[dropcap]Kygo[/dropcap] is a 26-year-old Norwegian EDM artist, who has to this point worked with well-known names such as Selena Gomez and Ellie Goulding, and gained popularity for his remix of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire’.
The artist’s second studio album was released on November 3rd. With artists featured such as John Newman, One Republic, and Bonnie McKee, it’s clear Kygo has gained a lot of respect in the industry.
Themes of all of these songs such as love are mixed with lyrics that call for freedom, and a beat that makes you want to run and move to – it’s as if the songs don’t want to just create an image, but actually bring the feelings to life. The album recognizes these desires in everyone and speaks to it.
“Never let you go” with John Newman is an obvious stand-out song from this album, and very much oriented to the theme of escape, and doing so with a risky new love.
‘Cause this is amazing
Running wild with you
My thoughts are hazy
This may be way too soon
The album-titled song “Kids in Love” is sung by The Night Game, and unsurprisingly speaks to the true message of the album. The emotional depth of these songs come from the underlying fear of growing up.
We were kids in love
And then we grew up
But won’t you hold me close tonight
Like we’re kids in love?
With each song as the album progresses, the veil slips away as the true feeling of loss of innocence grows. “Permanent”, the second last song on the album, is entirely about losing love and mistakes that would be incomprehensible to ‘kids in love’.
The final song “I See You” is entirely mature and focuses on intimacy in love. “You’re more than just a notch in my belt” is a line that wouldn’t make sense to the childhood that contact is attempted with in the earlier portion of the album. All hopes of regaining innocence is lost at the album’s close.
You’re more than just a notch in my belt
A story to tell
The only thing on my mind
It’s obvious I’m not doing well
Do you see these eyes, when have you known me to cry?
I’m just sitting here remembering how your lips taste
And it’s keeping me up at night
Overall, this album is sophisticated in a style which is incredibly appealing. Kygo’s ability to mix EDM in a powerful, fun and balanced way brings this album to a well-rounded finish as the lyrics and melody match each of the featured artists fantastically.
Beibhinn Thorsch