loneliness. It paints of picture of being out, dancing away to a heavy beat, surrounded by people, but feeling alone. Like, in your heart, something is missing.”

So Lonely is a home studio production, mixed by Violet. When citing influences, A.b. Violet mentions London Grammar, Caribou, Massive Attack, Bombay Bicycle club and “otherwise just general house.” We can definitely feel that coming through in their sound and wider discography.

Speaking on the production process, A.b. Violet says, “I’m still learning the ropes with production. I certainly don’t have the right equipment, and recording vocals from home with my set up and the noise pollution is impossible at the moment, but I can’t get into the studio for a while. I’m always making music though, and experimenting with samples and beats in my spare time.”

We have been immersing ourselves in the universe of A.b. Violet, who also just released vibrant bop Giving Me Reasons, and So Lonely is featured on our New Music Spotlight playlist.

The post A.b. Violet delivers an expansive soundscape with new single, So Lonely appeared first on KIMU.