Rock/Review Kelsie Kimberlin - Vlad
Kelsie Kimberlin is an American-Ukrainian musician and singer. Her work is not only accessible and entertaining but also steeped in important social themes and dual meanings, underscoring her deep understanding of the power of creative music to evoke change. From an early age, Kelsie immersed herself in music, singing in choirs, participating in Yoko Ono’s Peace Project, and spending much of her childhood in music studios working on an endless stream of original songs.
Kelsie Kimberlin's latest release, "Vlad," serves as a compelling musical sequel that follows her widely acclaimed trilogy focusing on Ukraine. This powerful song and its accompanying lyric video maintain the intense and purposeful storytelling established in her previous works.
The lyric video for "Vlad" skillfully repurposes footage from Kelsie Kimberlin's trilogy, aligning it with the energetic beats and rap lyrics of the song. The editing, masterfully executed by Kyiv filmmaker Pavlo Khomiuk, employs quick cuts to match the intensity of the music, creating a visual narrative that complements the powerful storytelling of the lyrics.
The song itself features real instruments, delivering a driving beat that propels the narrative forward with urgency and energy. The rap lyric style employed in "Vlad" adds a contemporary and dynamic layer to the storytelling, capturing attention and emphasizing the weight of the subject matter.
The chorus refrain, emphasizing the repeated assertion that the central figure is a "bad man," serves as a poignant and memorable anchor throughout the song. This repetition reinforces the message and leaves a lasting impact on the listener, driving home the narrative of misdeeds and the consequences associated with the character in focus.
“Vlad” manages to remain coherent in terms of thematic content. Attention to the use on actual instruments lends to the credibility of the musical work while the rap lyric style gives an updated perspective on storytelling. Integration of visuals from Kelsie Kimberlin’s previous trilogy supports the continuing thread, while providing grounding for the newcomers.
Despite successfully communicating the intended message and storyline, the composition could be enriched further musically. Listening could be enhanced if more layers were added to the musical arrangement and thus created some additional dynamics to go with the vividness of the storytelling.
Overall, “Vlad” is an exciting continuation in Kimberlin’s series of powerful stories. It is highly addictive with its heavy tempo, rap-lyric style, and expertly crafted lyric video. “Vlad” can be regarded as a symbol of Kelsie Kimberlin’s efforts to use music as an effective tool for telling stories and creating awareness.