Kayla Grace rides the wave of understanding adulthood with 'cats can surf'
- blondevibrations
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
Kayla Grace explores the path through adolescence to adulthood with sharp and insightful storytelling. 'cats can surf' is a sincere reflection of the past, laced with humour and honest recognition of the messiness that comes from personal growth. It provides a guide to healing and acceptance of the past as it shapes her present self.
in for the kill
If this is someone's first time listening to Kayla Grace’s music, what an introduction this is. We are thrown into the whirlwind of her emotions from the starting line with 'in for the kill'. With lyrics like, ‘so used to feeling nothing’ and ‘Its just the way that I’m built’, we can see a numbness sitting at the core, and the possession of self destructive tendencies to sabotage anything positive before it can stick around. The inclusion of ‘like a wrecking ball / I’m not ready for what I’m feeling’ shows the familiarity of feeling low, a space where the light at the end of the tunnel feels unreachable. When flickers of light begin to find their way to you, you close your eyes, shutting yourself off from the ability to see what it could be. This track feels wrapped in pity and feelings of the inability to stop turning away from the goodness of the world, when shaking that mindset feels impossible. Lines like ‘I bottle up the tears I’ve cried so I can bathe in my own misery’ is another example of the beautifully brutal lyricism, setting the scene and capturing the headspace we meet Kayla in, stuck in this loop. It’s a really strong opener to this EP and this quality continues throughout the duration of the record.
berlin
'berlin' perfectly expresses that moment of looking back, questioning someone’s intentions towards you from the very beginning and thinking, ‘I guess we’ll never know’. It captures how much hindsight can mess with you, but gives you enough of the picture to know that there is no coming back from it, it is totally over. Kayla’s lyrics cut particularly deep, saying ‘always knew you were boring, but now you’re just mean’ and ‘actually physically sick when I picture my life before Berlin’. Her words reflect on the past you wish could be erased and take the time and energy back that was wasted on somebody so underserving of it. The song puts forward a quiet anger, where the rage isn’t worth the explosion, but you cannot quite find peace with it just yet. There is a breathiness to the song against the acoustics that allows you to feel the exhaustion from this relationship. The plaster has been ripped off, but now begins the journey to scrub them from your mind and let them linger no more.
cats can surf
There’s a sincere emotional arc throughout this EP, it feels like Kayla has picked herself up off the floor, dusted off her shoulders and given herself a well needed pep talk. A lighter, more playful presence arrives both sonically and lyrically with 'cats can surf'. It flirts with the idea of pretending not to care, that you do not like somebody. She approaches this with humour, convincing yourself that there are no unrequited feelings, until they disappear. Lines like 'I’m alone and you’re with her, and I don’t mind and it don’t hurt’ feel like there’s denial present, but an inner strength prevails to hold onto the path towards true healing, and Kayla's satirical approach works so well here. The track feels inviting, saying what needs to get off her chest in this deeply confessional way, yet there is still a lightness to it to not be taken too seriously. It feels like a fun song while still coated in chaos, taking fun inspiration from the known phrase ‘pigs can fly’ and making it into something uniquely her own.
til the lady sings
Kayla continues the deeply personal nature of the exploration within her music, questioning the aftermath of a relationship breakdown in 'til the lady sings', with haunting thoughts like 'does the comedown hurt as much without the shame?' A plea follows this, as she says ‘don’t cut me off’, before the quiet submission of admitting that 'you don’t want to hold me close one more time, guess it’s understandable…I never should have tried.' This track is born out of the delicate adjustment period of weaning yourself off from someone who once took up so much of your life, and navigating this time as you leave theirs. You know it is over, but part of you wishes to stay in the comfort blanket of what and who you know, resisting the harsh reality of becoming a stranger again. This song feels relatable, and embodies the idea of letting go. There is no deadline for this, but if you are questioning when it’s time, the answer is probably right now.
99 and counting
Kayla beautifully portrays the complex emotions of grief, the passing of time and the lingering sadness that can present across the lifetime in '99 and counting'. There is a palpable vulnerability as she touches upon her own mental health journey and her persistence through it, reflecting on this with a nuanced touch. The more simple production on this track allows the glimmer of hope to shine through, which is truly felt when the chorus hits, with takeaway lines like 'sometimes things take time... so much more to life.' She further captures the bittersweet relatability in recognising your own progress from the darker moments and seeing how far you have come, with lines like 'I don’t cry on the floor in the shower anymore' and 'I don’t lie to my friends when I’m planning out the end'. They present that depression cannot suddenly disappear when it is so woven within you, but with time, you can learn the manage the weight and power it holds over you. Healing is not linear in this sense, not about everything becoming sunshine and rainbows overnight, but allowing the grey clouds to clear just enough to let the day to day feel a little bit brighter. This is a truly well made song, and I am glad it has earned a place on this EP, it has a great importance.
a leith ross song
There is a certain sparkle to 'a leith ross song', it feels like a grand romantic gesture wrapped around a melody and affectionate lyricism. Lines like ‘took me home with the purest intention’ and ‘every word summarises you’ feel like a profession of sincere adoration for somebody. The song is so pretty, not just in its sound but in its feeling. It narrates the idea of the awakening of something vulnerable and new, opening yourself up to a love that can be scary, but trusting that this fate might give you bliss. The addition of moments like ‘couple knee touches in the back seat’ feel so subtle yet tender, you feel that very same spark and anticipation with a lyric so endearing. It provides a lingering feeling that makes it an addictive track. Kayla told her fans upon the track’s release that it is ‘my first love song. gay love song’, and for her first of its kind, it tells the first few pages of a love story with grace. Everybody deserves a song like this written in their honour!
woe is me
As we reach the end of the EP, we comfortably sit back into the familiar space of indulging in pitying feelings. We circle back to the themes of the opening track in 'woe is me', but this time it feels bolder sonically, and more cinematic. She pours her feelings out again, but we see the growth in navigating and facing the chaos of being a young adult head on. It feels like the climactic point of a personal coming-of-age film, releasing that inner angst that has urged its way to the surface and right here, she sets it free. Final questions are presented, asking ‘where’s my villain origin? where’s my devil’s advocate?’, like a final scream to the void. I love the ending to this EP, wrapping up this chapter of her life and the growth and learning that comes from it in a striking way. Kayla’s final thoughts like ‘miracle I lived through it / think that there’s a reason I'm waiting for the moment it clicks’ encapsulates the messiness, love, panic and learned experiences that come from simply choosing to live.
'cats can fly' feels like a wonderfully full EP that sounds both sonically and lyrically rich. Every emotion is woven into the tracks and makes for a great record to consume in its entirety. The singles are strong but listening to the EP front to back just feels right. Kayla’s songwriting is unguarded and real, saying exactly what she needs to no matter how it lands. This honesty is refreshingly raw. It feels selfish to wish for more music already, but I’m genuinely excited for the future of Kayla Grace and all that she has to offer the music world.
Commenti